The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-15
pEARY ANSWERS
MANY QUESTIONS
Repeats Charges Against Ex.
plorer Cock.
DESCRIBES LIFE At POLE

Refuses TO Discuss story That He
Took Supplies at Etah Belonging to
Rlval--8ays He Took No White
Witness to the Pole Because He
Wanted Honor For Himself Alone.
Declines to Answer Query as to
Temperature.
Battle Harbor, Labrador, Sept. is
(By wireless telegraph via Cape Ray.
N. F)-Commander Peary answered
a number OF questions asked him by
the Associated Press correspondent.
WAS DR.. Cook at the pole?" was
the first question. to which the COM
mander replied: Cook was not at the
pole on April 2l. 1908, or at any other
time. make this statement advisedly
and at the proper time will back It
up with proof"
Were you surprised, Commander
Peary, on returning to Labrador, to
learn that DR.. Cook had reported
reaching the pole, or had anything
happened before you returned to
cause you to anticipate this event?"
was next asked. Il heard II in New
York that DR.. Cook was going to
bring the pole back replied the com
mander.
rs II true that you opened letters
or documents having reference 10 this
point?" NO" he responded emphat-
itally.
did Harry Whitney make any i'm
portant statements to you about an
other polar expedition" "He made
no statement" said Commander
Peary. HE Is on the relief schooner
Jeanie now and is probably shooting
bear on the western coast"
what life Is there to be found at
the north pole? Are there birds,
fishes or animals there?" when !
was there It was not the season for
birds. ! do not know II there are fish
In the polar seas at that spot. There
are no animals at the pole.
Commander Peary declined to dis
cuss the charges that he took sup
plies at Etah belonging to Dr.. Cook
but declared that Captain Moses
Bartlett could not throw any light on
this point because he had not been
In Greenland since Peary went there
last. Rudolph Francke had begged
piteousy to be taken out OF Green
land. He was suffering from scurvy
Speaking about the unexplored
area In the polar regions, Comman-
der Peary said that there were 1000
600 square miles of unknown terri.
tory between the pole and Bering
straits previous to his expedition He
had not yet figured on how much
that quantity waS reduced
Asked with regard le the purple
snow fields at the pole, the hum
mocks and creyices approaching the
pole, Commander Peary said: "That
Is a range of Information that | do
not care TO impart now"
What was the thickness of the ice
and the temperature of the atmos.
phere?" he was asked. II had no
hN'oho VI hiSaouilhb tut ittt WHICH
was heavy. do not care to tell the
temperature"
Bearing on the Cook controversy
Commander Peary was asked: "Are
the Esklmos who were with Dr. Cook
In his dash TO the pole on your ship?"
"No, but talked with them"
Have you heard that any Eskimos
were ever at the pole before yours?"
mo, never. No inducement that could
be offered them would tempt them
out on that sea OF Ice until ] went
there. They know by experience the
liability OF the ice breaking up and
carrying people away 10 DEATH"
"Why did You not have a white wit
ness at the pole?" Because after a
OF effort ilearly wanted
the honor for myself"
The Roosevelt will proceed to New
York Just as she is now, crew. dogs
and all complete. She Will leave here
tomorrow.