The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-07
Shows Text of Alleged Tele-
gram to President Taft
Protesting Against Signing
Peary Bill.
MOST SENSATIONAL
CHARGES ARE MADE
Reflect Upon Peary's Char
actcr and Are Unfit to
Publish-Cook Is Now on
Lecturing Tour.

Tortured by his own ostracism from
scientific and popular favor and the
recognition which the national con.
grcss and President Taft are ready to
bestow on Robert A. Peary. discover
or of the North Pole, retiring him
with the rank of a rear admiral of the
United States navy, DR.. Frederick S.
Cook. who first claimed but now de-
MES he discovered the pole. and who
was branded as the most colossal liar
Of the century. on Monday afternoon
nj tho Pennsylvania depot gave a Pal
iadium representative the text OF a
telegram which he says he sent to
President Taft, advising him not to
sign the bill retiring Pcary as a rear
admiral and making the most vicious
and sensational charges rcflectlng on
the character of Peary. The text of
the telegram is unfit to publish.
DR.. Cook was In the city about three
quarters Of an hour Monday afternoon
awaiting "A train to Dayton. lie arriv-
ed here from Chicago. lie lectured at
Dayton last evening and will be in the
Middle West for perhaps week or
more.
Ready to Support Charges.
DIR. Cook told a Palladium rcprescn-
tative that he was ready at any time
to back up his assertions with his
fists and his money.
Declaring that he will yet prove to
the American public that he Is the real
discoverer of the North Pole. at least
the first. the explorer said he was
now on the lecture platform to prove
this and he now believes he sees, the
turning Of the worm"
The telegram addressed TO the
White House and which he permitted
q" copy TO be taken, was telegraphed
W Omaha. Neb.. on Monday while
10 from Salt Lake City to Chica.
cary bill was passed by the
ss aud Is now up to the Presi-
Tor signature. II provides that
4onor to the explorer. the United
ttes government shall advance him
To the rank OF rear admiral and re-
tire him on the salary of an officer of
that rank. The Endorsement to Peary's
claims by the national congress SO in
censed DIR. Cook that he sent pro-
test to the President. In genera; 1t
is an attack on the character of
Peary In direct assertions. charging
him with many grave offenses.
The Mildest Part.
In conclusion the telegram said:
And for him your hand Is about to
put the seal Of clean approval upon
the dirtiest campaign OF bribery and
black dishonor that the world has ev.
er known. II you can close your eye
to this. sign the Peary bill"
It Ii about the mildest statement in
the entire message.
Poary reached the Pole on April 6.
1909, according to his records, while
DIR. Cook claims to have discovered
the top OF the world on April 81, 1908.
The announcement by each discover.
or that he had reached the goal Of ex.
piorers' ambitions Of the world, was
made about the same time. DIR. Cook
was branded n liar. and his records
called fakes, or ut least lacking suf
ficient evidence to prove his claims
rope. he admitted Monday, but refus
ing to state just where he secreted
himself as this In matter which he
win touch upon In an article to be pub
slished soon In a popular magazine.
In answer to n question. DIR. Cook
said he did not give - for sym
pathy or money, but he was after
what he believed was due him in re-
cognition Of his Pole discovery feat
lie said that II was with the purpose
Of giving the public his evidence al
first hand. that he was now ON the .ec'
ture platform. lie said the West had
been very friendly to him and he be-
licvcd it's verdict is for him.
A. TO M. Mckinley.
DR.. Cook also claims TO have ascend
cd Mt. Mckinley, the highest peak In
CONTINUED on PAGE Eighty