The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-09-07
GAINS LIFE'S GOAL COOK HEARS NEWS
BELIEVES PEARY's OBSERVATIONS
WILL CONFIRM STORY.
Report OF Fellow Countryman's Dis
covery OF North Pole In Given
AT Banquet Board In
COpenhaEeu.

Copenhagen, Sept 6.--Copenhagen
was electrified tonight by the report
Of Commander Peary's announcement
that he had reached the North Pole.
DR.. Cook was immensely interested and
said
THAT is good news. I hope Peary
did get to the pole. His observations
and reports on that region will con-
firm mine"
It is doubtful IL history furnishes a
more dramatic episode than the break
ing Of the news to DIR. Cook that
Peary had realized the goal Of his Iife's
| ambition and repeated struggles.
DR.. Cook was seated at a dinner sur
| rounded by explorers and correspond
ents In the. gilded bali room of the
Tiveli Casino. Around his neck was
hung a garland of pink roses, accord
ing to the Scandinavian method OF
honoring heroes. which the explorer
wore blushingly and with visible em-
barrassment Several speeches. &C.
claiming. and repeated toasts to, the
discoverer, were drunk with clamorous
cheers.
Amid this scene, whisper went
around that Peary had planted the
Stars and Stripes at the pole. Cook
was perfectly cool and unmoved. He
made q striking speech. in which he
paid high tribute to the work of Sverd-
rup, who sat near, to whose discov-
cries he largely owed his success; to
John r. Bradley. who had financed the
expedition; to 1.-THE intelligence. endu-
rance and faithfulness." Of the Eski-
mos who had assisted him in the prep
arations and those who had accom-
panied him. The whole story Of the
expedition. he said. has not come out
and will not come out for some time i;
nor will It come In installments, but
only when 1t is completed.
Reports Do Not Worry.
/ DIR. Cook did not permit the whis-
pers which came to his ears of Peary's
success to move him in the least, but
when ne had finished, he was sur
rounded by correspondents, who look
ed for some sign of emotion. but the
explorer said. smilingly:
~ am glad"
| Asked II there was any probability
Of Peary's having found the tube con-
aiming his records, Or. Cook replied:
II hope SO. but that is doubtful on
account of the drift"
| DR.. Cook added: Commander Peary
reached the pole this year, probably,
while was there last year. His route
was several hundred miles east of
| mine. We are rivals, of course. but
the pole is big enough for two.
"That two men got to the pole along
different paths" continued the explor-
er, SHOULD furnish large additions to
scientific knowledge. Probably other
parties will reach 1t in the next ten
years since every explorer is helped
by the experiences OF his predecessors.
Just as Sverdrup's observations and re-
ports were OF immeasurable help TO
me. I can say nothing more, without
knowing further details, than that
am glad of It."
PearY's Success FOretOId.
While DR.. Cook was conversing cas-
ually this morning with American
friends. the possibility of this de-
was lRughingly suggested. DR.. Cook
remarked:
1T is quite possible that Peary viii
turn up now He is about due to gel
back, II he carries out his plans. We
have always been friends. While, OF
course, We are rivals in the attempt t.
ind the pole. we have been friendly RI
vals'
THOSE who have had the best OPP
portunities to become acquainted witt
Dr. Cook here believe that he is MOI
likely to enter into a controversy witt
DR.. Peary.
Sverdrup who came here for the pur'
pose OF congratulating DR.. Cook. was
not interested in the news that Pearl
had reached the pole. Sverdrup is
remarkably tacturn and careful man.
He said There Is nothing ! can sa!
about this particularly except tnat
is most important and wonderful. L
seems to me that America Is doinl
wonderfully II two Americans are tn
first men to get to the pole after lonI
struggles by so many men OF differen
| ftnnahtiaa"