Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-09-11
COOKS DISCOVERIES
He TELLS HOW He REACHED
The NORTH POLE.
Was Congratulated on All Sides and
Everywhere Commended for Modesty
and Sincerity-Gives Much Credit to
Eskimos Who Were With Him on His
Perilous Voyage.

Copenhagen.-In an interview grant
ed to number of correspondents rep
resenting the foremost news agencies
and newspapers of Europe and America
DR.. Frederick A.. Cook, pinned down by
the merciless, searching questions of
William T. Stead, the veteran British
journalist and dean and spokesman of
the correspondents corps, admitted
that unless his astrologic observations
and the corroborative evidence of his
two Eskimo companions are accepted as
such he has no positive proof of his
right to the title of discoverer of the
north pole.
SO frank, straightforward and con-
vincing were the answers of the daunt-
less scientist that at the end of an
hour IS cruel grilling he had satisfied
the belief of virtually every man
present at the interview of the truth
of his assertions that he planted the
stars and stripes on the long coveted
northern goal on April 81, 1908.
Clears Away All Doubt.
After a day strenuous enough to
tire a Roosevelt and distressing enough
to wear the patience of Job, DIR. Cook,
in the face of the discouraging skepti-
cisms which would have snatched away
his laurels almost before they were
bestowed, was called upon to clear
away an international ineredulity
which seemingly barred his entrance to
the hall of fame.
He succeeded in the effort. Calm and
imperturbable, though wincing under
the cruelty of thrusts which even the
taetfulness of Stead could not miti-
gate DIR. Cook modestly and with de-
ightful unassumption met every in
quiry with a directness and frankness
that quickly won his hearers.
At the conclusion of the interview he
was congratulated on all sides and
everywhere were heard favorable com
ments on his modesty and sincerity,
and the belief was expressed that the
scientific world s verdict would be
that he won the prize sought for cen
turtles.
Can Furnish Proof.
81 realize, gentlemen" said DR.
Cook in addressing the newspaper men
''that despite the fact that I have
nothing to gain from misrepresenta
ton of actual facts, and on the other
hand have everything TO lose, that the
( nature of my accomplishment OF
April 21, 1908, when I planted the
, American flag at spot at latitude
90 degrees north, calls for proof tC
3 the scientific world. I understand that
in case of this sort my reputation
] and my past count for nought, but
3 believe that in a carefully prepared
D diary which I kept and in the pains
taking accurate astronomic observa
| lions which I made will be found thu
9 proof demanded by the world. Cor
s roborating this viii be the evidenc'
q of two brave and accomplishing com
panions of my trip, the Eskimo
Q Etukishuk and Ahwelah, whose name
9 were previously misspelled.
= "I am told that my trip to the poll
J. has been branded as an unscientif
and unprecedented, unsportsmanlik
event. While plead guilty to Ger
: tain amount of the spirit of the sports
. man, I am not willing to admit tina
my expedition was unseientifc.
cit is true that did not have tn
elaborate paraphernalia or all of tn
instruments that would have desire
had it been possible for me to carr
q more luggage. I was, however
equipped with an up to date and CON
plete set of navigation and astronomi
instruments. l had three chronometer'
d, a pedometer and a watch, and use
y each of the instruments to check tn
is records of the others. AS a result, it
9 my opinion that there were few reall
T, serious errors and my calculations an
observations were for all practical pun
l. poses correct. My work in making oil
is servations of this nature was, of course
lie not confined TO this particular tril
is as 1 had had plenty of experience i
a. this line on my previous northern e,
petitions. My watch was the only on
IL instrument to get out of order.
Eskimos Entitled to Credence.
''But in addition to the proof flu
m nished by my notes and Observable
n. figures, 1 think that when the fin;
m time comes more credence will
w given to the statements of my Eskin
h. companions than the public now seen
to give. The artless honesty of the'
If sturdy men, savages though they ar
., is well nigh proverbial.
n Took 400 photographs.
a "During my trip took 400 pilot
graphs. When the time comes l wi
- appear before any geographical s
~ ciety of the world and in the light A,
o. developments IL is probable I will fir
a appear before the international pol,
~ exploration bureau, at Brussels, al
a present these photographs along wit
IS other proofs. / have not the slighte
- doubt of my ability to convince al
he competent and unbiased scientist.
he "You ask me how / am sure l W,
he on the exact spot which marked Il
!" presence of the pole 1t is not n
~ purDooa - oorx-av +bo tdoo