New-York tribune., 1909-09-10
CORROBORATE DR.. COOK
DETAILS or PE4RY'S TRIP.
ETperts Note Both TraUelled Rap
idiY OUer the Polar Ice.

Explorers had the opportunity yesterday for the
first time to compare the skeleton reports OF Dr.
Frederick A Cook and Commander Robert r.
Peary concerning their claims to having discovered
bitter controversy follow Commander Peary's
attack upon his rival the explorers OF this city
were practically agreed in their attitude toward
the problem. Their almost undivided opinion was
that Dr Cook should be credited until his story
shall have been proved false by unmistakable evil
dence
Commander Peary's meagre narrative as printed
yesterday regarded decidedly confirming
Or. Cooks story in several significant particulars
and raising no points Of disagreement. The x
plorers were more positive than that the con-
troversy be settled beyond reasonable doubt
by inquiry before recognized scientific bodies.
The swiftness OF Commander Peary's dash during
which he often far exceeded the long days jour
neys for which DIR. Cook has been reproached.
was point which nearly all emphasized.
"Peary's rapid travelling said f s. Delen-
baugh. secretary of the American Geographical
Society. would TO confirm Dr. Cooks state
ment that he found the ice Of the polar sea ex-
ceptionally smooth. From Cape Columbia to the
pole in thirty-seyen days means a daily average
of eleven and one-third miles and deductng the
seven days in which ne held up by open
water the rate is fourteen miles. He also speaks
Of meeting many other open lanes, which must
have delayed him considerably On the return TO
Cape Columbia. which was covered in sixteen days
his rate must have been least twenty-six miles
day. without allowing for delays all. while
the last two degrees OF the dash the pole were
made in four days. at thirty miles day.
If the polar was in a condition which vonld
allow Peary 10 cover such distances II is not diff-
cult to believe that Or found conditions more
or less similar his journey year before. Peary
speaks Of meeting many open lanes. and he seems
I" have chronicled the crossing OF each DR.. Cook
also reports that the ice fields were often split
apart. hut he that the intense cold usually
closed them up within a few hours
'Dr. Cook says that his he found the
ice more broken than his outward Journey par
ticulary below S4th parallel Of latitude vher.
IL was so bad that he had difficulty in making the
shore. Peary. on the other hand must have had
almost perfect ice from the pole 10 the land. much
cleaner than he found on his way up. But DR.
Cooks returning route led him hundreds Of miles
south and west of Pesrys. bringing him up on the
far western coast of Axe Heberg Island
CAN CHECK STATEMENTS.
An important check DR. Cooks veracity is
contained in his report of seeing high land near
the S5th parallel He gives his position clearly II
was on March s0 in latitude 81 degrees A. minutes
and longitude IS degrees 81 minutes. that he says
over the western mist discovered a new land
His statement is positive, and he must have been
have rsked the assertion. Future explorers should
able to find that land. IL ii exists as DR. Cook
must be able 10 give it's position within few miles
This land lies about lao miles northeast of Crocker
Land. which Peary sighted and named on his last
expedition
Anthony Fiala also called attention to tn. rapid
ity of Commander Peary's journey
He has accomplished feat I'm Arctic travel
which is astonishing" he said. The return from
the pole Cape Columbia was made In sixteen
days. average OF nearly twenty-nine miles a
day When II is considered that DIR. Cooks re-
ported average of fourteen miles day was be-
lieved unbeatable. gets idea of the in
domitable determination and terrific effort that
must have been Pearys to enable him to set pace
that thought beyond the bounds Of
human possibility.
with the ice sufficiently smooth 1 do not think
that 1T at all impossible for Peary make
such a passage His report goes a long way tow
ard substantating Dr. Cooks story of his attain |
ment II shows conclusively that he found the fee
wonderfully smooth-quite as smooth DIR. Cook |
said 1t was. think his unusual burst OF speed
the return journey was aided by two factors: the |
absence of open water and the tightening of his |
sledges as the provisions were consumed
At still feel" said Dillon Wallace, that DIR. |
Cook should be credited until conclusive proof has
been brought against him. Commander Peary's |
story seems so far to confirm his particularly in !
regard to the rapidity OF the journey That point |
I regard as very significant. Dr. Cook was thor |
oughIy familiar with Arctic exploration ana with |
the distances which can commonly be made on |
northern ice II he fabricating story OF a |
fictitious tourney he would certainly eliminate all |
,mproba bilties In his narrative, however, he re-
cords making greater daily journeys than ex- |
porers had supposed could possibly be maintaineo |
for several consecutive days
.He advanced that statement before Commander !
Peary's Journey had been known And Dr. Cook |,
had arrived st Upernavik on his return. in May |
while the Roosevelt stiil In her winter station