MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT TAFT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1909, Page 7

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT TAFT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 1 EXPLORER. (Received September 6, 8.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, sth September. President Taft has cabled to Dr. Cook as follows :—: — "Your report that you reached the North Pole calls for my heartiest congratulations. It stirs the pride of all Americans that a feat which has so long baffled the world has been accomplished by the^ntelligence, energy, and wonderful endurance of their fellow-country-man." A TEMPTING OFFER. FOR A SERIES OF LECTURES. (Received September 6, 8.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, sth September. The manager of Luna Park, a Coney Island pleasure resort, has cabled to Dr. ! Cook offering him £50,000 sterling for a series of two hundred and fifty lectures. HOW THE EXPEDITION WAS EQUIPPED. DETAILS HITHERTO KEPT SECRET. TO FORESTALL COMMANDER PEARY. (Received September 6, 8.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, sth September. Mr. BfMley, who bore a large part of the cost of Dr. Cook's expedition, states that Dr. Cook has a valuable sex tant in aluminium, several compasses, an artificial horizon, a barometer, some thermometers and charts. • The explorer also took 5000 gallons of gasoline, coal sufficient for three years, hickory-built sledges, 100 gallons of alcohol, twenty-five guns (which were given him as presents), biscuits, axes, tobacco, and other things dear to the Eskimo's heart, and ten thousand boxes of matches, for there is scarcely anything the Eskimo appreciates so highly. Details of Dr. Cook's equipment were kept secret, in order to forestall Commander Peary. Mr. Bradley adds that Dr. Cook's collapsible canvas boat enabled him to cross lanes of water obstructing the course. The dog sleds usually could easily cover sixty miles a day over reasonably good ice.