Scott
Peary, who had of course planned to personally lead his expedition to the Antarctic via the Weddell Sea, was persuaded that "anything short of perfect success ... would detract from the great achievement already reached" in the Arctic [1], and to let the US National Geographic Society take charge. Despite assurances, however, that the American Antarctic Expedition would be "a project which promised unusually rich scientific results, with the well defined possibility of bringing to our country an honor such as it now holds in the north" [2], the escalating controversy between Peary and Cook led to dwindling contributions from the public, and in June the expedition was postponed -- permanently, it turned out -- due to lack of funds.
Notes:
[1] Thomas Hamlin Hubbard, letter to Robert E. Peary, 24 December, 1909, quoted by Robert M. Bryce in Cook & Peary: the Polar Controversy, Resolved (Mechanicsburg, PA : Stackpole, c1997), p.499.
[2] Henry Gannett, letter to Thomas H. Hubbard, 28 February, 1910, quoted by Robert M. Bryce in Cook & Peary: the Polar Controversy, Resolved (Mechanicsburg, PA : Stackpole, c1997), p.499.
Showing posts with label Peary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peary. Show all posts
June 8, 2010
February 3, 2010
Thursday, 3 February 1910
Scott
The US National Geographical Society announced an American expedition to the South Pole from the Weddell Sea, to begin in December of 1911.
Peary, who had corresponded with Scott about co-operating in scientific work, was quoted in the Daily Mail as promising "the most exciting and nerve-wracking race the world has seen". [1]
Notes:
[1] Daily Mail, 12 February, 1910, quoted by Diana Preston in A First Rate Tragedy (Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 1998, c1997), p.119.
The US National Geographical Society announced an American expedition to the South Pole from the Weddell Sea, to begin in December of 1911.
Peary, who had corresponded with Scott about co-operating in scientific work, was quoted in the Daily Mail as promising "the most exciting and nerve-wracking race the world has seen". [1]
Notes:
[1] Daily Mail, 12 February, 1910, quoted by Diana Preston in A First Rate Tragedy (Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 1998, c1997), p.119.
November 30, 2009
November 1909
Scott
Peary announced in November that an American expedition to the South Pole would be mounted within the next five years.
Amundsen
"View from the North Pole. A base map from 1910 looking down on the earth from the North Pole, to show how the meridians come to a point at the North Pole. Notice that if the 0 meridian were continued, it would unite with the meridian 180. The longitude circles of the Arctic Circle and Tropic of Cancer are shown, with the equator forming the circular outside edge of the map." [1]
At some point after attending a lecture at the Royal Geographical Society in London given in November 1909 by A.R. Hinks, lecturer on Surveying and Cartography at Cambridge, Amundsen decided that he would adopt Hinks' theory on the subject of determining position near the Poles.
Hinks reasoned that since, as one approaches the geographical pole the meridians of longitude converge and its degrees become ever smaller, this measure eventually becomes meaningless, and that the extra effort in obtaining a measurement of longitude can be saved, focusing instead on latitude alone. [2]
Notes:
[1] Maps etc.
[2] Wapedia: Polheim. For introductions on latitude and longitude, see for example nationalatlas.gov and the Creative Science Centre's "Finding Our Position on the Earth", as well as the Wikipedia article on navigation.
Peary announced in November that an American expedition to the South Pole would be mounted within the next five years.
Amundsen
"View from the North Pole. A base map from 1910 looking down on the earth from the North Pole, to show how the meridians come to a point at the North Pole. Notice that if the 0 meridian were continued, it would unite with the meridian 180. The longitude circles of the Arctic Circle and Tropic of Cancer are shown, with the equator forming the circular outside edge of the map." [1]At some point after attending a lecture at the Royal Geographical Society in London given in November 1909 by A.R. Hinks, lecturer on Surveying and Cartography at Cambridge, Amundsen decided that he would adopt Hinks' theory on the subject of determining position near the Poles.
Hinks reasoned that since, as one approaches the geographical pole the meridians of longitude converge and its degrees become ever smaller, this measure eventually becomes meaningless, and that the extra effort in obtaining a measurement of longitude can be saved, focusing instead on latitude alone. [2]
Notes:
[1] Maps etc.
[2] Wapedia: Polheim. For introductions on latitude and longitude, see for example nationalatlas.gov and the Creative Science Centre's "Finding Our Position on the Earth", as well as the Wikipedia article on navigation.
September 14, 2009
Tuesday, 14 September 1909
Amundsen
Amundsen in his study at Uranienborg, ca. 1910. Photograph by Anders Beer Wilse. [1]
Amundsen postponed the departure of his expedition until 1st July, 1910. The general strike in Sweden, he told the newspapers, would delay the delivery of the diesel motor for the Fram.
Peary announced the next day his intention of claiming the South Pole, and the German Wilhelm Filchner had already declared his expedition for the South, which would depart in May of 1911.
Notes:
[1] Roald Amundsen Bildearkiv, Nasjonalbiblioteket.
Amundsen in his study at Uranienborg, ca. 1910. Photograph by Anders Beer Wilse. [1]Amundsen postponed the departure of his expedition until 1st July, 1910. The general strike in Sweden, he told the newspapers, would delay the delivery of the diesel motor for the Fram.
Peary announced the next day his intention of claiming the South Pole, and the German Wilhelm Filchner had already declared his expedition for the South, which would depart in May of 1911.
Notes:
[1] Roald Amundsen Bildearkiv, Nasjonalbiblioteket.
September 11, 2009
Saturday, 11 September 1909
Amundsen
The North Pole, a photo taken in 2006 by the NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. [1]
The New York Times printed a cable from Peary in Labrador, saying that Cook had "not been at the pole on April 21st, 1908, or at any other time. He has simply handed the public a gold brick." [2]
Controversy still remains today over which, if indeed either, Cook or Peary had been first.
Amundsen was again interviewed by the press, who asked if he believed in Cook. "'Unreservedly,' he replied. 'How can you explain this affair with Peary?' 'Well,' answered Amundsen, 'Peary has got it into his head that he is entitled to a monopoly of everything up there in the North.'" [3]
The next day, Amundsen cabled Daugaard-Jensen to double his order of Greenland dogs, from fifty to a hundred.
Notes:
[1] Wikipedia.
[2] "Peary Denounces Cook", New York Times, 11 September 1909.
[3] Aftenposten (Christiania) afternoon edition, 11 September 1909, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.220.
The North Pole, a photo taken in 2006 by the NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. [1]Controversy still remains today over which, if indeed either, Cook or Peary had been first.
Amundsen was again interviewed by the press, who asked if he believed in Cook. "'Unreservedly,' he replied. 'How can you explain this affair with Peary?' 'Well,' answered Amundsen, 'Peary has got it into his head that he is entitled to a monopoly of everything up there in the North.'" [3]
The next day, Amundsen cabled Daugaard-Jensen to double his order of Greenland dogs, from fifty to a hundred.
Notes:
[1] Wikipedia.
[2] "Peary Denounces Cook", New York Times, 11 September 1909.
[3] Aftenposten (Christiania) afternoon edition, 11 September 1909, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.220.
September 8, 2009
Wednesday, 8 September 1909
Amundsen
Amidst the speculation over Cook and Peary, Amundsen told reporters, somewhat disingenuously, "It would be useless to make speculations as to the points arrived at by the two explorers. It is not important if the exact mathematical pole was reached or not, but it is important that the geographical conditions of the spot were observed. Probably something will be left to be done. What is left will be sufficient for all of us." [1]
He was on his way to Copenhagen to see Cook, who was being fêted as "the conqueror of the North Pole". He had left a note for Leon, "Write to Thv. Nilsen ... and tell him the exp. is postponed and will get under way in a few months.... Give the same reason to all the others. Possible departure July 1910." [2]
Some years later, Cook wrote of their visit, "Amundsen told me ... that he was about ready to take the Fram ... for another try at the Pole. He asked me about the currents, the weather, and what I thought of the prospects. I advised against the execution of the enterprise because at best I believed he could only duplicate the voyage of Nansen and Sverdrup. Furthermore, I said the North Pole is now out of the picture. Why not try for the South Pole.... [The idea] almost took Amundsen's breath."
Whether or not Cook was in fact the first to suggest the South Pole to Amundsen is not known, or if Amundsen's surprise was due to Cook inadvertently lighting on his change of plan.
"He sat in meditation for a while as was his custom when new ideas were suddenly flashed. Then said Amundsen, 'The Fram is not a good sea boat for the heavy South Seas. But this is the thing to do. Let me think it over.'" [3]
Amundsen himself wrote afterwards, "Just as rapidly as the message had travelled over the cables I decided on my change of front -- to turn to the right-about, and face to the South." [4]
Notes:
[1] New York Times, 8 September 1909, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.216.
[2] Roald Amundsen, note to Leon Amundsen, [ca. 7 September, 1909], quoted by Tor Bomann-Larsen in Roald Amundsen (Stroud, Gloucestershire : Sutton, c2006, c1995), p.75.
[3] F.A. Cook, unpublished memoirs, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.216.
[4] Roald Amundsen, The South Pole, ch.2.
Amidst the speculation over Cook and Peary, Amundsen told reporters, somewhat disingenuously, "It would be useless to make speculations as to the points arrived at by the two explorers. It is not important if the exact mathematical pole was reached or not, but it is important that the geographical conditions of the spot were observed. Probably something will be left to be done. What is left will be sufficient for all of us." [1]
He was on his way to Copenhagen to see Cook, who was being fêted as "the conqueror of the North Pole". He had left a note for Leon, "Write to Thv. Nilsen ... and tell him the exp. is postponed and will get under way in a few months.... Give the same reason to all the others. Possible departure July 1910." [2]
Some years later, Cook wrote of their visit, "Amundsen told me ... that he was about ready to take the Fram ... for another try at the Pole. He asked me about the currents, the weather, and what I thought of the prospects. I advised against the execution of the enterprise because at best I believed he could only duplicate the voyage of Nansen and Sverdrup. Furthermore, I said the North Pole is now out of the picture. Why not try for the South Pole.... [The idea] almost took Amundsen's breath."
Whether or not Cook was in fact the first to suggest the South Pole to Amundsen is not known, or if Amundsen's surprise was due to Cook inadvertently lighting on his change of plan.
"He sat in meditation for a while as was his custom when new ideas were suddenly flashed. Then said Amundsen, 'The Fram is not a good sea boat for the heavy South Seas. But this is the thing to do. Let me think it over.'" [3]
Amundsen himself wrote afterwards, "Just as rapidly as the message had travelled over the cables I decided on my change of front -- to turn to the right-about, and face to the South." [4]
Notes:
[1] New York Times, 8 September 1909, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.216.
[2] Roald Amundsen, note to Leon Amundsen, [ca. 7 September, 1909], quoted by Tor Bomann-Larsen in Roald Amundsen (Stroud, Gloucestershire : Sutton, c2006, c1995), p.75.
[3] F.A. Cook, unpublished memoirs, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.216.
[4] Roald Amundsen, The South Pole, ch.2.
September 7, 2009
Tuesday, 7 September 1909
Amundsen
Robert Peary aboard the Roosevelt, ca.1909 [1]
The newspapers continued to astonish: "Peary: Has he also planted the Stars and Stripes on the North Pole?" [2]
Robert Peary claimed to have reached the Pole on 6th April, 1909, a year after Cook, who cabled cheerfully to the New York Herald, "Two records are better than one." [3]
Peary, an American Navy engineer who had in the course of his career as an Arctic explorer pioneered the use of Inuit survival techniques such as igloo-building and fur clothing, had departed New York on 6th July 1908 to winter on Ellesmere Island in northern Canada, and set off for the Pole in late February of 1909. His announcement that he, with Matthew Henson and four Inuit companions, had reached the Pole, was somewhat anticlimactic in light of Cook's own announcement.
Notes:
[1] Library of Congress.
[2] Aftenposten (Christiania), 7 September 1909, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.215.
[3] New York Herald, 7 September 1909, quoted by Bruce Henderson in True North : Peary, Cook, and the Race to the Pole (New York : Norton, c2005), p.243.
Robert Peary aboard the Roosevelt, ca.1909 [1]The newspapers continued to astonish: "Peary: Has he also planted the Stars and Stripes on the North Pole?" [2]
Robert Peary claimed to have reached the Pole on 6th April, 1909, a year after Cook, who cabled cheerfully to the New York Herald, "Two records are better than one." [3]
Peary, an American Navy engineer who had in the course of his career as an Arctic explorer pioneered the use of Inuit survival techniques such as igloo-building and fur clothing, had departed New York on 6th July 1908 to winter on Ellesmere Island in northern Canada, and set off for the Pole in late February of 1909. His announcement that he, with Matthew Henson and four Inuit companions, had reached the Pole, was somewhat anticlimactic in light of Cook's own announcement.
Notes:
[1] Library of Congress.
[2] Aftenposten (Christiania), 7 September 1909, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.215.
[3] New York Herald, 7 September 1909, quoted by Bruce Henderson in True North : Peary, Cook, and the Race to the Pole (New York : Norton, c2005), p.243.
March 20, 2007
March 1907
Scott
Frederick Cook announced his plans to launch an attack on the South Pole from Ross Island.
Cook had been surgeon on Peary's third Greenland expedition in 1891-92, and on de Gerlache's 1897-99 Antarctic expedition in the Belgica, during which he had become close friends with Amundsen.
Frederick Cook announced his plans to launch an attack on the South Pole from Ross Island.
Cook had been surgeon on Peary's third Greenland expedition in 1891-92, and on de Gerlache's 1897-99 Antarctic expedition in the Belgica, during which he had become close friends with Amundsen.
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