The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-07
FIRST DlScovERER OF THE
NORTH POLE Is NOT JEAL-
Gus OF HIS RIVAL.
HONORS ENOUGH FOR TWO
Has Succeeded in Reaching the
Fartkest North Point of the Earth
Pisases Explorer, Who Says That
This Will Substantiate His Claims.

Copper hagen, Sept. G.-Copenhagen
was electrified tonight by the report
OF Commander Peary's announcement
that he had reached the north pole.
DIR. Cook was immensely Interested
and said:
THAT is good news. | hope Peary
did get to the I1le. His observations
and report on that region will con-
firm mime
1t is doubtful If history furnishes Il
more dramatic episode than the
breaking of the news to DIR. Cook that
peary had realized the goal of his
tife's ambition after repeated strug-
giles.
Tonight DIR. Cook was at dinner,
surrounded by explorers and cor
respondents at the ball room of the
Tivuli casino. Around his neck was
hung IA garland of pink roses accord
ing to the Scandinavian method of
honoring heroes. which the explorer
wore blushingly and with visible en-
barrassment.
Amid this scene whisper went
around that Peary had placed the
stars and stripes at the pole. Cook
was perfectly cool and unmoved. He
made "A striking speech in which he
paid high tribute to the work of
Sverdrup, to whose discoveries he
largely attributed his success: to John
Bradley, who had financed the ex-
petition; to the intelligence. energy
and faithfulness of the Eskimos who
had assisted him and those who had
II 1t sh..I 81. af
the expedition, he said, has not come
out and will not come out for some
time; nor will it come in instailments,
but only when it Is completed.
Is unmoved.
DIR. Cook did not permit the whis-
pers of Peary's result to move him in
the least, but when he had finished
he was surrounded by correspondents
who looked for some sign of emotion.
but the explorer said. Il am glad"
Asked If there was any probability
of Peary's having found the tube con-
tanning his records. DIR. Cook replied
Il hope 81. but that il in doubt ON
account of the drift. We are rivals,
of course but the pole is good enough
for two.
That two men got tn the pole along
different paths should furnish large
additions to scientific knowledge.
Probably other parties will reach 1t
in the next two years. since every
explorer is helped by the experience
Of his predecessors. just as Sverdrup's
observations and reports We're of i'm
measurable help to me. / can say
nothing more without knowing fur
ther details, than that | am glad of
it,
While DIR. Cook wa. conversing
casually today with American friends
the possibility Of the Peary denounee-
ment was laughingly suggested. DIR.
Cook remarked:
About Due.
1t Is quite possible that Peary will
turn up now. He is about due to get
back ii he carries out his plans. We
have always been friend, of course, We
are rivals in the attempt to find the
pole. but We have been friendly ri
sals'
Sverdrup. who is mere to eongratu-
late DIR. Cook, Was most interested in
the news that Peary had reached the
pole.
There is nothing | can say about
this particular case" he said, except
that il is most important and would
he wonderful. 1t seems to me that
America Is doing wonderfully Well If
two Americans are the first men To
get to the pole after such long strug-
giles by SO many men of different ma
tions.''
Ii any evidence is needed to estab- /
lish Denmark's valuation of DR.. Cook
ii can be found In the fact that he
is IL receive the highest tokens within !
its gift.
The king is to confer upon him the
gold medal of merit of the crown,
which only three other geosraphers,
Nansen, Syenhedn and Amundsen,
are entitled to wear. The geographical
society will hestow upon him its gold
medal. which has been given to four
other travellers only. Nansen, Captain
Scott. Hedin and Syerdrup.
More Experts.
The geographical society of Dem
mark numbers among its members
more experts i'm Arctic research than
any ore body in the world Its de-
cisIon tn extend the h3.or to Dr. Cook
was not formed without deliberation.
The rector of the University of Cop
enhagen. a man of profound learning.
interviewed DR.. Cook for an hour He
questioned minu,ely AMI expressed his
firm belief in the truth of Cooks
statements.
The longer DIR. Cook remains in