RIVAL POLE-FINDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 188, 13 September 1909, Page 2

RIVAL POLE-FINDERS.

COMMANDER, I'EARi'S JOUlt-SKY. REMARKABLE TRAVELLING. 11IS FIGURES QUESTIONED. By Cable.—Presß Association.—Copyright London, September 10. The Morning i'ost comments on Commander l'eary's remarkable rate of travel, which equals that of Dr. Cook, and shows that during the days of actual marching Commander l'eary covered sixteen miles daily, the closing stages of the northward journey being covered at the rate of thirty-live miles a day. It »ays this is phenomenal rapidity, and suggests the possibility of Commander l'eary having miscalculated liU 1 position. Dlt. COOK'S CLAIMS COXI'IK-UED. TESTIMONY TO Dlt. COOK'S INTEGRITY. Dr. Cook's partisans claim that Commander l'eary's figures confirm Dr. Cook's story. Captain R. Amundsen, who discovered the north-west passage, (lectures Dr. Cook to be the most honest man he has ever met, and justifies 1 his not risking instruments for observations on a long dangerous sledge tour from Etali to Upernivik, a village on an islet oil the west coast of Greenland.

AN OLD QUARREL. THE ESQUIMAUX STATEMENTS. NO IMPOfiTANCE ATTACHED TO THEM. London, September 10. Dr. Cook's friends allege that his quarrel with Commander Peary began during tlio Polar expedition hi 1801 by Commander Peary monopolising the comforts of several explorers. They attach no importance to what the Esquimaux say on the one side or the other. The question is also raised on the authority of Dr. Cook's companion, Professor Parker, as to whether Commander Peary ever ascended Mount Mackinlay.

COMMANDER PEARY'S STORY.

MONOTONOUS EXPERIENCES.

London, September 10. The Times iuis received tlie second portion of Commander Peary's narrative to the New York Times. From August 18 until the 88tli parallel, when Captain liartlett, of llw l!»osevelt, turned back in aceordanee with prearrangements' to constitute supporting parties, the narrative records monotonous experiences with snow and haze nnd difficulties in negotiating tile leads of water. COOK AT COPENHAGEN. Received 12, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, September 11. Dr. Cook was accorded an enthusiastic farewell at Copenhagen, the shipping being decorated with flags. He tailed direct for New York. "COOK NEVER REACHED THE POLE." PEARY CLAIMS TO PROVE IT. Received 12, 5-5 p.m. New York, September 11. Captain Peary telegraphs that he will prove that Dr." Cook never reached the Pole.

The, United States Geodetic Survey has offered to arbitrate between the claims of Peary and Cook.

COMMANDER PEARY'S RECORD. THIRTY HOURS AT THE POLE. Received 12, 5.5 p.m. London, September 11. The Times continues Peary's record. Beyond the 88th pnralcll he covered 20 miles in one day, the dogs sometimes running. The ice was grinding in every direction, and the keen air was like frozen steel. A few miles from the Po'c there was scarcely any snow, and h. covered forty miles in twelve hours. VI". stopped for 30 hours with four Eakimeaux at the Pole, and planted flags. There was no special incident in the return to Colombia, where the party arrived almost lifeless with fatigue.

MR. WRAGGE SPEAKS. PROTEST AGAINST JEALOUSY AN'D BICKERING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Grc.vmouth, Saturday.

Mr. Clement Wragge, astronomer, who is at present On a visit to the West Const, writes as follovfs t| tilt Grey River Argus regarding the discos, en- of the North Pole:— "I, as a scientific man, wish to enter my emphatic protest against the absurd jealousy and bickerings rampant among the adherents of Dr. Cook and Commander Peary. Interesting (scientifically) though the journey has been, such miserable petty feeling is calculated to bring the whole business into disrepute. By what right has doubt been cast on Cook's observations ? Sui ely he knew how to apply corrections for refraction. As well question Shackleton's observations!

"For God's sake let us bp true to ou r nationality and treat every man as honest till the reverse has been conclusively proved. In the light of the eternal universe and in the name of noble science, what does it matter who first set foot on the Pole! Englishman though I am, I trust I should be the last to refuse honor to a fellow man when honor is due—no matter what his nationality. We arc all brothers, or ought to be.

"As a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of over thirty-five ycais' standing, I regret that that society has apparently snubbed Dr. Cook, and that Admiral Sir George Nares has seen fit to apply the minus sign without "urther knowledge. Petty jealousy, of whish—as to have had much experience, is most utterly contemptible and disgusting, and is beneath any man who claims to be a true scientist."