Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-09-14
PEARY DAMAGING HIMSELF.

Peary is damaging himself with the
public at large by his accusations
against Cook. Cooks calmness, his
Willingness to accord due honor to
Peary, and his statement that at the
proper time he will submit the full de-
tails of his discovery of the Pole to ex-
perts named for the purpose, coupled
with the acceptance of his story by
the explorers and scientists of Den
mark, have done much to re-establish
him in the public favor. Peary's per-
sistent efforts to discredit Cook, to
injure him in the public esteem, which
at first seemed calculated to accom-
plish their purpose are now having the
contrary effect Both in Europe and
America there is a strong feeling as
sorting itself for fair play for Dr.
Cook. The too apparent willingness Of
| the officers of the navy to damn Cook
and eXalt Peary, because the latter is
| a naval officer and the former a civil
ian has not escaped the attention of
obseryant people. The American peo-
pie, above all others, are not prone to
| submit to such treatment of DR.. Cook.
The tide is undoubtedly turning in
his favor and Peary on his return will
| find it decidedly up to him to make
good on his own story and to prove
| beyond question: Il u u Il uuuuuuup
beyond question the accuracy of his
charges against Cook or find himself
seriously discredited.
When Cook made his announcement
as to the speed he had travelled in his
| final dash for the Pole the naval ofic-
ers, Peary's friends, ridiculed his fig
| ures and claimed that they alone de-
monstrated the falseness of his claims.
Peary coming forward with a claim
to even greater speed put an effectual
quietus on this class of criticism.
Peary's friends then charged that
Cook wasn't equipped for such an ex-
petition. The cold blooded cashed
| funds and had been carefully prepar-
ed for the dash, although on a smaller
scale than Peary. Then the charge
was made that Cook had stolen a
: march on Peary and unfairly denri,r--- =
him of hjGs-ssimned dogs and Eskimos.
Other explorers have put the laugh on
this. The Eskimos and the dogs were
no more Peary's property than they
were Cooks They were not hired by
Peary when Cook secured them, and
they were quite willing to get the
job. There was no contract that bound
them to sit idle for year or two
waiting on the possible coming of
Peary. This charge, like the others,
fell dead of it's own Stiffness.
Altogether DR.. Cook is making the
better impression on the public now.
He will receive royal welcome on
his arrival in his home city. just as
he was given a royal departure from
Denmark, by order of the king of that
country. The impression is steadily
gaining grond that his story is true,
and once this becomes firmly fixed in
the public mind it will bode no good to
Peary and his fellow officers of the
navy to endeavor to rob Cook of his
laurels. Peary's soreness over his de-
feat to the Pole by another explorer is
no justification for combined efforts to
deprive Cook of the honor. If Peary
fails to substantiate his charges in
full there will be feeling of disgust
that will do much to mar his past
brilliant record and that will also dis
credit his fellow officers who have
rshed to his assistance without any
knowledge of the facts save Peary's
simple allegation that Cook had ''gold
bricked" the world.