Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-16
DIR. FREDERICK COOKS SCONQUEST OF THE POLE

that his accuser would be compelled to produce his proofs.
 pr. Cook Straightforward.
 Commander Peary now insists that he can wait for months before he will submit the reasons for believing that Dr. Cook has given the world a false account The attitude of Dr. Cook is straightforward and manly through out, and he has proven his character by the way in which he has borne himself under trying circumstances. It seems entirely improbable that Dr. Cook is in any way deviating from the truth. I do not believe for mos ment that he could go to Denmark. where polar exploration has been car ried on for centuries, ara tell any story which would deceive Danish scientists. who are familiar with the exact conditions The Danes own Greenland. and they are familiar with all conditions in the Arctic. 1T any genius. and they have accepted the account of Dr. Cook as the truth.
 What sheer nonsense it is to say that Dr. Cook could fake observations. His journal when submitted to criti- cal examination ought in itself to practically bear out his story. There are so many things by which his story can be checked. such as the bearing of heavenly bodies the variation of the compass and the readings of the barometer. In the hands of experts who would have access to his original journal or field book he could be tripped up at every turn. Does any body believe that a man of his expert ence does not know that? He would not do SO absurd A thing as to come back to the scientific world with q story which could be riddled at every turn if it were false.
 .It is a deplorable affair. How much better it would have been for Commander Peary to have said that he was not aware that Dr. Cook had reached the pole or that he might have made a mistake in his observa- tions and offered to submit the ques- ton. Now that Commander Peary has seen fit to spoil the whole thing by throwing mud over the wires, the ay- Nerage man will have about the same interest in the affair that he would in a first class prizefight. lt would seem that the public would now demand that both men prove their claims. as there is no logical reason why one should be believed and the other dls- credited.
 "One thing is certain. that now one must stand and the other fall. and the one who falls will fall hard. If Commander Peary does not substan- tiate his charges against Dr. Cook he will be in bad position. II Dr. Cook Is what Commander Peary says ne is, he will hardly be able to live in this country.
 T cannot sec" continued the cap tain. why the story of either man that he had been 10 the pole should be discredited. The conditions seem to have been such that it was possi- ble to reach the pole. The account of Dr. Cook was at first criticised be- cause his journey at the average rate of fifteen miles day by sledge over ice was considered excessive. Com mander Peary says that he went at a rate nearly twice as fast. There are no substantial variations i'm the news paper accounts which the two explor- CTS have telegraphed to this country.
 'I see the suggestion made by Gen. Thomas w. Hubbard, president of the Peary Arctic club. that Dr. Cook may have heard of Commander Peary's discovery Of the pole and have made for civilization as fast as he could to claim the discovery for himself. Those who are familiar with conditions In the Arctic will at once see the ab- surdity of such a theory. As a mat ter Of fact. the Esklmos seemed to have spread the story of pr. Cooks
  Dr. Cook intended to come out of the Arctic with his story and was pre- vented from so doing by the advance of summer He was in place where he could not possibly have heard of the success of Commander Peary In reaching the pole.
 Commander Peary. with every. fs- cility at his command came into com- municaticsi as soon as he could. He lost no time. Dr. Cook could not have obtained his story in any way He returns with a circumstantial account of his discovery which stands the tests of the Danish explorers and I see no reason why anybody should discredit 1t.
 q say what I have without any animosity toward Commander Peary. have lived with him: I undertook the contract of building hls ship after it had been relinqushed by Captain Dix. and I was. from the day the keel was laid in charge of the construc- ton. How well the Roosevelt was put together and she was built for strength, every one knows by this time I hoped that Commander Peary would succeed. but cannot stand for a man who thinks he Is safe on the ladder trying to kick the other fellow off,"
 Frank Wilbert Stokes. a we'll known artist who painted the Arctic deco rations for the Eskimo room Of the American Museum of Natural His tory. which embody his observations on two Peary expeditions and one to the Antarctic. expressed yesterday hls
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