Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-07
Scientists of America
Comment Upon Discovery

Comment upon the reported discovery
OF the north pole by Commander Peary
Is made by scientists all over the United
States. Here are some Of the views ex-
pressed:
Prof. w. HI. Brewer, Yale University:
1T would appear to me that Peary has
been to the north pole, too.''
Prof. e. G. Pickering, Harvard OBJ
servatory: "The announcement from
Commander Peary following the amazing
information that DR.. Cook had succeeded
in reaching the goal so many have striven
for In the past years, will, no doubt,
startle the scientific world and will prove
that the real discovery Of the location Of
the pole was not SO difficult to accom-
plish when one knows just how to go
about it. Commander Peary has made
number of trips, and consequently
benefited by his past experiences. Other
explorers naturally were enabled to work
on the information given to the world at
large through the various books pub
lished by him."
Prof. Percival Lowell, astronomer and
scientist: II have always been stanch
admirer Of Commander Peary, and, in
my opinion, he has done wonderful things
among the ice and snow of the arctic
circle. He, no doubt, knows more about
the north than any other living man.
However, as far as we now know, DR..
Cook is the one who will be accorded the
crown"
Prof. William HI. Hobbs, University of
Michigan: THAT is very interesting, in
decd / would believe anything that Com
mander Peary might say, as / would
hansen, the Duke of Abruzzi or others of
the great explorers. / would not say that
DR.. Cook did not find the north pole, but
before making up my mind / must await
further details from him."
Prof. H. Helm Clayton, Blue Hill OBJ
servatory: 1.-THE two remarkable an
nouncements-those of DR.. Cook and of
Commander Peary-comfng at such a close
interval, please me greatly. as 1 believe
it will mean a great incentive to polar re-
search, much more so than as If neither
the one nor the other had come alone. l
have no doubt that Peary has found the
polar axis, and / did not doubt the claims
of DIR. Cook; but / shall be keenly inter-
ested to learn how the notes of the two
scientists will compare"
Prof. Thomas C. Chamberlain, Uni
versity ,of Chicago: Il have no means of
knowing whether this news really comes
from Peary himself. SO l cannot say any
Peary makes statement it will contain
Internal evidence the authenticity of
which cannot be doubted. After that will
come critical scrutiny, and then further
data will come, and all this VIII form
basis for final opinion"
Father Charles Nj. Charroppin, S. j.,
st. Louis University: Il consider Dr.
Cook the real discoverer of the north
pole. Commander Peary deserves credit
for his work and hardships, but Dr. Cook s
records have made me a believer in him.
Even IL DIR. Cook missed the pole by
few miles by inaccurate readings, con-
slider him the real discoverer.
Prof. Phillip II. Uhler, Maryland Acad-
body Institute: "Peary is a fine man
and I am very glad, indeed, to hear that
he has been successful. l have been hop
ing all along that he would be the first
man to reach the pole. but 1t seems now
that DR.. Cook has got there ahead of him.
ANY doubts that may have had in the
beginning have been dissipated by the
subsequent statements, that have been
made by DIR. Cook. He has the evidence
to back up his statements, calculations
that cannot be denied and particulars
which could not be deduced through the
imagination. In addition, he is a thorough
~ reliable and honest man, man who
would not stoop to deceive the public in
such a manner. There is no foolishness
in him; he is entirely sincere and earnest
in his undertakings"
Prof. J. b. whitehead, Johns Hopkins
University: "Peary has been hard. con-
high a standing in the scientific world to
risk making any false claims"
DIR. Henry Skinner, Geographical So
ciety of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania
Academy of Natural Sciences: "The Peary
dispatch indicates that Peary himself has
reached the pole and placed the flag there.
BY the time Peary reached there, every
vestige of the flag left by DR.. Cook would
have disappeared. 1t was wonderful that
two American explorers should have re-
ported the discovery of the pole almost
simultaneously. | firmly believe both
reached there.
John Richie. jr., scientist. for three
wears in charge of the collection of as
Economical news for the United States:
Commander Peary's word has never been
disputed. and IL he says he has found
the pole, it is so. AS to the relative merits
of the claims of Dr. Cook and Commander
Peary, there is no use specializing. 1t is
a scientific matter to be settled when the