DR COOK'S EXPEDITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 24

DR COOK'S EXPEDITION.

MORE CRITICISM. j BR COOK DISCREDITED. STATEMENTS BY ESKIMOS. | LONDON, September 6. i Dr Cook states that he had no definite idea of going to the Pole, but finding the Eskimos' dogs ready he started. He saw no traces of Peary's expedition, which left last July Dr Cook is strongly criticised for sending his diary to America, presumably by a vessel starting l-efore the Hansegede. The critics emphaLse that chief among the inducements to accompany the documents himself ought to have been the rejoining of his wife and receiving his countrymen's welcome. Mr L. C. Bernacchi, physicist, who accompanied the Dis-coveory Antarctic expedition, suggests that the altitude of the eun and the temperature of the air mentioned by Dr Cook must be distorted by refraction ; therefore it was impossible that he could have determined the position of the Pole with tho certainty he claims September 7. Sir George Narcs suggests that in view of the coincidence of the simultaneous discovery it Is possible that Dr Cook learnt of Lieutenant Peary's success, and was making an effort to reach civilisation first with a prior claim of the discovery. The captain of the, Roosevelt states that Lieutenant Peary saw no trace of Dr Cook. September 8. Reut = r states that Commander Peary telegraphs as follows :—": — " Dr Cook's two Eskimo companions say that he went no distance north — not out of sight of land, — and other men of the tribe corroborate their statement." September 9. Dr Cook &Uit&s that he will not de-

grade himself to answer Commander Peary's allegations. His denial will not. be forthcoming until an accusation is submitted based on scientific data. He 's willing to lay his observations before a. council of scientists selected from ' all nations. Regarding the Eskimos, they were and' are nomads, and rot Peary's- nor his pro« peity. He (Dr Cook) had paid them tenrfold the amount they had asked. September 10. Dr Cook's partisans claim that Peary'afigures confirm Cook's story. Captain Atnmundsen, the discoverer or the North- West Passage, declares that Dr- | Cook is the most honest man he ever met,'. | and justifies him in not risking his instruments aaid observations on the long and. dangerous sledge tour from Etah to Upernavik. Dr Cook's friends allege that the quarrel, with Peary began -with the Polar expedition of 1901, owing to Peary monopolising; j all the comforts. t Several explorers attach, no important to what the Eskimos say on one side or~ the other. The question has been raised, on theauthority of Cook's companion, ProfessorParker, whether Cook ever ascended MounfrMacKinlay. COPENHAGEN, September 8. . The King of Denmark conferred thy. gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society of Denmark upon Dr Cook, whoafterwards, in a lecture lasting for ad hour in the presence of their Majesties,, the Royal Family, Ambassa( n-s, ancr Ministers, rtvealed little beyond whafc. was contained in the New York Herald" article. Ht, explained that if he had 1 taken another white man- double the. Eskimo force would have been necessary, and this would have halve'd'tfie efficiency of the expedition. He added that the* ioe about the Pole moved between two* and four miles daily. September 10. The Copenhagen University conferred it* degree of Doctor uj/on Dr Cook at % brilliant representative gatheiing, including the Crown Prince and other menu bers of the Royal Family, Otto ftversdrup (of Fram fame), the Ministers of Instruction and Commerce, and the Unified. .States Minister. Dr* Cook stated that he intended tofend for and fetch two Greenianders in order that they might be examined bj; unbiassed judges. S.'plf mber 11. Dr <"'<!'>',. v, as tendered an -enthusiastic farewell Ivrn Copenliage'i Th" shippingwas dn.«<.d -vMth ilag.- Dr Cook sailed. direct lor Xc \ York.