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.

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.

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.

Friday, 3 September 1909

Amundsen

Amundsen in a studio portrait by Anders Beer Wiltse, 1909. [1]

When interviewed in Christiania about his old friend's stunning announcement, Amundsen said, "'Dr. Cook was my partner on the Belgica expedition as physician ... and all on board appreciated highly his experience and his ability. His was an uncommonly stanch [sic], persevering, and energetic personality, and I admire him.'"

"'The possible results from Dr. Cook's achievement will have no influence on my projected expedition. I am not planning to reach the point of the pole. My trip will be for oceanographic exploration.'"

"Capt. Amundsen characterized Cook's dash to the pole as 'the most brilliant sledge trip in the history of polar exploration'." [2]

London newspapers, the New York Times reported, "are not wholly convinced by the narrative, and persist that it will be necessary to await more details and reports. They are unable to conceive how a task which has beaten the ablest polar explorers provided with everything that money could purchase could have been achieved in such a seemingly off-hand and unpremeditated manner and with such ease and quickness." [3]


Notes:

[1] Galleri NOR, Norsk Folkemuseum, Nasjonalbiblioteket.
[2] "Former Companion Lauds Cook", New York Times, 3 September 1909.
[3] "London Papers Praise Cook", New York Times, 3 September 1909.

Wednesday, 1 September 1909

Amundsen

Frederick Cook [1]

Norwegian newspapers announced THE NORTH POLE REACHED. "Dr. Cook reached the North Pole on the 21st April 1908, arrived in May 1909 from Cape York at Upernavik [Greenland]." [2]


Notes:

[1] Wikipedia.
[2] Aftenposten (Christiania) afternoon edition, 1 September 1909, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.215.

Tuesday, 4 June 1907

Scott

Scott remained studiously quiet about his plans, and had no intention of being "pushed out of that position," he wrote to Shackleton, "by a windbag like Cook. My opinion of Cook is nil -- he is a needy adventurer -- seeking notoriety ... the man who gives money to Cook must be an ass." [1]

To Keltie, Scott wrote, "As regards the future, you saw Shackleton's article in the 'Tribune' prompted by Cook's essay -- he (Shackleton) wished me to make an announcement but I refused. I saw no reason -- as I presume it won't stop Cook if he means real mischief. This leads me to a real point. What is or has been the international position as regards exploring areas and how far do Geographical Societies regulate it? ... Is the Public Press the only means by which England can signalise her intention of going on in that area? if so what are international geographical congresses for? Will you tell me what are the Society's powers in this matter. Would it be listened to if it assured the American Societies that England was willing and able to go on wiht the work of exploration in that quarter."

"This is a matter of great importance to me. On these lines everything is going well. I have arranged for all the patient & exhaustive trials which I proposed to myself. I never talk idly -- so you will not think so when I tell you that I see my way ahead and a road to all the money I want.... When I go south it will be with something that promises a great reward by I cannot pretend that I do not wish to keep my field clear. It is not that I fear great things being done by others, but it's the occupation of the field of action by strangers which will render it impossible for me to go to the same field -- and possibly waste all my labours." [2]

A few days later, Scott wrote again to Keltie. "I should explain. I had no thought of an official letter being sent by the RGS to American societies. I presumed only that the RGS has sources of information with regard to what is happening in geographical matters which cannot be open to private individuals -- it being obviously absurd that two persons of different nationalities should start for the same place at the same time in ignorance of each other's intentions."

"Of course Cook may be and I think he is a mere adventurer, in that case official authority could do nothing. But it is scarcely right to assume that he cannot be genuine and if he is and continues preparation with the support of American Geographical Societies, both he & the authorities of the Society would be justifiably aggrieved if they were asked to change plans at the last moment.... I hope I have made the object of my last letter clear. i was not asking for the Society's support in any form -- I would not dream of doing so at such a time." [3]

Keltie replied, "Rupert England came to see me yesterday to tell me that he is engaged to go with Shackleton as Captain of the ship. He did not tell me that there was any secret about it, so I suppose there is no harm in my telling it to you. I understand Shackleton has practically bought his ship, I forget its name, I dare say you know it. For they are pushing on all they can to leave about the end of July or the beginning of August." [4]


Notes:

[1] R.F. Scott to Ernest Shackleton, 23 May, 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.337-338.
[2] R.F. Scott to Scott Keltie, 25 May, 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.338.
[3] R.F. Scott, letter to Scott Keltie, 1 June, 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.338-339.
[4] Scott Keltie, letter to R.F. Scott, 4 June, 1907, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.339.

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.