The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-19
PEARYS RECORDS VERY COMPLETE Four EskimDs Accompanied
 Him to North Pole STEAMER STARTS HOME Roosevelt, With Peary and His Party Aboard, Is Now Nearing Syd-
 ney and More News Will
 Be Obtained.
STEAMER STARTS HOME

Battle Harbor, by Marconi Wireless Telegraph via Cape Ray, N. F., Septem- Der 1S.-Commander Peary was asked to- day what he would have done if he had fallen sick at the pole with no one in the accompanying party capable of taking an observation. To this he replied:
 My last moments would have been de- voted to taking observation in order to leave the records. 1 would not permit anything to interference with that import ant duty and I would have handed the records to the Eszimos to take Mrs. Peary. If I had died within sight of the pole I would have depended on my Esa- mos to tell how far they travelled with the last supporting party. or on my obser- vations.
 My records are very complete and most carefully kept. They are sealed in skins and parchments, so that if thrown on the ice or in the water they probably would drift for years without sinking CT without being damaged and would even tually be found. This priceless pacakge will not be opened until l arrive in New York"
 Commander Peary confirms the state ment that four Eskimos were with nim at the pole. He says that he has made no statement differing from this.
 Sails for Sydney.
 The Arctic steamer Roosevelt with Commander Peary aboard sailed from here at s a. m. today for Sydney. Cap tain Bartlett received oEders yesterday from Commander Peary to have the
  the voyage to Sydney, and also to time his arrival, at that port so that they may reach there about Il o'clock on Tues day morning. The latter instructions wers given in accordance with a suggestion contained in a message received from the Sydney reception committee.
 Acting under instructions from N. l.. Nridgman, secretary of the Peary Arctic club, Commander Peary before leaving turned over to the Greefell hospital all the remaining provisions of his expedi- tion.
 Would you become an American citi- zen if you were offered command of tne Roosevelt to go to the Behring Sea?' was a question that caused Captain Bart lett to wonder a moment before he re- pied:
 You bet I would"
 Captain Bartlett intends to apply for an American masters certificate as soon as he reaches New York. He holds a Canadian certificate at present.
 Murphy on Board.
 The only man on the Roosevelt who met pr. Cook in Greenland was the boatswain, John Murphy, who was left at Etah when the Roosevelt went to her winter quarters. What Murphy knows about the alleged taking of Dr. Cooks supplies he has not disclosed to any one with the possible exception of Commander Peary.
 Commander Peary asserted his in- tention not to disclose the proofs he says he has against Dr. Cook until the main proposition, the direct claim of Dr. Cook with his records is submitted The commander was shown dispatch from Washington that the geograph ical society would like to acknowledg| both Polar claims but in view of the dispatch must technically decline to accept either until the matter has been investigated.
 He said. That suits me-"
 Harry Whitney, who Is on the schooner Jeannie, is due to arrive in touch with civilization any day from his polar bear hunt on the coast of Greenland. He is reported to have Dr. Cooks record In his possession and it Is said here that Whitney has stated that Dr. Cook told him he had been at the pole It Is said also that Whitney Is going to South America with Dr. Cook on a hunting expedition.