New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14

tthe intervening sixty geographical
miles is a problem" says the write.
but in order TO he perfectly fair -
both explorers and TO allow for errors
| in observation one might split the dif-
ference at $3.50 north and consider
that latitude as a dividing line between
the lands discovered respectively ty
! Cook and Peary."
"The second important discovery OF
Cooks is the glacial land ice in 81
north to 81 north-SS north" says tine
writer. "A closely similar occurrence
was observed by Pcary on his l9o6 trip
| in about sc north. 60 west
But the most important particular in
which the two men agree in the mind
| of Mr.. Balch. is IN their description Of
the ice al the pole. Cook reported that
II was "a smooth sheet OF level ice"
The writer adds "If that description
of the North Pole is accurate. the writ
ing of il by Cook. first OF all men. on
the face of it is proof that Cook is the
dscoverer of the North Pole
The Snow Was Purple.
But not only was the ice AT the polo
smooth and level. but the snow Their.
was purple" in the story Of Cook. a
detail in which he is again borne OFT
by Peary.
Purple snow" says the writer. is a
linguistic expression. an attempt L.
suggest with words what Frank VIII
bert Stokes has done with paints in his
superb pictures Of the polar regions.
Hence" ne says. the use Of the word
| purple 10y Or. Cook. who il not Il
trained artist. proves that he has the
eye Of an impressionist painter and
that he is an extremely accurate OBJ
server Of his surroundings. .
That Cooks description is accurate
is in the next place certified TO by
Peary. Peary corrOborates Cook ALSO
lutely about conditions AT the North
Pole. and Cook is corroborated by
Peary, not only by what ?eary saw
| but b. what Pcary did. II there was
anything in the Western Arctic he-
tween the North Pole and S1.i1 north
but an endless field Of purple sno"s.'
smooth and slippery. Peary could not
| have covered the intervening 1875 geo
graphical miles in two days and a few
hours. Peary. therefore. from observa-
ton and from actual physical perform
ance proves that Cook most impo.-
tant statement is true
The evidence il thus examined. step
by step. The statements Of the two
men are COMPARED. word by word, and
this is the conclusion reached.
In view Of all these facts il becomes
certain that Cook must have written
his description of the North Pole from
his own observations. for until Cook
actually traversed the Western Arctic
between s. degrees north and the North
Pole. and told the world the facts. NJ
one could have said whether in hat
area there was land or sea, nor have
stated ANYTHING of the conditions Of its
ice. with IT'S unusual, perhaps unique,
fiat surface.
But Cook. in his first cable dispatch.
stated definitely and positively and
finally that at the North Pole there was
no land. but sea, frozen over INTO
smooth ice. and Peary confirmed Coos 5
statements.
Cook was accurate, and the )nly
possible inference is that Cook was ac-
curate because Cook knew, and tn
further inevta BILE conclusion l. thdt
since Cook knew COOK had been at the
North Pole"
IT is TO Professor Donald 4. MacMil-
Ian. leader Of the Crocker Land expc-
dition, which is 10 start out from this
city on July 3. that Mr. Balch looks for
q wholesale confederation Of COOKS
story. TO disproye or prove to the sat
isfaction Of all geographers the eXis--
/ az I and -