i8 DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COOK AND PEARY 



that death had claimed him as its own. With little hope that the 

 dauntless adventurer would ever reappear, a relief expedition had 

 been prepared, its purpose being to find him if alive, or trace the 

 record of his fate if dead, when the tidings that he had accomplished 

 the great feat and set foot on the northern extremity of the earth's 

 axis, came over the wires, and the world stood still in astonishment 

 at the startling statement. 



The second to lay claim to this great triumph was the well- 

 known and famous polar explorer, Commander Robert E. Peary, 

 who for twenty-three years had devoted his life to the work of 

 research, and who, in the summer of 1908, had made a last and 

 desperate journey to the icy north, bent on success if it lay within 

 the powers of man. 



On September 6th, while the world of geographical science was 

 doing its utmost to honor the intrepid Cook, and the King of Den- 

 mark was feasting him within his palace as the worthiest of guests, 

 the man who stood foremost in the annals of geographical research, 

 there flashed down from Labrador a second announcement to the 

 same effect, in the following significant words : 



"HAVE NAILED THE UNITED STATES FLAG TO 

 THE NORTH POLE. PEARY." 



Again over the whole realm of civilized mankind flashed the 

 astounding news, and the world, which was slowly digesting the 

 tidings so lately received, had laid before it a new feast of wonder 

 and astonishment. 



Never in the history of man had two such surprising items of 

 news been received in such brief succession. To the people of the 

 United States they brought not only astonishment but pride. Both 

 these men were citizens of our own country, true-born Americans 

 the pair, and to feel that the honor of this discovery, to whichever 

 of the two men it belonged, appertained to the United States, was a 

 source of heartfelt gratification. The North Pole was ours ! Our 

 flag waved over it! The polar region belonged to our country! 



