The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-09-11
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.

A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.
After many vain attempts to reach
the North Pole for the past 800 years,
the feat has finally been accomplished
by two daring Americans-Dr. Fred
erick A. Cook and Commander Robert
E. Peary. The former reached the
pole on April 81, 1908, and the latte:
about year. later. There is glory
enough for both of these brave men,
but the friends Of Peary feel in
clined to frown on DR.. Cooks preten-
sions. Both explorers claim to have
placed the American flag at the pole,
but Peary did not find the flag left by
DR.. Cook year before his arrival.
That is easily accounted for how
ever.
1t was exactly five days after Cooks
announcement Of his discovery that
Peary sent from Indian Harbor, New
foundland. the following dispatch:
Stars and Stripes nailed to the
North Pole" When he sent that dis
patch he may. or may not. have
known of Cooks discovery. On Sept.
8, Peary sent the following:
Cooks story should not be taken
too seriously. The two Eskimos who
accompanied him say he went no dis
lance north and not out of sight Of
land. Other Men of the tribe corrobor-
ate their statement"
When DR.. Cook was shown Peary's
dispach at Copenhagen. he merely
said: y
Il won't degrade myself by answer
ing Peary'ss charges until the accusa-
ton is made upon scientific data
+ DR.. Cook must have anticipated op-
position from Peary and his American
scientists, for in telegram to the
New York Herald at Parts. he said:
Il have promised to submit my
facts, figures and instruments to the
Rector Magniflcus and faculty of The
University of Denmark (the royal uni
varsity of Copenhagen), a body Of
scientists thoroughly familiar with
polar exploration. 1 know I am right
and Lam confident their verdict will
sustain the accuracy Of my observ.-
tions. While retaining the highest re-.
spect for the courageous explorers who
are unconvinced, l decline to engage
in a controversy with them, their
friends or members of their families"
1t looks as If the people were 20
be treated to one of the greatest scien-
tific discussions in the worlds history.
If Cook and Peary present sufficient
proofs Of having reached the North
Pole, they will both receive unstintsl
praise for the achievement, but the
honor = of the discovery would or
should go to Cook, because he had
reached the end Of the earth's axis
before ,,Peary started on his. expedi-
ton. Should Cook fail to present
such data as would convince the
scientists at Copenhagen, and shout
Peary offer ample and satisfactory
proof, then the honor would belong 10
Peary. Every effort, fair and foul,
will be made to deprive Cook of tho
h0nnr ho O. 4.
the best of Peary In the use of cour-
teous language. -
Let Cook and Peary lay their claims
before competent scientific tribunal
which has no bias. Because of tho
fiippant manner in which some Amerl-
can scientists-so-c alled-have spoken
of DR.. Cook, the latter is fully just!-
fed in submitting his case to the
Royal University Of Denmark. Peary
belongs to the navy, where
as DR.. Cook is civilian.
Those who remember the case Of
Sampson and schley will recall how
hard 1t was for Democrat to get
justice from a Republican admins
tration. In some histories, Sampson
is styled the hero Of Santiago, though
he was miles away when the battle
was fought and won. DR.. Cook would
not receive fair play against the COM
mander of the Roosevelt from an
American scientific board OF inquiry
appointed by the government. Honor
to whom hc2 is due would cut but
small figure between plain Amer
fcan citizen and q naval officer. Peary
had made six expeditions to the North
Pole and never reached it. He. saws
he succeeded in getting there on tn.
seventh expedition and nailed tn,
Stars and Stripes to the Pole" A