THE TOP OF THE EARTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 184, 8 September 1909, Page 2

THE TOP OF THE EARTH.

ANOTHER AMERICAN SURPRISE. ! PEARY REACHES THE POLE. EXPEDITION RETURNING TO AMERICA. "A BIG STORY."

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright (Received 7, 9.5 p.m.) London, September 7. Reuter has received a telegram from Lieut. Peary, at Indian Harbor, Labrador, stating that he nailed the Stars and Stripes to the North Pole. St. Johns, September 7. The Governor of Newfoundland has received a similar telegram, containing Lieut. Peary's congratulations, because the captain and crew of his steamer were Newfoundlanders. New York, September 7. Herbert Bridgman, secretary of the Arctic Club of America, has received a message, in Lieut. Peary's code, stating that the Pole has been reached, and that the steamer Roosevelt is safe. The New York Times states that Lieut. Peary telegraphs from Indian Harbor, via Cape Bay, that he reached the Pole on 6th April, and expected to arrive at Chateau Bay on September 7th. He telegraphed:— " Secure control of a wire for me there, and arrange to expedite transmission of a big story." McMillan, a member of Lieut. Peary's party, cabled to the Worcester Academy, Massachusetts, where he was Instructor of Mathematics : " The top of the earth reached at last. Greetings to faculty and the boys." London, September 7. Lieut. Peary telegraphed to his wife: " Have made good at last. Have the old Pole. Am well. Love. Will wire again from Chateau." Mrs Peary replied: "All well; best love; God bless you ; hurry home." The Times recalls that Lieut. Peary stated before he left: "If I reach the Pole during the coming winter my friends will hear of my triumph between August 15th and September 15th."

UNRESERVEDLY ACCEPTED. BRITISH NEWSPAPERS AND PEARY'S STATEMENTS. By Cable.—Press Associatioa.—Copyright Recevcd 7, 10.30 p.m. London, September 7. The newspapers unreservedly accept Lieut. Peary's cables. DR. COOK 0$ PEARY'S SUCCESS. "THERE IS ENOUGH HONOR FOR TWO." Received 7, 10.30 p.m. London, September 7. When Dr. Cook was informed of Lieut. Peary's success, he said: "Peary must have reached the Pole by quite another route than mine." He added: •'There is enough honor for two." THE SIMULTANEOUS DISCOVERY. A STRANGE COINCIDENCE, 'A SUGGESTED EXPLANATION. Received 7, 10.30 p.m. London, August 7. Sir George Mares suggests that in view of the coincidence of the simultaneous discovery that it was possible Dr. Cook learnt of Lieut. Peary's success and was making an effort to reach civilisation first with the priority claim of discovery.

DETERMINING THE POSITION OF' THE POLE. London, September 6, Mr. L. C. Bernacchi, physicist, -who accompanied the Discovery Antarctic expedition, suggests that the altitude of the sun and the temperature of the air mentioned by Dr. Cook must be distorted I>y refraction; therefore it ia impossible to say that ba determined the position of the Pole with the certainty he claims. DR. COOK STRONGLY CRITICISED. London, September 0. Dr. Cook is strongly criticised for sending his diaiy to America, presumably by a vessel starting before the Hansegede. The critics emphasise that chief among the inducements to him to accompany tlife document himself ought to nave been rejoining his wife ana receiving hie countrymen's •welcome. NO DEFINITE IDEA OF GOING TO THE POLE. NO TRACE OF IPEARY'S EXPEDITION London, September 6. t Dr. Cook states that he had no definite idea of going to the Pole, but finding the Esquimaux and dogs ready ho started. , 7 He states that he saw no trace of Lieut. Peary's expedition, which left Etah, on the coast of Greenland, last September. . . !