New-York tribune., 1909-09-09

Commander Robert f Peary supplemented hts
messages from Indian Harbor yesterday with a
dispatch in which he practically gave the lie 20
DIR. Frederick A Cook for claiming to have dis
covered the North Pole. Upon public opinion.
already highly unsettled the impact of the mes
sage was hardly less than that of Commander
Peary's first word that he had found the pole
The explorers challenge, it was generally be-
Ieved. meant the beginning of more sensa-
tional controversy than the world has ever seen
concerning a question of mere scientific priority
Commander Peary's message was addressed
to The Associated Press. and was dated from
IRdian Harbor. September : II read;
have nailed the Stars and Stripes TO the
North Pole. This is authoritative and correct.
Cooks story should not be taken too seriously.
The two Esquimaus who accompanied him say
he went distance north. and not out Of sight
of land Other members of the tribe COTrObOrate
the story.
To Mrs. Peary. in the midst OF her prepars-
tions 10 leave her summer home I'm Maine. came
the following. dated September s:
Good morning. Delayed by gale Don't let
Cook story worry YOU Have him nailed.
BERT.
A third message was addressed 20 Herbert L.
Bridgman. secretary OF the Peary Arctic Club.
who left town Tuesday night to greet the ex-
plOrer at Sydney, Cape Breton. This. too. was
sent yesterday from Indian HsrbOr. Il reads;
Took Whitney on board at Etah Cook gone
to Copenhagen Met Jeanie Off Saunders
Island August 2S Coaled North Star Bay Whit
ney went on board Jeanie. Parted company
after 24th. PEARY.
And to Henry c. Walsh. secretary of the TX
plorers' Club. came another of Peary's messages
Of felicitation:
Have pleasure TO represent Explorers Club at
North Pole. PEARY.
Commander Peary's sudden championship OF
his own cause caused an unmistakabIe change
in the popular feeling toward DR. Cook The
effect was heightened by yesterday mornings
reports from the Copenhagen correspondents,
many of which emphatically hostile in
their description of the explorers lecture to
the Geographical Society there As TO the scien-
lists and explorers most of whom consistently
refuse to disbeheve any man OF scientific at
tainments until he may be positively discred-
tied, the effect on them of the sudden clash OF
authority was generally TO make them more
non-commlttaI than ever pending the arrival Of
further details.
AN UNFORTUNATE MUDDLE.
They all agreed that the situation had deveI,
oped most unfortunate muddle Nearly all
were inclined To doubt the genuineness Of the
Peary dispatches. which, they said, were more
emphatic than they should have expected from
the explorer. Several doubted that Commander
1edFN would charge his rival with Justification
when the public To which he appealed was so far
removed from him and from the proofs with
which he must support his chaIIenge. But all
without exception declared their faith in Com
mander Pearys truthfulness. and some sug-
gested possible peaceful solution in the theory
that the Esquimaus lied TO him. The more out
spoken supporters OF DR. Cook were not back
ward, however. in saying fatty that they re-
sented Commander Peary's charges and did not
believe them.
John r Bradley. the wealthy sportsman who
took DR. Cook north in his schooner the John
r. Bradley, took somewhat different view OF
the situation. Mr.. Bradley has discussed the
at great length. and has stOutly de-
tended hts companions claim in newspaper in
teTviews- Yesterday he refused TO give an opin-
ion ON the present standing of the case or 10
deny or assent 10 Commander Peary's cOntradic-
tion Of DIR. Cook
Il am not TO be interviewed he said en-
Cook has placed himself in the hands of tba
scientists for as full examination as thev
choose to make. What more can I saw Tt No.
his expedition, not mine. He is eertaInI,r a.
capable OF making his own defence as am
seeing that left him long before he started Co.
the pole"
Do you mean. then" he was asked. that Won,
wash your hands OF Or. Cook"
That's funny question Co ask isn't its.s n.
replied. Il am not to be interviewed DIR Cool,
as he has said himself is In the hands os -
scientists" ms
Ihe auickenins Of a genuine and bittsr c,,..
SsiaX iAIah I2s Q-a0s Which Rezs forming "a.