The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-09-29
WHITNEY HAS NO DETAILS
OF POLAR CONTROVERSY
When DR.. Cook Reached Etah He Con-
ferred With Whitney and Told
Him of Discovery, Which
Whitney Confirms.

ol. JOnnSt N. otpltiibSA 10 AA'i
ry Whitney of New Haven believes that
DIR. Frederick A. Cook found the pole
and that Commander Peary did the
same. In expressing this belief today
Mr.. Whitney said that he knows no
reason for doubling Cook more than
Peary.
"Dr. Cooks story he added seems
to me truthful and probable. Nothing
else would explain his II months abb
senee."
The schooner Jeanie arrived here to-
day with Mr.. Whitney aboard, coming
from the Greenland coast by way of
Indian Harbor, Labrador. Mr.. Whitney
feels keenly the position in which he
is placed. He went north, he sai@,
merely on a hunting trip and now finds
himself in the storm center ofMl polar
controversy. DR.. Cook left with him
at Annatok several cases containing in
struments and some other belongings,
but so far as Mr.. Whitney knew no
written records There may have been
records, however, packed with DR..
Cooks personal effects, but the ex-
plorer did not tell him especially that
he was leaving written records in his
possession.
Drift of the Ice.
Speaking of DR.. Cooks detailed ac-
count of his trip to the pole, Mr.. Whit
ney said that the explorer showed him
how the western drift of the ice had
landed him in a region far remote from
where he expected to go, and he was
unable to get back. He could not speak
with authority as to whether DR.. Cook
and his two Eskinos could carry on
their three sledges enough food for
their journey to the pole. as he himself
is a novice in Arctic travelling. He
declared he knew nothing of the con-
troversy beyond the most vague de-
tails. The first he learned of it was
at Indian Harbor when he received
messages from several American pa
pers asking for a statement.
Mr. Whitney denied that Commander
Peary had removed DR.. Cooks stores
from Annatok to Etah. What Peary
really did was to transfer a few things
and rebuild the house at Annatok.
Boatswain Morphy's only reason for
refusing to help Captain Berniers
Canadian expedition to get dogs and
sledges at Etah was that they were
short of dogs themselves. Mr.. Whitney
had trouble in getting enough dogs for
his teams all InIOuS1 the WlHttI anu
Murphy was looking out for Peary so
that he would have sufficient dogs for
the commanders exploration trips
around the country when he returned
from the north.
Arrival of Cook.
Mr.. Whitney questioned regarding
the statements made to him by DR..
Cook in Greenland said Cook arrived
at Annotok in April of this year and
declared that he had reached the north
pole year before. He pledged Whit
ney not to tell Commander Peary, who
was to be informed only that Cook had
gone farther mort hthan Pearys pre-
vious record, 81 degrees, minutes. DR..
Cook told Whitney that he had ac-
complished all he expected and more
besides, and that he was through with
the north ern country.
Whitney did not communicate the latter
part of this statement to Commander
Peary. DR. Cook complained to Whitney
of Peary taking over his house and stores,
but declared he had suffered no unfair
ness. Peary's steward, William Pritchard,
was present when these statements were
made. He was also pledged to secrecy by
DR. Cook Murphy, Pearys boatswain In
charge of the stores, was absent at
Etah on this day, and did not hear DR..
Cooks communication. There were two
houses on the Greenland shore, one at
Annatok, holding Cooks stores, and an
other at Etah, holding Peary's Whitney,
Murphy and Pritchard sometimes occu-
pied one and sometimes the other of these
houses. Murphy was in charge of both
houses. He is not able to read or write.
He had written Instructions from Peary
which Whitney at Peary's request read to
him from time to time These instructions
were very stringent. directing Murphy to
use Cooks stores first and Peary's aft
erward. Murphy was told in them that he
was to give DIR. Cook every help If he
came along in needy condition, and fur
thernore the instructions implied that
Murphy was to organize expedition to
search for Dr. Cook, but according to
Mr.. Whitney these instructions were
worded very ambiguously Mr.. Whitney
said DIR. Cook had copy of these instruc-
tons and would doubtless make 1t pub
lie. Peary treated Dr. Cook very civiIly
and Cook suffered no discourtesy.
SIedges Too Heavy.
When Dr. Cook and his Eskimos arrived
at the house they had no sledge. Being
too tired to drag it over the rough ice,
they had left 1t 20 miles from Etah. The
following day some other Eskimos went
out recovered the s1edge and brought 1t
in On it were DR.. Cooks instruments,
clothes and food.
After spending two days at Annatol,
where Cook first met Whitney, Cook start
ed for Etah. Whitney accompanied him.
Cook remained for three days at Etah, or
ganzing for his trip south to Upernavik.
The doctor planned originally to take
two Eskimos and two sledges, but one
Eskimo fell sick and this made 1t neces-
sary for him to cut down the luggage he
could take with him south.
He consequently asked Whitney to take
charge of the instruments with which he
had made his observations at the pole.
There were three cases. one containing
a sextant another an artificial horizon
and the third an instrument which Mr..
Whitney did not recall.
Cook left no written records with Whit
is NJ nf