COOK AND PEARY
CLAIM DISCOVERY
OF NORTH POLE
The North Pole has been reached.
Following the report sent abroad Sep
tember r that Dr. Frederick A. Cook
had planted the American flag at the
long-sought point comes an announce
ment on September 7 bearing the un
mistakable marks of truth that Com
mander Robert E. Peary had reached
the goal. It is a matter of congratula
tory pride that both explorers are
Americans. Taking up one thread of
the story at a lime, first attention will
be given to
The Achievements of Dr. Cook
Dr. Cook, at the head of the “Brad
ley Polar Expedition," sailed from Hal
ifax on May 10, 1907. He established
his base of supplies at Etah, on the
west coast of Greenland. August 26,
1907, he wrote from Annoatok, Green
land, 20 miles above Etah. The la3t
word received from him was dated
March 17, 1908, 40 miles above Cape
Thomas Hubbard, Jr., the highest
point of land on the north polar sea.
Dr. Cook is 44 years old. He was a
practicing physician in Brooklyn until
he began his explorations, in 1891,
when lie went north as a member of
the Peary Arctic expedition. In 1897
88 he went to the other extreme as a
member of the Belgian Antarctic ex
pedition. His scaling of Mount McKin
ley in 1900 was an incident of his work
of exploring and charting all the sur
rounding country, among the roughest
in North America, and therefore unex
plored.
Since March 17, 1908, the message of
the first of the month announcing the
discovery of the pole was the first news
of him. The message was sent to Co
penhagen from Disco Bay, North
Greenland.
The pole was located on April 21,
1908. Since that time Dr. Cook has
been struggling to get back to civiliza
tion.
In many parts of tho world the news
of the discovery was received with
skepticism. From the first it was
credited in Denmark. Italians and
Englishmen were noncommittal, and in
America many reputable scientists
were frankly unconvinced.
Dr. Cook arrived in Copenhagen Sep
tember 3. When pressed for data re
garding his discovery he refused to
give it, declaring that he had contracts
for the sale of his story and would not
talk any further. The local papers bit
terly criticized him for placing com
mercial value above scientific. How
ever, the next day the criticism turned
to praise, and at a banquet given in
Dr. Cook’s honor the king decorated
him with a gold medal. .
September 9, after Peary had gotten
in touch with the world, Dr. Cook as
sumed an attitude of disdain toward
him. One fact he mentioned, which
he says he would not have disclosed
had Peary acted the gentleman, and
that is that Peary deliberately stole
provisions from Dr. Cook’s outfit.
Further than this Dr. Cook said that
facts and figures, which he will place
before the scientists, will effectually
dispel all doubts.
Commander Peary’s Story
Word was received in New York
September 7 that Commander Robert
E. Peary, who sailed from that city in
July, 1908, had discovered the North
Pole on April 6 of this year. He
placed the Stars and Stripes in a metal
case and planted the case in the ice at
the pole. It will be remembered that
in his previous attempt, his sixth voy
age to the Arctic, he made a record of
the “Farthest North” and was only
prevented from attaining the pole by
an open channel or “lead,” in the ice,
which he could not cross without a
fatal delay.
The present expedition returned via.
Labrador, and was at Baltle Harbor
September 9. At that time it was
learned that after the explorin'! party
left the ship to travel over the ice,
they were delayed bv much open
water, and made slow progress. The
dash proper took from February 15 to
April (i. That day and the next were
spent at the pole. T^e return was ef
fected more speedily. They reached
the ship Roosevelt on April 27.
Prof. Marvin, who accompanied the
expedition as meteologist, was lost
through the ice oil Capo Columbia.
A wireless message sent by Peary
from Indiau Harbor said Dr. Cook was
was never at the pole. Peary bases
this statement on what he heard from
the Eskimos, who assert that Dr. Cook
was never out of sight of land.
Notes
At Copenhagen, September 7, the
Geographical Society refused to place
its stamp of approval on the reported
discovery of the North Pole by Dr.
Cook. The discovery of the pole by
Commander Peary created a doubt as
to the authenticity of Cook’s report.
At the same time Dr. Cook maintained
that his report of his discovery of the
North Pole is authentic. Fabulous of
fers were being receive'l by him from
publishers who wished to undertake
tiie publication of his book. Captain
Sverdrup, who was with Nansen in the
Fram, credited Cook and said Peary
takes the word of the Eskimos too se
riously.
New York, September 9.—It is real
ized here that there is the bitterest
clash possible between the explorers
Cook and Peary. Captain Osborne,
president of the Arctic Club of Amer
ica, today stated that in his opinion Dr.
Cook has shown manliness by not en
gaging in a controversy and, instead of
showing malice, praising Commander
Peary and expressing a belief that the
latter reached the pole. Captain Os
borne also said he believed that the
charges made by Peary to the effect
that Cook never reached the pole were
unfounded.
Seattle, September 9.—Following nu
merous denials that Dr. Cook ever
climbed Mount McKinley, as claimed,
the sportsmanship of John Bradley,
who backed Cook’s expedition, is being
taken to task. There are mep here
who say that when Bradley went to
the Stikino river in 1901 on a hunting
trip he hired Alaskans to secure heads
of bears and other game and then
claimed to his friends in the States
that he had shot them.
Copenhagen, September 9.—An ex
pedition is to be fitted out here under
the command of Captain Sverdrup to
go to the Arctic to secure the Eskimos
who were with Cook, in an effort to
prove that Dr. Cook discovered the
North Pole.
AL HILTY MARRIED
A1 Hilty atid Mrs. Pearl Roessell
were married September 3 at the
home of Mrs. Minnie Lang, in
Fairbanks, the Rev. James H.
Condit officiating. The ceremony
was performed in the presence of
intimate friends, and the newly
wedded couple left the following
day for the Salchaket country. Mr.
Hilty is one of the most widely
known miners in the camp. He
was originally from Seattle. He is
at present mining on Caribou
creek. Mrs. Hilty’s former home
was in Bluffton, O.
Job Printing—Leader office.
" Tanana Commercial Co.-v
Armour’s Star Bacon, 30c lb.
Armour’s Star Ham, 30c lb.
Petaluma Eggs, SOc doz.
All other branks of Foods, etc., fresh and reasonable in price.
THE PIONEER BAR.
THE OLD RELIABLE.
FINEST WINES, LIQUORS AND CIGARS. GIVE
US A TRIAL. A SQUARE DEAL TO ALL.
Pool and Billiard Tables in Connection.
JOEANICICH, PROP
OLD UP-YUKON GREEKS
YIELD NEW SURPRISES
Woodchopper creek, on the south
side of the Yukon above Circle, which
has been worked spasmodically fot a
number of years, producing a good
many grubstakes but more numerous
disappointments, came to the front in
a surprising manner this summer, from
all accounts. Some people from up the
Yukon say the estimate for the present
nluieing season runs as high as a quar
ter «f a million. That sum might be
halved and still be remarkable com
pared with former years. The success-]
ful operators are new men on Lite
creek. The increase is due to par
found on the benches.
Another up-river creek which re
deemed its former dubious reputation
is Fourth of July, entering the Yukon
from the north near Nationality. Tay
lor, the operator there, went to Ram
part last season and took observations
of Frank & Graham’s splash-dam work
on Little Minook, after wfiich he re
turned and installed a dam on Fourth
of July. The result was highly remu
nerative.
LITTLE M
REVERTS T9 OWNERS
Word is received that Bowen, Cooil
& Antonson have taken over and com
menced work on the ground on Little
Minook Jr., Rampart district, operated
the past season by Ringdall, Carlson &
Runkle. The latter firm had a work
ing option on the ground, for which
they had paid $4,500 cash. It is learned
that the creek was satisfactory to them
in every particular except one: the
water supply is inadequate and unreli
able. The watershed is limited in ex
tent, and when drouth ensues the creek
dries up rapidly.
COMING AND GOING
Bob Conklin piloted a barge load of
building material to Wickersham, tbs
new town at the mouth of Grant creek,
last Monday.
. R. R. Stoddard was a passenger on
the Hannah last Sunday onroute Out
side via Dawson to visit his family at
Hot Springs, Ark., during the winter.
Charles Dickinson, of the freighting
firm of Sipp & Dickinson, Hot Springs,
passed through town last Friday cn
route to the exposition. He expects to
return in February with two more
teams for his business.
Dave Mutchler arrived on the Koyu
kuk last Tuesday from the Kovukuk
district, where he spent the summer
freighting. He is contemplating a trip
to the Iditarod camp this fall. His
brothers, George and Jack, who were
with him in the Koyukuk, will return
to Fairbanks before the frecaeup.
“Cap” Johnson, the Koyukuk pion
eer and former deputy U. S. marshal
for that district, was a passenger on
the steamer Koyukuk last Tuesday
bound for the Outside.
The Dante-Durwood Co. gave a very
pleasing entertainment last Saturday
night at Post hall to fair-sized audi
ence.
Arthur Campbell, theTanana farmer,
returned last Monday from Long lake
where he had been for two weeks with
his mower cutting and stacking hay.
Billy Straight has closed out his
business at the Vienna Bakery and
Coffee House and will probably go to
the Iditarod.
Bill Fortune’s Garden
The little plat of ground ad
joining Bill Fortune’s cabin at
the upper end of town has been
admired by thousands the past
summer. It was planted princi
pally in rutabagas, cabbage and
potatoes, and was an object les
son to tourists from passing
steamers who strolled along the
river bank.
Mr. Fortune housed the pota
toes last Saturday, and the result
was 17 crates of as fine, large
spuds as any country can boast.
There are many fine potato
patches around town, but the
gardener who excels this little
crop will .have something to
boast of. _
After Many Years
Frank Hawley, who was in the push
when Rampart district was stampeded
in 1897 and who first located No. 9
Little Minook, recently returned after
being Outside ten years. He came
back to follow up prospects found on
Mike Hess river in the good old days,
which have haunted his dreams ever
since.
Fairbanks, Sept. :6.—Marshal
H. K. Love has received $40,000 to
pay the government’s obligations
for juror and witness fees, and
other court expenses.
STRAYED—Male pup, about 3 months
old, of yellowish-brown color, bob
tailed. Liberal reward if returned at
once to Gibbon Bar, Tanana.
' HERE AND THERE *
v_
At the A.-Y.-P. exposition Di
rector General I. A. Nadeau was
Riven a drubbing by J. McDon
ald, a new policeman. Mr. Na
deau was unacquainted with the
policeman, but will probably
know him the next time.
o o o
On the opening day of the mag
nificent auto speedway at Indian
apolis. Ind.,, many records and \
five necks were broken.
o o o
Twenty - two congressmen
passed through San Francisco to
study the needs of the Territory
of Hawaii. The needs of the
congressmen constitute another
chapter of the story.
o o o
At a congress of Indian educa
tors which met on the exposition
grounds at Seattle the grand
daughter of Chief Seattle acted
as cook for Mrs. Ballinger and
guests. No; this paper is not
conducting an aboriginal matri
monial bureau. Parties inter
ested must seek further informa
tion elsewhere.
o o o
If Peary really did rob Cook’s
cache it was a serious breach of
Northern ethics. On the other
hand, the injured man is setting
a mighty poor example by roar
ing about it. Why didn't he call
a miners’ meeting and afterward
keep quiet?
o o o
A telegram says: *‘In view of
the misfortune of the steamship
Ohio on the inside passage to the
North, that part of the passage
where the Ohio struck will bej
abandoned by steamships.” That
ought to impress the traveling
public as a very good idea,
ooo
Up to the end of 1903 Australia
had produced altogether $2,366,-'
000,000in gold, California $1,511,
500,000, The Rand $1,120,000,000, j
and Alaska $141,535,237.
Ohlen Adsit, the first mayor of Ju
neau, died in Seattle on August 10 cf
bright's disease.
SPLENDID QUALITY
OF COAL LOCATED
NEAR THIS CAMP
Investigation of a coal deposit situated ten miles easterly from
Tanana has been under way for the past several weeks, and as
work has progressed the gentlemen taking the initiative in the
matter have become more and more hopeful that the deposit will
prove valuable. '
William Burnyeat secured a quantity of the coal and has been
testing it in a cook stove. The ladies of his household are
delighted with the result and declare it would be a great improve
ment over wood for all domestic purposes.
The deposit is half a mile from the Yukon river on the north
side. It appears to fill a ridge or hogback lying at right angles to
the river. The outcrop has been found on both sides and at either
end of the ridge. The deposit appears to be blanket shaped, with
a slight dip from the ends to the center, and is of undetermined
depth. The area covered by it is sufficient to furnish millious of
tons. The accessible location of the coal is one of its most prom
ising features. If the depth and quality of the deposit prove to
be as extensive and good as indicated by the limited work accom
plished a mine of great importance is sure to result.
Frank Moran is continuing the prospect work.
lo Punch Holes In Patagonia
Jim Larson and Pete Peterson, mi
ners well known in this country, have
been in town several days waiting for
a down-river boat with the avowed in
tention of proceeding in undue haste
to the wilds of Patagonia. How it is
that such an unusual hunch struck two
so level-headed men as they are
known to bo is a mystery: perhaps the
euphony of the name contrasted with
our harsh-sounding Iditarod and nu
merous kakets and kluks and kuks has
had hypnotic influence upon them. At
any rate they are off on the long stam
pede; so their friends can only wish
them godspeed.
Today’s Steamboat Bulletin
Seattle No. 3 left St. Michael at G
p. rn. last Tuesday. This is the last
N. N. Co. boat scheduled to leave that
port this season.
Herman up Kaltag 5 a. in. today.
Monarch up Kaltag G a. in. today.
Healy up Nulato 7:30 p. m. yesterday.
Bulawayo, South Africa, August 11.
—Globing reports of the discovery of
gold deposits in the Abercorn district,
British Central Africa, have been re
ceived. The deposits are said to be
similar to the Rand formation.
See us for Cloth Posters.
LONG PROSPECTING
TO BE REWARDED
A lesson in perseverenco is afforded
by the Troublesome section of Rampart
district. Quail creek, a tributary of
Troublesome, was stampeded in the
winter of 1897-’98 and has been the
scene of desultory prospecting ever
since, without material result.
Arrivals from Rampart report that
this summer has marked a turning
point. Cassidy & Olson, who have
stuck to the creek for years, have
taken out wages this season and have
demonstrated by diligent prospecting
that two or three thousand feet at the
lower end of the creek can be worked
at a handsome profit.
On 0, 7, 8 and 9 Farmer, Jones, Ryder
& Laird havo also made some money
this year and it is now regarded as
certain that the creek will become a
very good producer.
Robert Graham, of Frank & Graham,
Little Minook creek, Rampart, will go
Outside over the trail as soon as winter
travel opens. He will return for next
summer’s work. Mr. Frank will pros
pect on outlying creeks during tho
winter.
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