The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-09-24
COOK NEARING HOME
expl OReR BARELY FOUR DAYS
FROM NEW YORK.
WHITNEY SWORN TO S|LE"CE
Accounts for Evasive Replies &c
Peary's Questions.-Esquimo Told
Peary Cook Was Dead

people of America TO have the fullest
confidence in my conquest OF the pole
| | have records Of observations MADE
by me which will prove my claim.
| shall be glad again TO Set my 1901
on American soil.
This was the brief message DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook Friday asked the ASSo
ciated Press 70 give to his countrymen
as he nears home on the steamer Os'
car II, bound from Chrstiansand, Nor
way, to New York. The Oscar II Is due
to arrive there some time Monday.
Dr.. Cook discussed freely with the
Associated Press correspondent the as
seltions Of Commander Peary that ne
(COok) had never reached the North
Pole, and from him was drawn de-
tailed story of the causes that brought
about the Discussions between the Two
explorers.
When he departed for the North, DR..
Cook said he left depot of proVl-
SiOns at AnnatOok, north Of Etah, IN
charge of Rudolph FranCke and sew
eral Eskimos. Francke had instruc-
tons 10 go south aboard a Whaler and
return later. This he did, but missed
the returning vessel owing to slight
illness. He was then taken aboard
Pearys ship. the Roosevelt, and pro
ceeded north.
Commander Peary found my sup
ply depot at Annatook." Dr.. Cook con-
tinued and the Eskimo in charge
told him that was dead, as they fully
believed it to be true at the time.
"Peary placed two men in charge
of the depot. Boatswain Murphy and
another, Harry Whitney, the New
Haven hunter, also remained there,
Murphy had orders not 10 search for
me, but was told he could send Es-
kimOs northward the following spring
from the relief depot.
When returned from the pole m
eXpectedly Harry Whitney was the
first to see me and to tell me what
had occurred. Whitney was placed in
possession Of the facts concerning my
journey to the pole on condition that
he would not inform Commander
Peary or his men. At the same time
the ESkimOs who had accompanied NE
north were told TO maintain the strict
est silence.
When | went into the depot there
was dispute between myself and
Murphy, who delivered to me written
instructions he had received from
Peary, although he himself could nei-
Their read nor write. These instruc-
tons showed that he was making a
trading station Of my depot. the con-
tents of which had been used in trad.
ing for furs and skins
DR.. Cook said he was intensely an
nOyed at the alleged wrongful use Of
his supplies and threatened to kick
out Murphy and his companion. Fin
ally. however, he consented to their
remaining at the depot. as there was
no other shelter in the vicinity for
them.
On one occasion Murphy asked me
abruptly, Have you been beyond S7?'
But | was determined not to let Peary
know of my movements. and replied
evasively that | had been much fur
Their north. From this statement has
been concocted the declaration that
had said that had not reached the
pole"
DR.. Cook declared that neither Har-
ry Whitneys nor his (Cook's) records
are on board the Roosevelt, and that
therefore Peary's information concern
ing him emanated from Boatswain
Murphy.
DR.. Cook said also that he had
made arrangements for the two
EskimoS who went with him to the
pole and knud Rasmussen, whom he
met in Greenland, to go to New York
and confirm the story of his discov-
cry.
DR., Cook is thoroughly enjoying his
rest aboard ship after the strenuous
days at Copenhagen. He sleeps eight
hours each night and spends long
time daily in writing and in walking
the decks and conversing with the
American passengers. who all have
been formally presented to him by
Benjamin Trueblood. president of the
American Peace Society of Boston.
Another Backer for Cook.
Zurich-Dr. Dequervaine, chief of
the Swiss scientific expedition to
Greenland, who was the first Euro.
pean to meet DR.. Cook in Greenland
after the American explorers return
from the North and heard his mar
rative concerning the discovery of the
North Pole, has arrived here. He saws
that after having tested Cooks figures
and statements made to him he is con.
Wnced that Dr. Cook reached the
North Pole.
Denmark Not Shaken.