Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-02-12
DIR. FRIEDRICH A. COOK.

In writing the following brief ac-
count of the Cook and Peary contro-
versy, l shall discuss it frankly as l
see it. I have given the subject care
full study, and | will state every argu-
ment truthfully and with all sinceri-
ty of purpose. There are points in the
controversy that are, and always will
be disputed, but shall give some facts
which will have to be reckoned with
before one can form fair conclusion
The Cook and Peary controversy is
one which has risen in regard to the
question, "Who Discovered the North
Pole?" Cook declared to the world
on his return from his polar expedi-
ton % that he had discovered the
Pole. A few days later Peary flashed
the news by wireless, (2) that he had
also reached it. Having heard of
Cooks rival claims, Peary declared
that they were absolutely false and
that Cook had never been at the North
Pole. AS a result, Cook lost much of
his support and Peary was honored by
many as the real discoverer. The ver-
bal struggle which followed, and is
still being carried on by Cooks sup
porters In order to get proper recog-
milton, 80 is all embraced in the con-
troversy, az.
This question is in my mind, the
most important one that ever develop
ed concerning discovery or explora-
ton. (5). For over three hundred
years men have left their country and
the comforts of home. Millions of dol
lars have been spent, noble lives have
been sacrificed and the foremost ma
tions of the world have been interest
ed in the attempt to reach the North
Pole. The significance of the dis
covery is best expressed by ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt when he said of Peary,
| (6) "He has made all dwellers in the
civilized world his debtors, but above
all, we his fellow Americans are his
debtors. He has performed one of the
greatest feats of our time
If the President of the United
States could say this concerning one
of the men implicated in the contro-
versy, we can all see how important
one it is.
| Many people think it is a question
that ought to be settled between the
two individuals involved. This is not
a private discussion, CD because one
of the leading men of our navy is one
of the contestants. He wears naval
| uniform, is paid from our national
, treasury and is drawing pension of
: $4,000 a year. These facts alone are
= enough to make it national issue.
) Before discussing the men them
t selves or entering into the details of
the question, it is best that we should
know what they were seeking, just
where it is located, how it is determin-
ed and whether or not its discovery is
reallv of any Importance.
Geometrically speaking, the North
Pole is point and has no dimensions
1t is located at 80 degrees north lati-
!: tude and is the termination of all de-
grees of longitude running ff6rth from
!: the equator. 1t is. att one rend of that
imaginary line upon which the eartf
!: turns, called the earth's axis. Wher
standing at the Pole, no matter whai
J: direction you face you are looking
/ south. (2). The pole is twenty mile.
nearer the center of the earth than is
{, any point on the. equator; therefore
: a man will weigh more at the pole.
than any other place on the globe be
cause he is nearest the center of gravi
tv. A plumb-line held in the hant
would point vertically upward to tn
pole star which is almost directl,
over the North Pole.
Hear DIR. Fredrick A. Cook in il
'ustre ted lecture at the Princes
Theatre, Wednesday night, Februar.
oath. Order your seats now.