Willmar tribune., 1909-09-22
Denies Cook Reached Pole.

Denies Cook Reached Pole.
Battle Hs:bor, Labrador (via Marconi
wireless, Cape Ray, N. F), Sept 10.-Do
not trouble about Cooks story, or at
tempt to explain any discrepancies in his
statements. The affair will settle itself.
He has not been at the pole on April
81, 1908, or at any other time. He has
simply handed the public gold brick.
These statements are made advisedly.
makes a full statement Of his journey
over his signature to some geographical
society, or other reputable body, II that
statement contains the claim that he has
reached the pole, I shall be In posi-
tion to furnish material that may prove
distinctly interesting reading for the pub
lie. ROBERT E. PEARY.
Battle Harbor, Labrador (via Marco
nj wireless, Cape Ray, N. F.), Sept. o.
The steamer Roosevelt. bearing the
north polar expedition of the Peary
Arctic club. parted company with the
Erik and steamed out of Etah ford late
in the afternoon of August Is. 1908.
setting the usual course for Cape Sa-
bine. The weather was dirty. with
fresh southerly winds. We had on
board 22 Eskimo men, II women. and
10 children, 226 dogs, and some forty
odd walrus.
We encountered the Ice a short dis
tance from the mouth of the harbor.
but it was not closely packed. and was
negotiated by the Roosevelt without
serious difficulty.
Find Much Water.
Az we neared Cape Sabine the wealth
er cleared somewhat and we passed by
Three WORT island and Cape Sabine,
easily making out with the naked eye
of II hor rhor mi hV1
me in the winter of 1901-O2.
From Cape Sabine north there was
so much water that we thought of set
ting the lug sail before the southerly
wind. but a little later appearance of
ice to the northward stopped this.
There was clean open water to Cape
Albert, and from there scattered ice
to point about abreast of Victoria
Head, thick weather and dense ice
bringing US some ten or fifteen miles
away.
From here we drifted south somewhat
and then got aslant to the northward
out of the current We worked little
some hours. Then we again worked
westward and northward till we
reached series of lakes. coming to a
stop a few miles south OF the Wind
wards winter quarters at Cape Dur
Vile.
From here. after some delay, we
slowly worked a way northeastward
through fog and broken ice of medium
thickness through one night and the
forenoon of the next day, only emerg-
ing into open water and clear weather
off Cape Fraser.
Strike Ice and Fog.
From this point we had a clear run
through the middle Of Robson channel
uninterrupted by either ice or fog. to
I~1s
tered both ice and fog. and while
working along in search of practi-
cable opening were forced across to
the Greenland coast at Thank God
Harbor.
The fog lifted there and enabled US
to make out our whereabouts and we
steamed north through series of leads
past Cape Lupton, and thence south
ward toward Cape Union. A few miles
off that cape we were stopped by i'm
practicable ice. and we drifted back
south to Cape Union. where we stopped
again.
Ship Forced Aground.
We lay for some time in lake Of
water, and then, to prevent being drift
ed south again. took refuge under the
north shore of Lincoln bay. in nearly
the identical place where we had our
unpleasant experiences three years be-
fore Here we remained for Severeal
days during a period OF constant and
at times violent northeasterly winds.
Twice we were forced aground by
the heavy ice; we had our port quar-
ter rail broken and hole stove in tho
bulwarks. and twice we pushed out in
an attempt to get north, but were
forced back each time to our precari-
Gus shelter.
Heavy Running Ice.
Finally on September We squeezed
around Cape Union and made fast in a
shallow niche in the ice, but after some
hours we made another short run to
Black cape and hung on to grounded
bit Of ice At last, a little after mid
night of September 5. we passed through
extremely heavy running ice into a
stream of open water, rounded Cape
Rawson and passed Cape Sheridan.
Within quarter of an hour Of the
same time we arrived three years before
seven a. m. September 5-we reached
the open water extending beyond Cape
Sheridan.
We steamed up to the end Of It and it
appeared practicable at first to reach
Porter bay. near Cape Joseph Henly,
which l had for my winter quarters, but
the outlook being unsatisfactory, went
back and put the Roosevelt into tho
close to the mouth Of the Sheridan riv-
er a little north Of our position three
years prior.
Put Up for Winter.
The season was further advanced than
In 1905; there was more snow on the
ground and the new ice inside the foe
bergs was much thicker.
The work Of discharging the ship was
commenced at once and rushed to COM
pletion. The supplies and equipment we
sledged across ice and sea and deposited
On shofs. 4 housA ana useklhop were