The North Pole.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14042, 28 October 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

The North Pole.

DR. COOK'S CLAIM. "I do not claim," said Dr Cook to a '•Times" correspondent at Covenhagen, "'to have put my finger oiMho exact spot where the Pole exists, went on to explain that after raking an observation, which made lii-11 o'lly 14scc. from latitude DUdeg., he »d-.'a>K-ed the remaining 430 metres, campod, and planted the American flag. On next day, April 22, lie made- a .v?rics of observations in a circle and acr-'.v-a circle, with the result that he al.ir:ned that he had been within <un?hot -:t' what the Eskimos habitually call the 'big nail' itself. So far as lie coi.l'l judge, the ice was slightly more ac tivo than a degree or two farth :r South. Ho admitted that U>e two Eskimos with hini coidd not -jli3:k hi> observations, though Eskimos were .more intelligent than white me.; in finding a position in those regions, h.it lie was quite prepared to place his observations before any scientific society in the world."

Ho was asked, ""Will they he ."b=..jutcly convincing?" He rcpii;u. "1 think there is no doubt." In ; 'i: wr-r to a. further question Dr Cook said it was obviously not possible on a sledge trip to carry sounding apparatus, lut he carried all the usual instruments for precise astronomical observations. On nearly every day from Sodog. to the Pole" he was fortunate in getting positions. He had pedometers to register distance, and his own instruments were three chronometers, one watch (which jiofc out of order), a sextant, an artificial horizon barometer, and a thermometer. As to his competence as an observer, he said, " I have in Alaska and in northern marine work made- observations of this kind, and am perfectly familiar with making astronomical observations for this purpose. I know bv astronomical observations that I got there." Asked what answer ho would give if it were suggested that anyone could produce a series of observations at home. Dr. Cook replying very calmly and deliberately, said. " Why should "a man construct bogus observations? I was not paid for this thing. I am not a sportsman. I have taken a real interest- in this problem for 20 years. You must wait till the observations have been worked out." " When I siiEsrested of him that the Copenhagen University was preparer! to work them out in a few hours, ho replied that he saw no reason for violent hurry. In the cs»se of other explorers the world had been content to wait until they were published in due course, and ho was prepared to stand any amount of scientific criticism. His the observations did not stand alone.