Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-07
COINCIDENCE IN THE ARCTIC
EXPLOITS OF PEARY AND COOK.
Comment of Newspapers on Polar
Achievement Of Two Americans
Within a Single Year.

away IN the IdVOraDIe lIhpi esSion VI lliS
personality and in the credit of Rasmus-
sen in Greenland and Sverdrup and
Amundsen in Copenhagen. All the world
was facilitating him.
Now upon the adulation OF the crowd
breaks the first message after long si-
lence from the man whom few will doubt,
from the gray veteran of the arctic teas,
that he too has planted the Stars and
Stripes at the summit of the world ana
the goal of his hopes. The history OF ex-
cidence than this-that two men OF the
same nation, teacher and pupil In their
quest and neighbors in the same quiet
community at home, should emerge out
of the darkness and long silence or the
far north. In different continents, so near
ly at the same moment, to claim the tn
umph for which men have fought ana
suffered and died during three hundred
years of grim endeavor.
Marvellous Coincidence.
From the New York Herald.
While the world is rining with plaudits
for DR.. Cook as the discoverer OF the
north pole, a message-by wireless, land
lines and commercial cable-comes from
Mr.. Peary announcing that he also sue
ceeded in reaching that long-yearned-for
goal AS DR.. Cook reports that he
reached the pole on the 21st OF April. last
year, while Mr.. Peary did not leave Etah
on his journey north until five months
later, it is evident that DR.. Cook was the
first to reach the apex OF the earth. Tnis
in no way detracts from the glory of Mr..
Peary's achievement.
Eft Tu, Peary!
From the New York Sun.
The news from Commander Peary, brief
as it Is, is astonishing; and there is no
one to whom it should be more welcome
and more gratifying than to DR.. Cook.
We do not mean to imply that Peary
must have recovered the brass tube and
flag which the former explorer left at the
pole, but the fact that another expedi-
ton has attained the goal so soon after
the first lends to DR.. Cooks achievement
a curious quality of acceptability. More
over, there is nothing more improbable
than that Peary should have attained the
pole and failed in some specific manner
to have acquainted himself with the fact
that Cook had been before him. And we
know of nobody who more than Peary
will hasten to acclaim the prowess and
the glory of his predecessor.
But what bewildering reflection! Two
discoveries! Both Americans and both
from the same suburb! However. the
Great Negation is no more. The most
illusory and refractory of distractions is
resolved. and in it's very discovery is
forever lost.
From the New York Times.
Commander Peary discovered the north
pole April 6, in the present year His
distinguished w-discoverer, DIR. Fred
erick A. Cook, announces that his dis
covery was made nearly a year previous
ly. 1t is a startling coincidence that the
two discoveries should be announced to
the world at so nearly the same time 1t
lc a hfnrv hot .1@,,0
with separate expeditions, should have
reached the pole so near together and
lived to tell the tale, after SO many others
have lost their lives in attempting to
reach 1t. But the one thing certain is
that the north pole has been discovered
by an American explorer.
Peary's Polar Triumph.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Pearys laconic message. sent by way
of Labrador and Newfoundland, telling
of the attainment of his life's ambition
and of the browning with success of
nearly a quarter of century of almost
ceaseless effort, will unquestionably mark
an epoch in the history Of geographical
research His achievement, unlike that
which DIR. Cook claims to have made, is
not the fruit of sudden impulse or of
fortuitous circumstances, but Is the Gull
animation of nearly a lifetime of siren
uous endeavor. the outcome of faith
which suffered all things and a deter
mination and courage that knew no de-
the world of science to doubt his word
or begrudge him the need OF praise which
is his just due.
Peary and the Pole.
From the New York Tribune.
The not quite unexpected has happened,
and Commander Peary's announcement
L.. oIo no ,neth mill
be received with mingled emotions by
his fellow-countrymen. The enthusiasm
and delight which it would otherwise
have inspired will be modified by the fact
that his title to the distinction of being
the first to perform the feat is disputed
by another American. Ii the claims of
DIR. Cook should be verified. the whole
world, while not Withholding from him
the highest honors, would deeply SYM
pathize with the feelings of the naval Of
ficer, whose ambition for nearly twenty
years has been single goal. If for
tune had bestowed her favors in exact
proportion to the time and effort devoted
by the rival explorers to the task there
can be no doubt who would have won
the prize. Perhaps even yet 1t may be
wise to wait until more Is known about
the actual achievements of both before
attempting to decide which is entitled to
the greater fame.
EeaTyS f1ual success
From the Philadelphia Press.
Robert E. Peary's dispatch crowns the
heroic struggle Of a lifetime. No one will
question the success he has won or chal-
lenge his achievement. He has given his
days to the work. He began twenty-three
years ago. He has for years together
made Greenland his abode, when he was
not by lecture, book and personal plea
raising money for his next trip. He has
mapped north Greenland. He has added
great tracts to geographical knowledge.
He has stormed the icy BARRIERS of the
pole again and again.
Fooled and defeated he has returned to
the charge. A single great effort satisfies
most arctic explorers. Once they go and
not again. Peary has never stayed his
long march to the pole. Manned and
| famed, one foot part gone and the other
not whole. risking life year by year, fac
| ing unimaginable perils. his last food gone
more than once close to death from star
walton, nearly drowned in his last trip.
saved from a crevasse by the veriest
| chance In another, knowing every risk and
| daring every danger, he has kept to the
| life purpose of his youth. Success has
come at last in full measure.
Pole Climbing.
| From the Baltimore American.
a.