HUDSON HONORED IN NEW YORK 423 



and as such their testimony must be placed in the same category as the testi- 

 mony of servants, which, when given on behalf of their masters, is deemed 

 unreliable. The corroboration of the story by circumstantial evidence, such 

 as neither explorer has yet produced, is the only course left open. 



BOTH MUST SHOW PROOF. 



"The Bench and Bar" said : 



"Of course, Dr. Cook has as yet failed to sustain the burden of proof 

 which inevitably and properly rests upon any one who claims to have per- 

 formed so wonderful a feat. In order to establish his claim he must adduce 

 something more persuasive, something more convincing than his bare asser- 

 tion that he has reached the 90th degree of latitude. And the same is true of 

 Commander Peary, however high his scientific standing. The question of 

 whether the pole has been attained is one of importance too great to be set- 

 tled by the mere assertion of any one person, no matter what his reputation 

 for truth and veracity may be. Nor need we, under accepted rules of law, 

 give conclusive weight to the unsupported testimony of either of the ex- 

 plorers, as each is an interested witness. 



"Even if he were to produce these witnesses and they were able to corrob- 

 orate his story fully, their testimony would still be liable to be weighed in the 

 light of certain maxims of the law of evidence. In the first place they probably 

 are devoid of the scientific knowledge that would enable them to give intelli- 

 gent and valuable testimony on such a subject as that under investigation, and 

 witnesses who are ignorant and occupy a low station in society are peculiarly 

 liable to the influence of parties of superior intelligence and craft. If Dr. 

 Cook wishes to corroborate his story by circumstantial evidence, the law and 

 common sense both agree that the circumstances to which he testifies must 

 not be inconsistent with known scientific facts. And this observation is, of 

 course, equally applicable to any testimony which may be given by Com- 

 mander Peary." 



The following interesting comparison of the deeds of Cook and Peary 

 was published while the controversy was at its height: 



