davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
DISCOVERY OF POLE is
OF LITTLE VALUE TO
U. S. TERRIT0RIALLY

WASHINGTON, Sept. Estate de-
partment officials believe it is of little
consequence to the United States what
lands DR.. Cook has discovered on his
way to the north pole. SO far as actual
territorial possession is concerned.
1t is recalled by the department off,
cials that ever since 1928 American ex-
plorers in both the Arctic and the
Antarctic have discovered vast areas
of land to which no claims ever were
made.
America Wilkes found in the Ant
arctic a territory of more than 100000
square miles in area, and DR.. Kane
made large discoveries in the Arctic,
but no effort has been adopted by the
United States to assist it's rights to
them. General Greely some years ago
located lands which never before were
known to exist.
Many of the worlds greatest naviga-
tors have from time to time made their
discoveries to which no claim was ever
made. The principal reason for this,
however, is said to be that the lands
were almost inaccessible and absolute
ly of no value. AS to the particular
territory which DIR. Cook is said to
have discovered, it was asserted that
it was quite probable that these lands
would be found to be an extension of
the mainland of Greenland, and, If so,
they belong to Denmark. At any rate,
1t is extremely improbable, 1t is said,
that the United States would attempt
to assert sovereignty over them.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
AMUNDSEN EXTOLS
BRAVERY OF COOK

CHRISTIANIA, Sept. 2.-Capt. Doald
Amundsen, the Norwegian arctic ex-
plorer was interviewed here today on
DR.. Cooks triumph.
"Dr. Cook was my partner on the
Belgica expedition as physician, he
said, land all on board appreciated
highly his experience and his ability.
His was an uncommonly staunch, per-
severing and energetic personality, and
1 admire him.
1.-THE route chosen by DR.. Cook pre-
sented unusually difficult problems.
This was proved by Commander
Pearys experiences.
'The possible results from Dr..
Cooks achievements will have no in
fluence on my projected expedition. I
am not planning to reach the point OF
the pole My trip will be for oceano-
graphic investigation.
ut would be highly interesting and
important to know If DR.. Cook found
a continent around the pole. But he
was Of necessity limited to mere vis-
ual impressions"
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
PROF. BAUER SAYS HE
THINKS DR.. COOK HAS
REALLY REACHED POLE

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sept. 2.-1
believe DIR. Cook has reached the north
pole" said Prof. Louis A. Bauer OF
Carnegie institute, Washington, today
"Dr Cook discussed with me in 1907
his plans to reach the pole. He was
profoundly impressed. with the possi-
bility of the great achievement
Ills achievement will unquestionably
be attended with the most valuable re-
suits to science. Cook has made an al
most lifelong study of the northern
and southern lights and should have
much that is new to tell of these won
derful phenomena.
"That telegram to his wife, con-
tinued the professor, "is not very def
mite, but personally 1 think DR.. Cook
has hit the pole. He Is the manner OF
man who would not utilize the word
successful for anything less
]. r. Tyrrell, an eminent engineer OF
Toronto who is a member of the New
York Explorers club of which DR.. Cook
is also a member, recalled the circum-
stances of DIR. Cooks departure on his
perilous expedition. "a good many
people did not take the expedition SER
iously," said Mr.. Tyrrell, but we all
knew he would go as far as he could
without the slightest concern as to
how he was going to get back. You
get a fair idea of the man from his
mountain climbing achievements two
years ago.
Everyone said he could not climb
Mount Mckinley but he did climb it
and it was a climb of 1000 feet higher
than Abruzzi's famous ascent of Mount
st. Elias"
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
DILLON WALLACE HAS
CONFIDENCE IN COOK
AND BELIEVES REPORT

POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y, Sept. g.
Dillon Wallace, author and explorer,
whose companion, Leonidas Hubbard,
starved to death In exploring Labrador,
today said that he had implicit faith
in DR.. Cooks wonderful feat. Mr.. Wal
lace had almost completed plans for an
expedition for the relief of DR.. Cook.
'T know Dr. Cook WELL" he said.
you may put implicit trust in his
veracity.
ut is utterly impossible that Cook
could merely have found the magnetic
pole. His course would not have per-
mitted that.
Anyone who has visited the coun-
try and studied conditions there can
realize how impossible it would be for
him to reach the magnetic pole from
the course ne took.
"Dr. Cook started out from Elles-
mereland, and his last letter to his
family was from Cape Thomas Hub
bard in 1908. From there Cook pushed
on northwest. From that point the
rest of his direct journey was COM
magnetic pole, lying in an opposite
direction, would have been impossible
Of access by DR.. Cook.
"I have no doubt that DR.. Cook has
reached the North Pole. He is a man
of extreme reliability, fairly scientific
and Versed In Arct1c geographcal con-
ditions.
Or. Cook Truthful
"He has always manifested truthful
ness in every report, and concerning
explorations in the north he has been
exact
Another point that would tend to
discourage disparaging statements is
that Cooks route was directly to
Cracked Land. ending with a swift
dash to the pole. Thus he would avoid
the awful eastern drift of the terrible
current in the Polar seas north of
Greenland.
Peary undoubtedly would have ac-
complished what DR.. Cook has done If
he had been better acquainted with the
dangerous conditions confronting him
in the frozen sea. Peary tried to avoid
this condition by going westward, but
this was his undoing. Peary made his
dash too far eastward. DIR. Cook took
advantage of Peary's failure and
planned a roundabout course.
1.-The great northern country is a
strange land to us. The geographical
situation is a matter that is of real i'm
portance to ouI government. 1 have
not the least doubt that DR., Cook has
taken a series of geographical notes
which will be of the greatest value.
"I have seen some of the notes sent
back by him two years ago when he
was in Greenland, which described most
convincingly the situation in the north.
He tells of vast coal mines and other
ore which this country some day will
find of the greatest value and will be
highly pleased to possess"
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
WIFE CONFIDENT OF
EXPLORERS SUCCESS

NEW YORK, Sept. 2.-Mrs. Cook,
wife Of the discoverer of the north pole,
heard from her husband last about a
year ago through a member of the
Peary expedition. Although she was
anxious concerning Dr. Cooks where
abouts, she never lost confidence in
him, and before starting for Maine in
June she told friends that she felt she
would soon hear he had been sue
cessful.
MY husband never believed in sem
sationalism," Mrs. Cook said of him
in an interview before she left the
city for the summer, land his feeling
against Peary was pronounced. He
saw Pearys work in Greenland and
did not like the way he treated the
natives.
when he had a chance to come
home DR.. Cook refused to do so. In
stead of returning with Peary he de-
termined to make a solitary effort to
gain the pole.
"He walked three days to get to a
place from which he could send a let
ter to me. In the letter, which he
asked me to keep secret, he told me he
would reach the north pole or die In
the attempt.
HE said that one man with deter
mination and genuine love and regard
N--~N~-
whole expeditions.
Last Time She Heard from Him
THAT was the last I heard of him.
But 1 knew that If l did not get news
of his success 1 would hear from him y
Mrs. Cooks youngest daughter does
not remember ever having seen her
father On the wall of the Brooklyn
fiat in which Mrs. Cook lived with the
children last year she hung, low on the
wall, q photograph of her husband and
it was one of the bedtime rites of the
children 60 kiss the picture.
'I do it," explained Mrs. Cook at
that time, because 1 know positively
that my husband will succeed. 1t may
take him year. but don't want the
children to forget him"
Mrs. Cook, during the absence OF
her husband, sold the family residence
in Brooklyn and made many other
sacrifices to keep her family together
Her worries during the last rev
months have been great.
Some of the money I invested !
lost" said Mrs. Cook, 'but my hus-
band is making sacrifices, I know, and
I'm going to do all I can to keep a
little home ready for him when he gets
back"
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03

ment. tried various remedies in
search of relief, but they failed to help
me.
Some time ago a brother member in
lodge to which 1 belong urged me to
try the Cooper remedies which were
then being demonstrated in Los An
geles. He stated that to his personal
knowledge they had been of great ben
eft to others in a like condition, and
on the strength of his Recommendation
/ procured a treatment of Coopers
New Discovery.
1T proved helpful from the first
dose, and in less than a week I was
eating regularly and heartily, without
experiencing any bad effects after
ward. Since taking the full treatment
am perfectly well wand enjoy living
for the first time in many months. Now
can eat a heavy supper, then go to
bed and sleep like a healthy boy.
feel so we'll that / can hardly realize
/ am the same man. Cooper's New
Discovery has worked a marvellous
change in melt has done all that was
claimed for it,"
The Cooper remedies are on sale in
Los Angeles at the Owl Drug Stores.--
AdVt.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
SCIENTISTS ACCEPT
REPORTS AS TRUTH

NEW YORK, Sept. 2.-Members of
geographical, Arctic exploring and 9TH
er scientific societies in America do
not In the least doubt that DR.. Fred
erck A. Cook of Brooklyn has really
discovered the North Pole.
Notwithstanding the doubt cast on
the first reports from Copenhagen, es-
pecially in Berlin and Rome, the inti
mates of Dr. Cook declare that when
the explorer reaches Copenhagen, which
probably will be Saturday afternoon,
he will be able to amply verify his
claims. Scientists declare that they
can easily tell from DR.. Cooks records
and figures If he has reached the pole.
While Mrs. Cook, wife of the explorer,
who has been spending the summer at
South Harpswell Maine, has not been
heard from, it is believed that she will
come to New York and start for Eu-
rope to meet her husband and return
with him. DR.. Cooks brief message to
her from Lerwick, Shetland islands.
saying he had been successful and was
well, was forwarded by mail yesterday,
so that probably her first news OF his
great victory will reach her through
the newspapers today.
Result of Fishing
The discovery of the North Pole by
DR.. Cook was the termination of a
voyage which started as fishing
trip.
On July 8, 1907, DR.. Cook was the
guest of John r. Bradley on board
his schooner yacht, the John r. Brad
ley, which left Gloucester, Mass, to
go on a fishing trip up the Labrador
coast. Mr.. Bradley is a New York
man of wealth, interested in sports
and who has followed DR.. Cooks as
pirations closely.
Nv dlaU had inUitnH Cnnlr IN
go on the fishing trip. never dreaming
that it would end in the Brooklyn
man making a dash for the pole.
Aboard the schooner were half a dozen
Newfoundlanders who We're thor
oughly familiar with the coast of Lab
rador and who were to act as guides.
The sailing master was Captain
Moses Bartlett, who had been with
Commander Peary on the Roosevelt,
when he left for the north.
Met Bad Weather
The fishing party ran into treacher-
Gus weather and heavy ice packs as it
proceeded along the Labrador coast.
Then the gasoline engines got out of
order and the vessel was involved in
difficulties.
The ship was at length headed for
Cape York harbor, but owing to the
heavy ice it was unable to land there,
and landing was made in North Star
bay. There some days were spent in
hunting and fishing.
While the time was being spent in
this way DR.. Cook became fired with
the ambition to reach the pole. He
spoke to Mr.. Bradley about it, and the
latter declared that If any such trip
was to be made he woud not join it.
DR.. Cook was insistent He wanted
the entire party to go with him on the
expedition. AS Mr.. Bradley would not
be one of the party DR.. Cook organ
ized a force of Eskimos and, with Ru-
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
SHACKLET0N DECLARES
NO ONE HAS RIGHT TO
DOUBT COOKS STORY

LONDON, Sept. 2.-After reading a
brief summary of DIR. Frederick A
Cooks account of his dash to the
north pole, Lieut.. Ernest H. Shacl1le-
ton, who recently led an expedition to
the Antarctic regions, said that no one
had right to be skeptical.
There was nothing in the explorer S
statement but what was possible.
consequently" continued the lieu
tenant, Il do not think the time 1t
took him to return is against his state
ment The question is, what distance
was he actually from the pole when
he started with the Eskimos?
HE must have done twelve miles a
day to cover the distance given in
thirty-fve days. No other expedition
has been able to do anything near this,
as two miles a day is considered good
progress, but Cook must have ,trav-
eled over absolutely smooth ice, which
is a unique condition"
DR.. Cooks personal announcement
that he reached the north pole has done
much to dispel the uncertainty created
here by the first dispatches, but the
information is still too vague to con-
vince the hardened skeptics.
Admire Personality
The personality of the American ex-
plorer is held in such esteem in Brit
ish scientific circles that those best
qualified to judge are the readieGt to
explain away the seemingly. obscure
points in the meager story of the eX-
plorer thus far available.
The general sentiment is summed up
in Tia Evening Standard, which, after
a leiN;thy review Of the pros and cons,
says:
ut is permissible to feel profound
sympathy for Commander Peary, the
man of many trials and struggles, who
was so little satisfied after having
reached a point nearer the pole than
any other man, that he spoke of his
achievements as AN empty bauble
compared to the splendid jewel ! have
been striving for That splendid
Jewell has fallen to the possession of
a rival There is nothing improbable
in the explorers statement"
Major Leonard Darwin, president of
the Royal Geographical society, said:
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03

dolph Francke made preparations for
the expedition.
Mr.. Bradley left in August, 1907, on
his fishing schooner to return to New
York, leaving the determined Brook
lyn man and his party to seek the pole.
Had Different Idea
DR.. Cook had an entirely different
idea of how the trip to the pole ought
to be attempted from that followed by
Peary and other explorers. He calcu-
lated upon going through Manson
straits and doing his travelling in the
winter months. His reasons for choos-
ing the period of extreme cold was
that the ice fields would be smoother
and that there would be less danger
of encountering the Jagged passages
of ice through which travel Is ex-
tremely difficult.
When Mr. Bradley returned to New
York in October, 1907, he told of DR..
Cooks scheme and the preparations
for the trip.
Or Cook told me before he left
Gloucester that it would be a great
thing If we tried to reach the pole
before we returned" raid Mr.. Brad
ley. II did not give him any encour-
agement then, but thinking that he
might insist upon making the attempt
when we reached the farthest point
north on our trip, ordered provisions
put aboard that would furnish an Arc
tic expedition for three years.
Had All Requisites
"When the vessel sailed, therefore, we
had everything necessary for a polar
expedition. On our trip we went as
far north as Etah, Peary's former win
ter quarters. Here we enjoyed a fine
view from the high hills of Smith
Sound. There was no great amount of
ice in the sound, so DR.. Cook, the first
mate and myself took a motor boat
and went through Smith sound to 79
degrees north latitude.
There the farthermost settlements OF
the Eskimos are, and we spent sew
eral days among them. DR.. Cook
knows the Eskimo language and had
no difficulty in conVerSing with them.
He had been up there on Peary's first
expedition and some of the Eskimos
remembered him.
"When we returned to Etah we
brought the greater part Of the Eskimo
settlement back with us. Once back
at Etah, conditions looked so favorable
for dash to the pole that DR.. Cook
could not resist the impulse.
Got Plenty of Dogs
We found we could get all the dogs
we wanted and all the natives that DR..
Cook wished to have with him. The na-
tives had already cached their winter
supply of food.
II helped them kill walrus, seals,
white whales and narwhals to augment
the supply.
1.-THE Eskimo women were kept busy
catching Arctic hares and birds to
make their winter clothing.
"Dr. Cook concluded to stay and
make the dash for the pole as soon as
feasible after the long dark night
should begin to break DR.. Cook took
about fifty Eskimos, men, women and
children, with him to a place farther
north of Etah, and established winter
quarters. With him also was Rudolph
Francke, who was anxious to accom-
pany DIR. Cook in his attempt"
William L. Cook, brother of the ex-
pIorer, states that DR.. Cook will now
devote his energies to discovering the
south pole.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03

of polar expeditions, and asserts that
the discoverer of the pole should have
followed route Of his own.
DR.. Wolf says that scientific investi-
cation of the claims advanced by DR..
Cook very soon will determine whether
or not the latter actually stood at the
pole.
According to Dr. Wolf it would be
impossible for an explorer to manufac-
ture proofs which would Withstand the
microscopic scrutiny of scientific men.
DR.. Wolf explains further that the
dash of Cook was not taken at time
unusual for Arctic pole chasers.
The date of reaching the pole is
placed by DIR. Cook as April 21, 1908.
DR.. Wolf shows that Peary reached his
farthest northern point April 26, the
duke of the Abruzzi April 25, Nansen
April Z and Peary in 1902. April Fl.
These dates all demonstrate that the
various explorers made their trip at
the same period of the year as Cook.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
D'ABRUzZI PRAISES
AMERICAN EXPLORER

ROME, Sept. 2.-The duke of the
Abruzzi has been keenly interested in
polar exploration, and before he left
for the Himalaya mountains expressed
the opinion that DR.. Cook was
perhaps the man destined to ac-
complish this great feat, which may
be the greatest achievement of the
twentieth century"
He based his opinion on what he had
heard of DR.. Cooks former journeys
and his preparations for this one.
In a letter received recently at Turin
from the duke, the royal explorer asked
If anything had been heard from Or.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
CRITICISES DR.. COOK
BECAUSE HE WENT BY
ROBERT PEARY'S ROUTE

PORTLAND, Ore, Sept. 2-Dr. L. o.
Wolf, surgeon with Commander Peary's
expedition of 1866, and at present a
resident of this city. while in no way
DR.. Cooks accomplishment
in reaching the north pole, is inclined
to criticise the discoverer for his al
legged following of a portion of the
route which Peary has been working
out for the last twenty years.
DR.. Wolf says that DR.. Cook in thus
using Peary's route violated the ethics
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
SCIENTIST BELIEVES
NORTH POLE USEFUL

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 2.-Dr. Ed
win S. Hueston of this city, scientist
and author who has written on the
subject of the North Pole and Its sur
roundings, discussing DR.. Cooks Polar
expedition, said:
Il have always been of the opinion
that the northern regions of the world
are by no means useless from a COM
mercial standpoint. Many of us doubt
less will yet see the hyperbOrian, OF
under NORTH boreas, regions, carefully
cultivated, as it were, for the ivory of
walrus the eiderdown of various Arctic
birds and probably If deep waters are
found for the cultivation of the whale
and fur SEAL"
Believes II Fake
"After reading the dispatches today
am convinced more than ever that the
reported discovery of the North Pole
is a fake" was the emphatic declara-
ton of Rear Admiral George Melville,
United States navy, retired, who is
qualified to comment on North Pole
questions because of his intimacy with
the northern regions as well as his
familiarity with the progress of expedi-
tions thither within the last forty years
81 do not mean that DR.. Cook is a
faker. l do not know him personally
But from my experiences L would say
that there Is notnlnS TO confirm IDe
original dispatches. Some of the best
equipped expeditions have cost from
$15O,0O0 to 100000. L know that DR.
Cook had no such outfit.
'There is nothing in the story thus
far told to indicate that Dr. Cook has
found anything new.
Doubts the Story
Indeed, 1 cannot see why the re-
ported story Of his expedition could not
have been written by anyone who had
reached within 100 miles of the pole. /
could sit in my office and invent obser-
Vations of all sorts.
"Yet no one can positively deny the
truthfulness of DR.. Cooks story. have
heard that the Royal Geographical so
ciety is reported to have discredited it.
If this is so 1 will reiterate more
strongly than ever that DR.. Cooks al
legged discovery Of the North Pole is
highly improbable.
according to Dr. Cooks story, no
mention is made of the travel from
April IA to April 21, 1908. His bearings
on the former date were, 1t is reported,
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
NOT SANGUINE
Federal Officials Declare Discovery of
North Pole Will Not Materially
Affect Territorial Possessions
of Uncle Sam
CONTINUED from Pare one,

Continued from PaEe onel
to be absolutely discreet and taciturn.
Other people have misunderstood him,
and it win be necessary to await his
arrival at Copenhagen for the facts
Opinions of Press
The London newspapers are not
wholly convinced by the narrative, and
insist that it will be necessary to
await more details and reports. They
are unable to conceive how a task
which has beaten the ablest Polar ex-
plorers provided with everything that
money could purchase would have been
achieved in such a seemingly offhand
and unprecedented manner and with
such ease and quickness. At the same
time. they pay tributes of admiration to
Cook.
The Daily Telegraph says:
"It is for the moment beside the
question to discuss the accuracy or
probability of DIR. Cooks statement. 1t
is neither just nor generous to question
in any way the genuiheness of such q
claim before full details are made pub
lie by the traveller.
Have Much Sympathy
Indeed we have much sympathy
because of the difficulties by which Dr..
Cook or any other solitary explorer is
hampered in attempting to convince a
Skepttcal WOrlQ OF geographical eApeIlS
of the reliability of his observations
and reports. We trust DR.. Cook will
meet with the fairness his particular
case especially invites"
The Morning Post says; 'If DR.. Cook
has found a new track to the pole in
so short a time as thirty-five days
others can follow in his footsteps and
verify his story for themselves.
when the matter has been settled
beyond all doubt the civilized world
will acclaim Cook as one of the greatest
explorers of all time"
Opinion of Experts
DR.. Hugh R. Hill, former librarian Of
the Royal Geographical society is skep-
tical, but says that great weight must
be attached to the opinion of Polar eX-
perts in America.
Sir Martin Conway, a noted explorer,
thinks that DR.. Cooks claim could be
accepted If his story, on examination,
is found to hang together.
Sir George S. Naros, who commanded
the Challenger in 1873 and was with an
Arctic expedition in 1875, says:
''I should ask DR.. Cook to what dis
tance from the pole did the Polar land
extend and. whether he communicated
with Pearys party"
Prof Milne, the seismologist, thinks
that if DR.. Cook has a few properly
taken photographs of the sky at the
pole on April q, 1908, they may assist
in determining the position he reached.