NORTH POLE DISCOVERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 190, 15 September 1909, Page 2

NORTH POLE DISCOVERY.

" MATERIAL OF CHEAT PUBLIC INTEREST." ] PEARY'S THREAT. By Cable.—Press Association.—OopyrigM | New York, September 13. | Commander Peary, cabling to the | New York Times, says: "If Dr. Cook j makes a statement before any reputable ; body or even gives bis signature to a statement tlwt he readied tho Pole, i will furnish material of great public interest." Commander Peary's fifth companion to the Pole was a negro servant named il UIIBOU. DR. COOK MET IN GREENLAND.

AN EXPLORER'S STATEMENT.

London, September 13. Mr. Whitney, a millionaire and an explorer, whilst on a sporting expedition in the neighborhood of Etali, on the coast of Greenland, states he met Dr. Cook, who spoke of his journey north, but did not mention he liad reached the Pole. PEARY TAKES SOUNDINGS. ' New York, September 13. Commander Peary, live miles from tlio Pole, took soundings at a depth of 1600 fathoms, but found no bottom. GREAT ASTONISHMENT CAUSED.

Received 14, 9.55 p.m. New York, September 14. The portion of Commander Peary's story causing the greatest astonishment is tlmt lie covered 138 miles in latitude 88 to the Pol,, ill four days. THE PROPOSED ZEPPELIN EXPEDITION. London, September 13. Prince Henry of Prussia has been| elected president of the National Society, which is arranging to explore the" Arctic with a Zeppelin airship. The Kaiser ta patron of the society. THE ANTARCTIC. CAPTAIN SCOTT'S EXPEDITION. , READY TO SAIL IN DECEMBER.

PREPARATIONS WELL ADVANCED.

Received 14, 9.35 p.m. London, September 13. Captain Scott expects to return to England in 1912. Lieutenant 15. Evans, navigating officer for the two relief ex peditions, will lie second in command. Many members of the scientific staff ami crew of 1910 accompany Captain bl'iltt.

llis four motor sledges will be sufficiently long to bridge the dangerous crevices.

A large sum has already been promised the Scott expedition. Captain Scott, interviewed, said C-10,000 was the minimum amount needed. He felt certain that the overseas dominions, particularly Australia and New Zealand, would furnish a good Bum towards the expedition. They would be well representlh! on the staff. He mentioned the prospect of utilising ethcrgraphs between the ship and the shore. Much depended as regards completeness of the entire equipment of tlie expedition on a liberal and quick response to the appeal for funds. He hoped to (inter the ice at the end of December.

THE RIVAL EXPLORERS.

WHAT THE MEN ARE LIKE. WO DISTINCT TYPES. A prominent American is at present visiting Auckland in the person of Professor 11. E. Crampton, of the Columbia University and licail of the Department of Natural History in tlic American Museum, New York. Professor Crampton, who has been conducting researches in tlic Society and Conic Islands, under the auspices of .the Carnegie Institute of Scientific Research, is intimately acquainted wit|i both Commander Peary and Dr. Cook, and an Auckland Herald representative therefore sought him out with a view to ascertaining his opinion upon the exploits of the distinguished explorers. "I am acquainted with both Commander Peary and Dr. Cook," he said, in reply to <i question, "and I was most pleased when I first heard the reports of Dr. Cook's success. I knew lie was up there, but at the seme time 1 ivn3 quite prepared for the scepticism with which his nccoinits have bi'on received, because so few knew of Cook and of his attempt to reach the Pole. I was decidedly pleased, too, when I heard of Peary's success, but I confess 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 Crainpton, "at the present time to decide which should have the full credit of being the first to reach the topmost portion of the earth, because we have not had the full reports of their explorations. Personally, I think Dr. Cook is the type of man who could succeed, and so is Commander Peary, although they are unlike in physique and temperament. Dr. Cook is short and rather heavy, and of a decided Teutonic, stolid temperament; just the flOTt of man who could stand the Kskimo kind of life. Commnndcr Peary is tall, angular, and dogged; the kind o! man who would succeed on the basis of his grit and nerve. Of course, there is bound to be considerable recrimination under the circumstances, if it is true, as reports indicate, that Oook took some 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 as well as Commander Peary. A man of Dr. Cook's experience in the'Arctie and Antarctic, and of his reputation, would not, I think, assert that ho hnf reached the North Pole unless he had the records to substantiate his claim, j tTliere can ho no question, of course, about Commander Pear.v's achievement. Perhaps there, is glory enough for both. "Naturally,'' concluded Professor Crampton, "it is gratifying to a.n American, in .any case, to feel that his countrymen have accomplished what has baffled so many for'so many "jeendes, but I am sorry the circumstances arc such as to involve Dr. Cook and Commander Peary i n what promises to b« a very bitter discussion."