New-York tribune., 1912-03-08

Il know Shackleton very well, said
Professor Osborn He told me when
he was here that Scott would undoubt-
edly reach the pole. He said all ne
needed was provisions to reach 1t. l am
quite certain that Scott reached the
pole.
II also know Amundsen personally,
and there is one thing which makes
me believe that Amundsen might
have reached the pole also. and
that is that Amundsen went by an en-
tjrely different route than Scott and he
could not know If Scott reached it un-
less he found the records left by Scott
Hartley Ferrar who was with Scott
on the first expedition told me in Egypt
Va last summer that he was positive Scott
would reach the pole. Personally l am
very glad he did. and hope he got there
first. | am also glad that the expedition
was English, for England contributed
most toward Antarctic exploration, and
their determination is shown by their
sending Scott right on the heels Of
Shackleton
Noiii'''' ''''S
time such as arose over the discovery of
the North Pole by ,Peary. Amundsen is
a man of the highest character and
would believe him without hesitation If
he said ne reached the Pole"
Fala Thinks Both May Have Won.
When informed early this morning that
news from Captain Roald Amundsen fold
L, h. ToI.
in this city interested in polar exploration
were overjoyed though many of them
favored the Briusher because of personal
acquaintance with Captain Scott
But all declared with emphasis that the
word Of the Norwegian was as good as
his bond. and would be as acceptable to
them as the most convincing scientific
data
Anthony Fiala. secretary of the Ex-
plorers' Club who commanded the second
Ziegler North Pole expedition in 1903 O5
was routed out Of bed in his Bay Ridge
nome by servant to learn of the news.
When he had heard the story of Amund
sens discovery. he exclaimed
Well I'd get up at O'Clock any morn
ing to learn that news. What news is
there of Scott?'
When told there was none as yet. Mr.
Captain Scott might have also found the
pole.
1T is likely that Scott. too may have
reached the goal" he said. But I am
glad Amundsen won. We were good
friends, and he dined with my family at
our home just before he started on the
"trip.
He said TO me then I'm going to find
the North Pole just as I went through
tho Northwest Passage He set out with
that intention. but when his vessel was in
southern European waters he learned OF
Peary's success and that turned his
thoughts to the ice fields of the extreme
south Well, I'm glad he won"
OF the possibility that Captain Scott also
had been successful Mr.. Fiala said:
Captain Scott sent me letter from New
Zealand last fall just before he set out for
the South Pole and 7 figured out that he
would reach the South Pole about Christ
mas. Everything taken into consideration,
this is about the time he would get back
to a civilized part
His expedition was equipped as no other
party was equipped that penetrated the po-
lar regions His Siberian ponies. am sure,
stood him in excellent stead: The ponies,
by the way. were first used by the Jackson
Harmsworth expedition to Franz Josef
Land in 1s94-'97. The practicability of using
the ponies in polar exploration was not
fully demonstrated until the second ziegler
expedition.
Il feel confident tpat Captain Scott has
also reached the South, Pole. for. besides
having the necessary pluck and daring, he
is an excellent navigator, and has had ex
perienee In. the Antarctic Then he was no
doubt aided by the knowledge gained by
Lieutenant Shackleton in the latters spen-
did dash for the South Pole in 1sos'09 when
he came within III miles OF the coveted
goal.
Captain Bradley S. Osbon. former secre-
tary of the Arctic Club who is now in his
eighty-hfth year. and a warm personal
friend Of Amundsen. said when he heard the
news: =
We'll knew he would do it. Just be-
fore he left this city he said he would reach
the pole. He meant the North Pole. but ne
found the only one left to find.
The race has never meant anything in
my mind. but victory for Amundsen. He
was the more experienced Of the two. He
was far more experienced in polar explo
ration than his rival, and he knew the ice
packs as the farmer does his fields
Credit where credit is due. and the honor
is Amundsen's"
DR.. Frederick A. Cook, who discovered"
tho North Pole, and spent two years in
the Antarctic as surgeon to the FIRST Of tie
modern Antarctic expedtions-the Belgian
expedition of 1897 '9s-thinks II possible that
both men discovered the South Pole.
Or. Cook was at the Prince George, hav-
ing Just returned from a lecture tour that
embraced several cities upstate. He ex-
piained that Captain Scott was delayed be-
cause of his having to pick up his land
party at Cape Adair
1T is not only possible that Scott and
Amundsen crossed each other, but 1t 10
likely that both men met at the pole.
said DR. Cook. with a smile. Captain
Scott at the very latest ought to be heard
from in-ten days
For weeks the world has been awaiting
the announcement that might he made in
the English. Norwegian. German or Jap
snese tongue. Fer nearly a year, how
ever. II has been apparent that the contest
had resolved itself into a duel between the
Norwegian expedition, under Captain Road
Amundsen, and the British party with Cap
tain Scott as leader. When the German ex-
pedition, under Lieutenant Filchner start
ed on May ( of last year. Captain Amund-
sen. according to reports, was already
marching toward the pole over the ice.
CAPTAIN Scott's expedition was within the
Antarctic Circle and was preparing for the
final dash Lieutenant Shirase. at the head
Of the Japanese explorers. had returned to
Svdnev n 6 w having been turned