The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-16
| ALONE FOUND
POLE SAYS PEARY.
Says He viii Disprove Claim by
Cook.
DECLINES TO GIVE PROOF
"People VIII Be Left to Pass Judg'
ment," Declares Commander in
First interview-Waits for
Cook Story.

Battle Harbor, Lab, Sept. Is (Vfa
Wireless Telegraphy to Cape Ray, N
FIT am the only white man who
has ever reached the north pole, and
! am prepared to prove it." This
statement was made by Commander
Robert E. Peary in reply to question
on the Peary-Cook controversy.
Il have already stated publicly
that Cook has not been to the pole.
This ! reatlrm, and / will stand by it,
but | decline to discuss the details of
the matter These will come out
later. | have said that DR.. Cooks
statement that he had reached the
pole should not be taken seriously,
and that | have him nailed by con-
crete proofs to support my statement.
In six months you probably will get
the whole story 1t would not be
policy for me to enter upon a full
debate with the subject as it now
stands. To do so would be giving
out much information of which other
uses could be made. intend to wait
until DR.. Cook has issued his full au-
thorized statements. Up to the pres
ent time there have been only news
paper accounts of Dr. Cooks alleged
polar trip, and these may or may not
be accurate.
Waits for Cooks Story. r..,a
when DR.. Cook has time to issue a
complete authorized version of his
journey will be the proper opportunity
for me to make public the information
which l have After that the jury
in other words, the people and the
scientific bodies of the world-will
pass Judgment on the matter, and
there will then be nothing left of Dr.
Cooks case but his own assertions
that he has reached the north pole.
In the meanwhile it is my determine
ton not to deal with debates for the
reasons already stated"
Commander Peary was then asked
If new land could have been discov-
cred in latitude "a, longitude Sc. In
reply he shrugged his shoulders and
said it was quite possible that an I'M
known continent existed further west.
He referred to the land discovered by
himself on previous trips that had not
yet been explored.
Done with Exploring.
Asked what would be the interna-
tional effect of planting the stars and
stripes at the north pole, Commander
Peary said that he had notified the
secretary of state that he had taken
possession of the pole in the name of
the United States, and that it re-
manned for the secretary to decide
what that meant. He said he had left
records on the ice at the pole
Commander Peary is done with &C.
tive exploring. He will continue to
take an interest in arctic and ant
arctic exploration, but from his home,
and he declared that he would with
draw from field work.
Death Of Marvin.
Commander Peary spoke feelingly
of the death of Prof. Marvin of Cor
nell university, who at the head of one
of the supporting parties broke
through lead of thin ice on the re-
turn trip. The body was not recov-
cred and his personal effects were
buried in the ice. A cross, bearing
his name, his college and the date of
his death was erected at Cape Sheri.
dan just above the Roosevelts winter
position and visible for miles. This
is 70 miles from the point north of
Cape Columbia where he was drowned.
The health of the party in general
was good according to the statement
of DR.. John Goodsell, the surgeon of
the expedition. Two Eskimo children
were born and are still living. Bart
lett. Marvin, Mcmillan and Borup suf-
fered from frost bitten feet more Sc
verely than the others. Frost bites in
the arctics are treated with borated
musk OK fat and are well protected
from the cold.