Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-13
COOK SCORES PEARY.

| Copenhagen, Sept. PA remarkable
letter. giving DR.. Frederick A. Cook S
version of the trouble with Com
mander Peary over supplies, appears
in the newspaper Politiken. The let
ter was written by DR.. Norman Han
sen, prominent Danish physician,
who several times visited Greenland to
| study eye diseases, which he has made
| a speciality.
DR.. Cook told practically the same
| story to one of his closest American
| friends just a week ago. before Cons
| mander Peary re-appeared on the
scene, but said that he did not intend
| to make it public because it might lead
| to unpleaSantness DR.. Hansen was
with Cook for some time in Greenland
| and returned with him on the Danish
government steamer Hans Egedc. In
| his letter he says:
Now that DR.. Cook has gone, | am
no longer under any obligation to keep
silence and will exercise my right to
publish the story about thc} house in
Annatok a story which DR.. Cook HIM
self had too much delcacy to relate to
the world. l write it according to my
memory, in the same manner that DR.
('OiN III tOlNl II " lIC, anu
l am fully convinced that in no details
are my recollections wrong.
DIR. Cook had built his house for
stores in Annatok north of E,tah and
it was this depot which he started to
reach in February, 1909, crossing
Smith sound. 1t was a pretty large
house. the walls being built of heavily
filled provision boxes. so that Dr. Cook
knew that when this important point
was reached, everything was safe. He
had, before the start. arranged with
young friend named Whitney, that he
should have the right to use the house
while hunting musk oxen for sport in
the winter of 10000.
when DR.. Cook and his two Es-
quimauX, exhausted and half starved
came within a shots distance of the
house in Annatok. young Whitney came
out to bid him welcome, but inside the
house was stranger, giant New
Foundland boatswain. on watch. This
man had been placed in DR. Cooks
house by Peary, when the latter pass
ed Etah with his ship bound North
Pcary had given the boatswain writ
ten order which commenced with tho
following words: This belongs tn Dr.
Frederick A. Cook, but DR.. Cook is
long ago dead and there is no use to
search after him. Therefore, l, Com
mander Robert E. Peary. install my
boatSwain in this deserted house.
This paper the boatswain, who
could neither read nor write. exhibited
to DIR. Cook and the latter took a copy
of this wonderful document. This
copy, however, he does not intend to
publish if Pearys course does not
force him to do so. DR.. Cook gave me
a lively account of how the young mil
lionairc Mr.. Whitney, during the
whole winter, was treated like dog
| by the giant boatswain and how he
had calmly witnessed the sailor bar
tering Dr. Cooks provisions for fox and
bear skins for himself. DIR. Cook also
had to put a good face on the unpleas-
ant situation. He had to beg to get
into his own house and had to make a
compromise with the boatswain with
strong fists.
Or. Cook made a present of the
house with all it's contents to his faith
full Esquimaux with the proviso that
Whitney was to have the use of the
house as long as his hunting trip last
ed but he was compelled to let the
New Foundand boatswain continue his
watch. The boatswain. however, re-
ceived strict orders not to exchange
any more of the provisions or guns.
Nov. / suppose the sailor will celia
brate his triumphal entrance into New
York harbor aboard Peary's ship, while
Whitney is. where? Aboard his own
yacht JEANNE? Or perhaps he has not
wanted to wait for his own boat and
has gone aboard Peary's ship.
ITO Mr.. Whitney DIR. Cook gave his
instruments and his observations, IS
he thought these precious things were
safer there than on the long sledge
trip in the spring across Melville bay,
but all his notebooks and greasy and
soiled record books, which have been
| 60 closely written upon. he kept and
carried with him. To me, who under
stands only a very little astronomy,
the records written down so closely
and in all directions, We're very hard
| to read, but what is the record to us?
The two men, Peary and Cook, their
character, their conduct, that is what
| interests us and every little item
throwing side light upOn their ma