The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-03-18
Doubt on Pole Hunt.

a group Of men I'm the Radisson today,
discussing the ePary and Cook ex.
PLOTS. ut would not be possible for
man to take with him Instruments
of sufficient accuracy to determine the
exact location Of the pole. note that
Peary has amended his original state.
ments about the pole, and now says
he has been in the region of the
pole.
The variations OF the compass in
the Arctic regions are so great that
the instrument is almost useless at
times. The observations of the sun,
also, are misleading, owing to the re.
fraction of the rays That Pearys OBJ.
servations on his return journey were
not accurate is shown by the fact that
he often wandered from the direct
route to the starting point. II these
observations were not always reliable
II Is fair to assume that the observa.
lions on his journey north may have
been faulty at times"
Has No Opinion.
What is your own opinion? Do
YOU think Peary reached the pole?"
he was asked.
Il have no opinion about II what
ever" responded Mr.. Sverdrup curt.
ly.
II is well known that Sverdrup and
Peary are not mutual admirers. Some
years ago, when Captain Sverdrup, an
nounced his intention to lead an expe-
dition in the Fran to explore west Of
Greenland, Lieutenant Peary made
vigorous protest, contending that that
was the route he had chosen to find
the north pole, and that Captain Sver-
drup was seeking to deprive him of his
honors. The matter was quieted
down when Captain Sverdrup an
nounced that he had no intention or
purpose was to explore unknown re-
gions. The controversy was sharp and
did not end in amicable relations.
Smiles for Cook.
Captain Sverdrup smiled when the
name of Dr. Frederick A. Cook was
mentioned. He was inclined like the
majority of Norwegans and Danes, to
accept DR. Cooks statements at first,
but he ridicules his so.called observa-
tons. He doubts that they are manu-
featured, arguing that if made by
skilled navigator they would be more
nearly faultless.
"Dr. Cook is no navigator" said
Captain Sverdrup. This is shown by
the fact that he did not come out from
the north to his starting point or base
of supplies on Heiberg land, but far
to the west.
IL am inclined to believe that Cook
thinks that he has been near the pole.
After ascertaining, as best he could.
where he was he might have figured
that ii he travelled certain distance
in a certain direction he would reach
the pole, but this is faulty reasoning.
The talk Of walking around the pole
and reaching place where there is no
latitude and no longitude is, of course,
very amusing"
Sails With Nansen.
Captain Sverdrup will be remember
ed as the navigator of the Fran, in
which DR.. Fridtjof Nansen made the
famous drift which eventually brought
him fame and wealth, the latter being
derived from the sale of his book,
"Farthest North" and long tour Of
lectures in America and Europe.
Later, Captain Sverdrup in the
Fran, which had proved such stanch
vessel in the polar ice, made a long
cruise into the unknown regions west
of Greenland discovering and charting
many islands and seas, and bringing
back much scientific information. His
story is told in his book, New Land"
In the point of contribution to science,
authorities maintain that Captain
Sverdrups work far transcends in
value the work of many whose names
are more often heard. He has stead
tasty refused to take the lecture plat
form.
A grim smile came to his lips when
he read in the morning papers that
Matt Henson, Peary's cook, is making
considerable money by his lectures on
Arctic exploration.
Never Again to Pole.
AohCu IL hS hhoNhNi
polar expedition. Captain Sverdrup
said something that meant never
again" He will go north, probably
many times, but for revenue only. He
is engaged in chasing whales, and he
came to Minneapolis to confer with
citizens who propose to engage in
whaling in Alaskan waters.
1t was Captain Sverdrup's plan to
carry on his work in the waters OF
Greenland, but the Danish government
vetoed his proposition on the ground
that it would deprive the Eskimos of
their means of sustenance.
There is no merit to such an ar
gument," said Mr.. Sverdrup, for the
Eskimos, in their little kayaks or skin
boats, cannot undertake to chase and
kill the big whales, but we are com.
PEELED to abide by the decision"
Whale Meat for Beef.
II the local plans are developed,
Captain Sverdrup may become a for.
midable competitor to the meat trust
by exploiting whale meat. Under mod.