The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-10
DEDRlCk'S STATEMENT.
,r.RY,s PHYSICIAN TELLS OF THE
TROUBLE BETWEEN THEM.

rxpedition-TeIIs of Refusal of
Medicine for Dying Eslximos, Ar
bitrary Forfeiture of His own Sal
ment Received
washington, N. J., Nov. s.-Dr. T. S.
Dedrick. who accompanied the Peary
arctic expedition and who left it while
IN the North, has furnished the Asso-
ciated Press with the following state
ment:
This statement is the only one au-
thorized by me since the one telegraph
ID over my signature en- route to New
York a few days after my landing at
sydney. The misconstruction that the
press put upon DR.. F. A. Cooks opin-
ION as to the effects of the Arctic night
upon the possibility of men living
amiably together led to the false state
ment that l authorized DR.. Cook to
explain the causes of my troubles with
Mr.. Peary.
Dr. Cook did state that he never
had any question as to my sanity and
that he never examined me in the
least He has deplored to me the ru-
n1ors which grew current, and has said
emphatically that he wished to do all
in his power to stamp out any false
Impressions
stances of my resignation, any more
than to touch ON those phases which
will correct the impression that acted
inconsiderately. The haze thrown upon
& the circumstances of my going ashore
led to all kinds of surmises. Among
many other things it was said: None
of the officers of the expedition had
any knowledge of his intentions
Three days previously to giving Mr.
Peary my verbal resignation, and up
on offering my voluntary services,
told him that if my presence was not
acceptable at his headquarters 1 GER
tainly should land at the nearest posi-
Bile point. | said / was aware that
might be defeating my purpose in thus
giving him Information which he might
use to thwart my plan, but that
wanted him to know my strong feel
ing in the matter and also that
wanted to act openly In thus giving
him notice Of my intentions.
Many other reports sprang up, such
as: "A large depot of expedition sup
plies is situated at Etah.' There was
not an ounce of supplies on the Green
land shore, and every one aboard knew
it,
Let me review. On Aug. q, at the
rendezvous of the two ships at Oh
rik's Bay l gave my verbal resigna-
ton and proffer of voluntary services.
Mr.. Peary accepted the former, but
wanted to deliberate over the mat
ter. AS in both instances of previous
engagements (Which were dropped at
his request he had accepted my vol
untary services, / supposed he would
he CHI i =
the shore toward Etah at Nerke. I
was directed to continue on the Wind
ward in charge of the Eskmos, he
being on the Erik. On the oath the
ships met, stores were transferred
and, the WindWard remaining, all of
us proceeded on the Erik toward Cape
Sabine, supposed to be reached by
evening, after making a cali at Etah
pefore crossing the channel. My writ
ten resignation now given Mr. Peary
embodied the following:
You will never by any voluntary
act OF mine be deprived of my med
ical services, nor of helping hand
so long as you remain in the Arctic
1T l am not to remain at your head
quarters, you can depend upon my
being at the nearest possible point
that can effect a landing and main
tain life. My salary of course, ceases
from date NV full salary, 81, 500 Per
year, being due me, you will please
give me an order on the Peary Arctic
Club I shall refrain from making
any public comment and any private
comment on the chain of circum-
stances leading to the rupture in our
relations until we return to the States,
When shall Justify my course. for
the sake of my family and my hon
or, if I deem 1t necessary"
(Signed) T. S. DERRICK,
Assistant and Surgeon.
Within few hours of reaching
Etah, l requested an answer. which
was as follows: Your resignation of
the 21st is at hand, and is accented,
70 take effect on your arrival in New
York, whittier you will proceed on the
returning Erik. On the receipt of
your diaries and game lists etc, and
the medical stores now in your Dos
session. l will authorize the club to
pay you the bonus of $50 per month
provided in our contract for faithful
service"
This ended the incident. I asked Mr.
Peary how long we would anchor at
Etah. He replied: "a couple of
hours" l asked how long it would
take to cross the Sabine. He replied:
-Four hours, if there is no ice" eve
had crossed twice during the summer
free from the ice)
of Etah. This was the only oppor-
tunity for the landing. Supper was
eaten and I had time to collect my
diaries and game lists, write an or
der to Mr.. Bridgman to pay the ST.
800 to my wife, hastily close my mail
to the States. collect my wife's let
tiers and photographs, a sealskin coat
and few things into a small bag, ex-
change my coat for a heavier one
ask permission Of Mr.. Peary to go
ashore for hare seen on the beach
and get in the boat which was land
ing an Eskimo and his effects.
On shore 1 changed my mind and
allowed the Eskimo to shoot a hare
and kept him waiting but a minute
to send the following to the ship along
with the hare and the shot gun
L stated in my resignation that
would remain at nearest point pos
slble to your headquarters so as to
be within your reach in case my
medical services are needed. 1 would
willingly stay at Sabine, but If were
not allowed to do so, the ship might
Illustrate my plan of landing in the
settlements. This place is near An
oritok. At that place 1 can come to
Sabine after the middle of Novem-
bar / certainly shall never voun-
tartiy leave the Arctic until this ex-
petition ends. ! don't feel like 60
ing ashore at your house and defy
any one to put me aboard. /
would rather be within easy reach, as