PROFESSOR CRAMPTON INTERVIEWED AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 23

PROFESSOR CRAMPTON INTERVIEWED AT AUCKLAND.

{Faou Ora Ows Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, September 11. With reference ,to the Cook-Peary question and the honour of being first at the North Pole, some interesting views were expressed to an interviewer by a promintnt American who is at present visiting Auckland, in the person of Professor H. E. Crampton, of the Columbia University, and head of the Department of Natural History in thu. American Museum, Ntw York. Professor Crampton, who has been conducting researches in the Society and > Cook Islands, under the auspices of the Carntgie Institute of Scientific Research, is intimately acquainted with .both Commander Peary and Dr Cook. "I am acquainted with both - Commander Peary and Pr Cook," he said, in reply to question, " and I was most pleased when I first htard the reports of Dr Cook's success. I knew he was up there, but at the same time I was quite prepared for the scepticism with which hit accounts have bten received, because so , few know of Cook and of his attempt to ' reach the Pole. I^was decidedly pleated, too, when I heard of Peary's success, but I conftss I was somewhat disturbed at the prospect of the inevitable discussion which will take place about the exploits of the two men. "It is impossible," continued Professor Crampton, "at ths present time ■to decide which should have the full credit of being the first to reach the . topmost portion of the earth, because wy have not had the full reports of their ex-, plorations. Personally, I think Dr Cook is the type of man who could succeed, and so is Command tr Peary, although' they are unlike in physique and tern- . perament. Dr Cook is short and rather heavy and a decided Tuetonic, stolid) j temperambntr-juat the sort of man who J could stand Esquimo kind of life. Com- j mander Peary is tall, angular, and) dogged — the kind of man who would) succeed on the basis of his grit and nerve. Of course, there is bound to by ! considerable recrimination under the circumstances'. If it is true, .as reports indicate, that Cook took somt, of Peary's 'trained ' men from' Etah, I really think we must suspend judgment until we have more facts, but I am inclined to believe that Dr Cook has succeeded a» well as Commander - Peary. A man of Dr Cook's experience in the Arctic and 1 Antarctic, and of his reputation, would) not, I think, ""assert that he has rtached! the North Pole unless he had the records to substantiate his claim. There can be no question, of course, about Command br Peary's achievements. Perhaps there is glory enough for both." " Naturally," concluded Professor Crampton, "it is gratifying to an American in any case to feel that his country- • men have accomplished what has baffled so many for so many decades, bufc II 11I 1 am sorry the circumstances are such as to involve Dr Cook and Commander Peary in what promises to be a very bitter discussion."