Page:The frozen North; an account of Arctic exploration for use in schools (IA frozennorthaccou00hort).pdf/184

 worked and served so well. Peary gave them hatchets, knives, shot-guns, rifles, and tools of all kinds. They were much pleased and felt as rich as millionaires.

As soon as the ice permitted, the Roosevelt left her winter quarters and sailed southward, stopping at Etah and Cape York, and arriving at Sydney, Cape Breton, September 21, 1909, where she received an enthusiastic welcome.

On September 1, 1909, while Peary and his party were still in the north, the world was startled by a telegraphic message from a Danish steamer, saying: "We have on board the American traveler, Dr. Cook, who reached the North Pole, April 21, 1908."

The next morning the New York Herald published an account of the great discovery cabled by Cook himself. It said that he had reached the Pole on the date just mentioned, and that "it was a cheerless spot, an endless field of purple snows." Two days later Dr. Cook landed at Copenhagen and was greeted with cheers, and great honors were bestowed upon him.

Two days later another telegram was received by the Associated Press of New York, which read:

"Stars and stripes nailed to the North Pole.

""

There was great excitement all over the civilized world. Messages continued to arrive from Peary fixing the date of his arrival at the Pole, April 6, 1909. Cook claimed to have reached the pole a year earlier, April 21, 1908. Why had he kept silent so long? Discussion grew, and scientists demanded proof and data from both men.

The records of Dr. Cook were submitted to the University of Copenhagen, and their final report was made public December 21, 1910. It declared that the papers