The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-09
BATTLE OF POLE.
Scientists and Friends Dividing
Into Two Hostile Camps
Over the Respective Claims of
Cook and Peary.
WILL SEND FOR PROOF
Cock Is Preparing to Bring
Down His EskimOs.
Arbitration Is Suggested by
SOme NOn.Partizans.

Commander Peary is still at Battle
Harbor. He is making slow progress
southwark toward North Sydney, N
s., from whence he will proceed to
American ports. No further word has
come from him to any quarter con-
corning the momentous controversy
which has aroused Europe and Amer
lea by his challenge of Cooks claim.
DIR. Cook is still at Copenhagen, the
center of marked attention from dig
nitaries of the official and scientific
world, but with diminishing prestige
owing to the cloud Overcasting his
glory since Pearys announcement and
his dramatic challenge of Cooks ex-
plot.
What the corroborative data is on
which two explorers base their posi-
tions is still withheld, by Cook, be-
cause of his determination to bide his
own time in presenting his evidence
and by Peary because he is still be-
yond the range of ready communica-
ton of detailed knowledge of the va
rious claims and conflicts. Foreign
comment as expressed by the London
and other metropolitan journals, while
still highly wrought with mingled en-
thusiasm and doubt is beginning to be
tinged with fiippancy and scorn. The
trend of this foreign comment appears
to be against Cook, the prevailing
view being that judgment goes against
him by default in Misrepresentation of
er hand his champions insist that all
this will be forthcoming in due course
and at the proper time. Concerning
Peary, the foreign attitude appears to
be one of accepting without question
his announcement of reaching the
pole, although there is still a reserve
of judgment in his accusation as to
Cooks claim of having reached there
also.
The two Eskimos who accompanied
L IA fQ
in the controversy and in anticipation
of the issues involved DR.. Cook has
announced that he will equip an ex-
pedition at Greenland at his own ex-
pense to find these men and bring
them to civilization to record their
testimony.
To Land at Sydney.
New York, Sept. e----The battle for
North Pole honors is now on and a
history marking controversy. is ex-
pected by both sides. Commander
Robert E. Peary, whose claim that he
1909, is not doubted by any author
ity, is feeling his way down the Lab
rador coast in the Arctic exploring
vessel Roosevelt, stopping only long
enough to take on coal and send dis
patches which more than intimate his
belief that DR.. Frederick A. Cook did
not discover the pole on April 21,
1908.
Peary and his party are expected
to land at Sydney, N. s., and come
from there by rail to New York. By
that time it is expected that he will
have revealed not only the full de-
tails of his successful quest for the
earth's northern axis, but that he will
add sensational statements to his al
ready sensational charges against DR..
Cook.
And with the arrival of Commander
Peary in New York DR.. Cooks
friends propose to defend his vigor-
ously. The members of the Arctic
club are divided in their support, and
it is no friendly division. President
Osbon declares that when Peary lands
he will submit three affidavits in
which Peary is accused of taking
Cooks supplies, with forcing open
Cooks trunk and inspecting his pri-
vate notes and memoranda, and with
opening and reading a private letter
from Dr. Cook to his wife. Mr.. Os-
bon says that he has a further aff1-
davit that Commander Peary address,
ed letter to Mrs. Cook, charging her
husband with being a 'fakir."