THE NORTH POLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9588, 7 September 1909, Page 5

THE NORTH POLE.

DR COOK'S EXPEDITION,

A GREAT RECEPTION.

Unite! Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright Received September 6, 8.25 a.m. COPENHAGEN, September 5. Dr F. A. Cook, had a tremendous reception at Copenhagen on his return from his North Pole expedition. In reply to his critics, Dr Cook declared that he had deposited the records of his journey in a sealed tube on the place where the pole was located—namely, on ice which was drifting eastward.

Dr Cook adheres to all the statements he has made, notablv to the fact that the temperature met with was 117 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit.

Com mander Peary, in his expedition, recorded 65 degrees, and Lieutenant Shackleton, at the Antarctic, G5 degrees.

HOW THE EXPEDITION WAS EQUIPPED.

Received September 6, 8.25 a.m. NEW YORK, September 5.

Mr Bradley, who bore a large part of the cost of Dr Cook's expedition, states that Dr Cook ha 3 a valuable sextant in aluminium, several compasses, an artificial horizon, a barometer, some thermometers and charts. The explorer also took 5,000 gallons of gasoline, coal sufficient for three years, hickory built sledges, 100 gallons of alcohol, twenty-five guns (which were given him as presents), biscuits axea, tobacco, and other things dear to the Eskimo's heart, and ten thousand boxes of matches, for there is scarcely anything the Eskimo appreciates so highly. Details of Dr Cook's equipment were kept secret, in order to forestall Commander Peary. Mr Bradley adds that Dr Cook's collapsible canvas boat enabled him to cross lanes of water obstructing the course. The dog sleds usually could easily cover sixty miies a day over reasonably good ice.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT TAFT.

Received September 6, 8.25 a.m. NEW YORK, September 5. President Taft has cabled to Dr Cook as follows: —

"Your report that you reached the North Pole calls for my heartiest congratulations. It stirs the pride of all Americans that a feat which has so long baffled the world has been accomplished by the intelligence, energy and wonderful endurance of their fellow countryman."

A TEMPTING OFFER.

Received September 6, 8.15 a.m. NEW YORK, September 5, The manager of Luna Park, a Coney Island pleasure resort, has cabled to Dr Cook offering him £50,000 sterling for a series of two hundred and fifty lectures.

LOW TEMPERATURE,

Received September 6, 9.15 a.m. SIDNEY, September 6. Professor David and other experts declare that the temperature recorded by Dr Cook, though improbable, was not impossible, and a suitably provided man could endure it without much difficulty.

REASONS FOR SCEPTICISM

Received September 6, 8.15 a.m. LONDON, September 5. Admiral Sir George Nares points out, many reasons for scepticism in regard to Dr Cook's statements The Admiral blames Dr Cook for taking Commander Peary's Esquimos, together with their dogs, which Peary had kept alive and trained for year?, and this apparently without consulting Peary or attempting to see Peary on his return.

A SEARCHING CROSS-EXAMIN-ATION Received September 6, 10.5 p.m. LONDON, September 6. The special correspondent of "The Times," and Mr W. T. Stead, searching cross-examined Dr. Cook in the presence of sixty journalists. "The Times'" correspondent and Mr Stead j are entirely satisfied that Dr. CoeJlc j is an upright honest man. | The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent is scep'tical. The "Daily Mail" states that the majority of correspondents came away with the full belief in the rarrative. Dr. Cook stated that trie lowest temperature was 83 Fahrenheit below zero, not centigrade, which was due to a telegraphic error. He took 100 photos, which are still undeveloped. Received September 6, 11.15 p.m. LONDON, September 6. Knud Raasmussen, a Danish polar explorer, interviewed the Cape York Eskimos who accompanied Dr Cook. They corroborate some of Dr Cook's statements.