New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14
CITES PEARY TO PROVE
COOK REACHED POLE
Edwin Swift BaICh. a Geog-
rapher. Sits Evidence and
ReopenS Controversy.
IIpHOLDS DOCTORS STORY
Purple Snow and Level Ice at
Pole a Clincher for Brooklyn
Mans Tale of Discovery,
to Mind of Scientist.

Which was it: Cook or Pcary? Who
discovered the North Pole? Everybody
thought the question had been settled
long ago but now comes an eminent
eeographer and explorer who says. over
his name that both GOT to the Big
Nail" and that it was the Brooklyn
doctor who did it first. And in defence
Of his belief he cites chapter and verse.
and uses Pcary's own story to prove
that his hated rival il was who first
stood at the top of the Garth. where
every one of the cardinal points is
South"
The intrepid dcfcndcr-and it takes
real bravery to take such a stand to-
day in the scientific world-the intrepid
defender Of Cook is Edwin Swift Balch,
fellow of the Association for the Ad
yancemcnt Of Science. member of the
Wyoming Historical and Geological So
ciety. the Franklin Institute. American
Philosophical. American Geographical
and Royal Geographical Societies.
writer on arctic. antarctic geographical
and chronological topics for the learned
societies of tho world. Or. Balch lives
at No. 1412 Spruce street. Philadel-
phia. and the title of his book. just
published by Campion & Co. Of Phil
adelphia. is The North Pole and Brad
ley Land"
"AIl Travellers Called Liars"
From time immemorial travellers
have been called liars" says Mr. Balch
i'm a chapter devoted To travellers who
were first doubted and afterward vim
dicated." and il is on this general as
sumption Of their Munchausen-like pro-
clivitics that much Of the weight of ar
cument depends. But most of all the
truthfulness Of the doctors assertion
that on April Il. 1905, he and his two
Esquimau boys. I-took-a-shoo ana All
pee-lah. reached the goal and were
the only pulsating creatures in a dead
world of ice" is shown by the tact
that conditions reported by Cook as
existing there were corroborated by
Peary.
The man who breaks into the un-
known may say what he chooses and
present such astronomical observations
as he sees fit" says Mr. Balch, but
his proof rests on his word. But if the
next traveller corroborated the discov-
erer. instantly the first mans state
mcnts are UNNECESSARILY strengthened.
TO solve such a problem as that of
who discovered the North Pole. this
comparative method seems 10 the
writer the only one available. 1t is
NOT a matter of belief. it is a matter cf
COMPARISON and reasoning. 1t is not
the evidence which Cook produces
which in itself alone could prove Cooks
Claims. 1t is the geographical evidence
offered BY both Cook and Peary. which,
when carefully compared, affords. in
the writer's judgment. the only means
If arriving at a conclusion. II is
Pearv's statements and observations
which prove, as far as can be proved
at present. Cooks statements.
All DISCOVERIES First Doubted
The writer then mentions a score OF
the great discoverers and explorers II
history who have been DETAINED and
hera,ed by their contemporaries, vet
whose achievements have in time
proved them to be truth tellers. Marco
Polo. greatest Of medieval travellers
was generally discredited." Amerigo
Vespucci Ito this day remains under a
cloud for things ne did not do" Fernao
Mendes Pinto. Nathaniel b. Palmer,
Robert Johnson. James Weddel, Won
Drygalski, Nordenskjold, Bruce. Char
cot, Dr. Krapf, DR.. Robmann, Du
Chaillu. Stanley. Livingstone, Golfer all
have been reviled as fabricators, yet all
have been honored by those who came
later. he says.
There are three records of DR..
Cooks journey Of 1885" says the
writer. Cooks first announcement
was long cablegram sent from Ler-
wick. Shetland Islands. and published
in the New York Herald Of Septem-
her .. 1909. The full original narrative
was sent Immediately after this and
published in the New York Herald