My Attainment of the Pole
Being the Record of the Expedition, That First Reached the Boreal Center, 1907 1909, With the Final Summary of the Polar Controversy
1st Edition
Published on 27. November 2019
978-0-259-67572-3 (ISBN)
Description
Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In placing Dr. Cook on the Chautauqua platform as a lecturer, we have been compelled to study the statements issued for and against the rival polar claims with special reference to the facts bearing upon the present status of the Polar Controversy.
Though the question has been argued during four years, we End that it is almost the unanimous opinion of arctic explorers today, that Dr. Cook reached the North Pole on April 21, 1909.
With officer Peary's first announcement he chose to force a press campaign to deny Dr. Cook's success and to proclaim himself as the sole Polar Victor. Peary aimed to be retired as a Rear-Admiral on a pension of $6,000 per year. This ambition was granted, but the American Congress rejected his claim for priority by eliminating from the pension bill the words Discovery of the Pole. The European geographical societies, forced under diplomatic pressure to honor Peary', have also refused him the title of Discoverer. By' a final verdict of the American government and of the highest European authorities. Peary is therefore denied the assumption of being the discoverer of the Pole, though his claim as a re-discoverer is allowed. The evasive inscriptions on the Peary medals prove this Statement.
Following the acute excitement of the first announcement, it seemed to be desirable to bring the question to a focus by submitting to some authoritative body for decision. Such an institution, however, did not exist. Previously, explorers had been rated by the slow process of historic digestion and assimilation of the facts offered, but it was thought that an academic examination would meet the demands. Officer Peary first submitted bus ease to a commission appointed by the National Geographical Society of Washington, D. C. This jury promptly said that in their opinion Peary reached the Pole on April 6, 1909, but a year later in congress the same men unwillingly adm
Though the question has been argued during four years, we End that it is almost the unanimous opinion of arctic explorers today, that Dr. Cook reached the North Pole on April 21, 1909.
With officer Peary's first announcement he chose to force a press campaign to deny Dr. Cook's success and to proclaim himself as the sole Polar Victor. Peary aimed to be retired as a Rear-Admiral on a pension of $6,000 per year. This ambition was granted, but the American Congress rejected his claim for priority by eliminating from the pension bill the words Discovery of the Pole. The European geographical societies, forced under diplomatic pressure to honor Peary', have also refused him the title of Discoverer. By' a final verdict of the American government and of the highest European authorities. Peary is therefore denied the assumption of being the discoverer of the Pole, though his claim as a re-discoverer is allowed. The evasive inscriptions on the Peary medals prove this Statement.
Following the acute excitement of the first announcement, it seemed to be desirable to bring the question to a focus by submitting to some authoritative body for decision. Such an institution, however, did not exist. Previously, explorers had been rated by the slow process of historic digestion and assimilation of the facts offered, but it was thought that an academic examination would meet the demands. Officer Peary first submitted bus ease to a commission appointed by the National Geographical Society of Washington, D. C. This jury promptly said that in their opinion Peary reached the Pole on April 6, 1909, but a year later in congress the same men unwillingly adm
