THE NORTH POLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 477, 7 September 1909, Page 3

THE NORTH POLE.

DR. COOK’S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. FURTHER DETAILS. Copenhagen, September 5. Dr Cook, interviewed here, stated he struck out west from Greenland, then northward, and returning from the Pole took a more westerly route. During the last fortnight before reaching the Pole he took daily observations, also on the first ten days coming homewards, but not measurements of the depth of the sea, having no instruments for the purpose. He ascribed his success to using the old means, namely, Eskimos and dogs and living the same as the Eskimos.

Ottawa, September 5. Mr W. F. King, Dominion Astronomer at Ottawa, thinks that if Dr. Cook encountered smooth ice it was quite possible to reach the Pole. London, Saturday. The Daily Telegraph deprecates auy hasty condemnation of Dr. Cook’s narrative. The Jewish World states that the explorer is a member of a well-known Jewish family in Frankfort, and that his real name is Koch. Mr Bradley, who bore a large portion of the expense of Dr. Cook’s expedition, estimates it at 90,000 dollars (about ,£18,000). Copenhagen, Saturday. Great preparations are being made to welcome Dr. Cook on his arrival at Copeghageu. King Frederick will receive the explorer, and he will be entertained at banquets by the Minister of Commerce and by the Town Council. New York, Saturday. Enthusiasm respecting Dr. Cook and his achievement runs high in America. Mr Wickersham, AttorneyGeneral, declares that the Constitution will follow the flag. Sydney, Saturday.

Professor David accepts Dr. Cook’s discovery of the North Pole. He says: “Apart from Dr. Cook’s general reputation, which in itself would be a sufficient guarantee, I should say the internal evidence of bis diary should show the world the accuracy of his statements.” Melbourne, Saturday.

The Government Astronomer can see no reason to refuse credence to Dr. Cook’s exploit. “ Some of his observations,” he says, “are certainly at variance with those of other expeditions, but it would not be fair to refuse to believe them. We have believed all the rest. The most unconvincing thing is the vast amount of shooting reported. I cannot see how three men could have carried so much ammunition, beside their food. Perhaps, however, they had a very small store of food, and made their ammunition to act as their food.” Park, Saturday.

M. Levasseur, a member of the French Academy of Sciences, and an eminent geographical autority, has expressed astonishment at some of Dr Cook’s statements, such as the enormous distance he travelled over ice, and the temperature recorded—Sjdeg below zero centigrade, the lowest ever recorded. Ottawa, Saturday. Members of the British Association, now in session at Winnipeg, generally accept the bona fides of Dr. Cook’s narratives. They agree that the only evidence Dr. Cook can have must be his astronomical notes, and with these his good faith cannot reasonably be challenged. Dr. Hugh Robert Mill, director of the British Rainfall Association, commenting on Dr. Cook’s S3deg below zero centigrade, says this is lower by aodeg Fahrenheit than anything experienced on the earth’s surface before.

COOK AT COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen, September 5

Dr. Cook had'a tremendous reception at Copenhagen. In reply to the critics, he declared he deposited a record of his journey in a sealed tube on the place where the Pole was located, namely, an ice-field which was drifting eastward. Dr. Cook says he struck out west from Greenland, then northward, and returning from the Pole took a more westerly route. During the last fortnight before reaching the Pole he took daily observations, also on the first ten days coming homewards, but not measurements of the depth of the sea, having no instruments for the purpose. He ascribed his success to using the old means, namely, Eskimos and dogs and living the same as the Eskimos. Dr. Cook adheres to all his statements, notably that he registered a temperature of 117 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Commander Peary recorded 65 and Shackleton 56 degrees. TAFT’S CONGRATULATIONS. New Yosk, September 5. President Taft cabled to Dr. Cook: —“Your report that you reached the Pole calls for my heartiest congratulations. It stirs the pride of all Americans that the feat which has so long baffled the world has been accomplished by the intelligence, energy, and wonderful endurance of their fellow-countryman. ’ ’ A HANDSOME OFFER. London, September 5. The manager of the Luna Park, the Coney Island pleasure

resort, has cabled Dr. Cook an offer of for a series of 250 lectures. A SCEPTIC. London, September 5. Admiral Nares points out that there are many reasons for scepticism. Pie blames Dr. Cook for akiug Commander Peary’s Eskitmos, whom Peary kept alive and trained for years. He did this apparently without consulting Peary or attempting to see him on his return.