RIVAL EXPLORERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 63, 11 September 1909, Page 5

RIVAL EXPLORERS.

"A POLAR WAR."

COMMANDER PEARY AND DR. COOK.

HATE OF TRAVEL.

PARTISANS RANGING THEM-

SELVES.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.

(Received September 11, 8.20 a.m.)

LONDON, 10th September.

The Morning Post, dealing with the rival claims to the honour of being the first to reach the North Pole, comments on Commander Peary's remarkable rate of travel, which equals that of Dr. Cook, and shows that during days of acfcujiF marching Peavy cqvered sixteen miles daily. In the closing stages of the northward journey the distance covered was at the rate of thirty-five miles a 'day.

This phenomenal rapidity, the Post thinks, suggests the possibility of Peary having miscalculated his position.

Dr. Cook's paitisans claim that Peary's figures confirm Cook's story.

Captain Amundsen, the discoverer of the North-west Passage, declares that Dr. Cook is the most honest man he ever met. He justifies Cook for not risking his instruments and observations on the long and dangerous sledge" tour from Etah to Uperriivik.

A LIVELY TOPIO.

PEAKY DESCRIBED AS A

"FAKER/

LONDOIN, 10th September.

Whnt is described a-s the "Polar War,*' arising out of the claims put forward by Commandor R. E. Peary, 'of the United States Navy, and Dr. F. A. Cook, of Brooklyn, New York, to the honour of discovering the North Pole, Is eclipsing all. other topics in America.

T,he partisans 'of each of the explorers are engaging in a campaign that is remarkable for its vituperation.

Mr. Osborn, secretary of the Arctic Club of America^ threatens that whan Commander Peary sets foot in New York he will have affidavits and facts published such as will "stamp Peary as the -most colossal faker America has ever produced."

It is alleged by Mr. Osborn that he has in his possession an affidavit proving that Commander Peary opened a trunk of Dr. Cook's, read the observations recorded by Dr. Cook, and opened a letter addressed to Mrs. Cook.

ORIGIN OF THE QUARREL

VARIOUS VIEWS,

(Received Scpte^iiber 11, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, 10th September. Dr. ,Cook's friends allego that the quarrel between Him and Commander Peary began during tho Polar expedition of 1901, through Peary monopolising comforts. ■ Several explorers attach no importance to what the Eskimos say ou one side or the other. Tho question -has also been raised, on the authority of Dr. Cook's companion, Profesor Parker, whether Cook ever ascended Mount M'Kinley, as claimed, in his expedition of 1903.

DR. COOK AT COPENHAGEN.

HONORARY DEGREE CONFERRED UPON HIM.

A REPLY TO HIS? CRITICS.

COPENHAGEN, 10th September

Tho University of Copenhagen has conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Science upon Dr. Cook, the ceremony at the investing of the insignia behijj witnessed by a brilliant and representative gathering, including the Crown Prince Christian and other members <.f the Royal Family, Captain Otto Sverdrup, who commanded the Fram on Nansen's expedition, the Ministers of Instruction and Commerce, and the United States Minister to Denmark.

Dr. Cook, in the course of an address, stated that he intended to send and fetch the two GxeenlandeVs who accompanied him to the Pole, in order that they might be examined by unbiased judges.

PEARY'S NARRATIVE.

EXPERIENCES AND DIFFICULTIES.

(Received September 11, 9.20 a.m.)

LONDON, 10th September.

The Times has received the second portion of Commander Peary's narrative of his expedition to the North Pole, which is being sent by the explorer to the New York Times.

The account covers the period from the 18th August until the time when, near the 88th parallel, Captain Bartlett, commander of the Roosevelt, turned back in accordance with previous arrangements to constitute supporting parties.

The narrative records monotonous experiences amid snow and haze, and difficulties encountered in negotiating the leads of water.

AN AMERICAN PROFESSOR'S OPINION.

IF COOK SAYS SO

(BY TELEGBAPH — SPECIAL ""O THE POST.]

AUCKLAND, This Day. Professor H. E. G <*mpton, of Columbia University, and nead of tho Department of Natural History in the American Museum at Xew York, who is now on a visit to Auckland, informed a Herald representative last night that he is intimately acquainted with both Dr. Cook and Commander Peary. "I was much pleased," he said, "when I fiist heard the reports of Dr. Cook's success. I -knew he was xin there, but nt tho oomo time I wiu quito prepared - fox- j&Q^aept&tem sith which bis ac«

counts have been received, because so few knew of 009k and knew that he was up there in the Arctic. I was decidedly pleased, too, when I heard of Peary'<s success, but I confess that I was somewnat disturbed at the prospect of the inevitable discussion which will take place about the exploits of the two men. "It js impossible at the present time to decide which should have the full credit of being the first to reach the topmost portion of the earth, because we have not seen the reports of their exploration. Personally, I think that Cook is the type of man who could succeed, and so is 'Peary, although both are unlike in physique and temperament. Cook is short and rathei heavy, and of decided Teutonic, stolid temperament — just the sort of man who could stand the Eskimo kind of life. Peary is tall, angular, and dogged — the kind of man who would succeed on the basis of his grit and nerve. We must suspend judgment until we have more facts, but I am inclined to think that, if Cook says so, he' has succeeded as well as Peary."