The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-10-22

q washington. D. CD
New York. Oct II. - The
following statement Of Command.
er Robert E. Peary, which he
submitted, together with the accom-.
panyins map. to the Peary Arctic club
10 support Of his contention that Or
Cook did not reach the north pole.
10 now made public for the first time
The statement and map have been
copyrighted by the Peary Arctic club
INTRODUCTION ~ PeARY.
Some Of my reasons for saying that
Or. Cook did not 60 to the north pole
sill Be understood BY those who read
the following statements Of the I've
Eskimo boys who went with him. ana
who told me and others Of MP party
where he did 90. Several Eskimos
who started with D.. Cook from An.
oratok IN February. 1908. were at
Etah when arrived there IN August
1908. They told me that DR.. Cook had
with him. after they left, two Eskimo
boys. Or young men. two siedges and
some twenty dogs. The boys were
ttook-a-shoo and Ah.pe-lah. had
known them from their childhood.
One was about eighteen and the other
about nineteen years Of age.
On my return from Cape Sheridan
and at the very 6rst settlement l
touched tNerke. near Cape ChalonD in
August. 1909. and nine days before
reaching Etah. the Eskimos told me.
In general way. where DR.. Cook had
been; that he had wintered In Jones
Sound. and that he had told the white
men at Etah that he had been q long
way north. but that the boys who were
with him. l.took-a-shoo and Ah.pe-lah,
said that this was not SO. The Eski-
mos laughed 1t DR.. Cooks story. On
reaching Etah. I talked with the Es-
KINDS there and with the two boys
and asked them to describe DR.. Cooks
Journey to members Of my party and
myself. This they did In the manner
stated below.
0siGnsd) r. 4. PEARY.
signed Statement OF Pesry, Bartlett,
Mcmillan. sorup and Henson. In Re.
gard to Testimony Of Cooks Tive
Eskimo Boys.
The two Eskimo boys. I.took-a.shoo
and Ah.pe-lah.: who accompanied Or.
Cook while he was away from Anora.
tok In 1908 and 1908. were questioned
separately and independently, and
were corroborated BY Panikpah. the
father Of one OF them u.took-a- SHOOT.
who Was personally familiar with the
hrst third and the last third OF their
Journey. and who said that the route
Tor the remaining third. AZ shown By
them. was ~ described to him By his
con after his return with DR.. Cook.
To 90 moro into details: One OF
the boys was called In. and. with .
chart on the table before him, was
asked to show where he had gone
With DR.. Cook. This he did. pointing
cut With his finger on the map. but
cot making any marks upon II.
A. he went out. the other boy came
u and was asked to show where he
had gone with DR.. Cook. This he did
also without making any marks. and
Indicated the same route and the
came details ~ did the first boy.
When he was through, Panikpah
the father OF Ltook-a-shoo. q very In
telligent man. who was In the part,
!, Of Eskimos that came back from Or
Cook from the northern end of Nan
sens strait. who 10 familiar 40 hunt
o. With the Jones Sound region. and
Who has been In Commander Peary's
varisas expeditions for some fifteer
yeaPs. came In and indicated the sam.
localities and details ~ tho two boys
Thss Tie 1rst boy was brought IL
again. and With pencil he traced on
the nap their route. members Of oul
party writing upon the chart wher.
according . the boys statement. the,
had KILLED deer. bear. some OF thsi
dogs. seal. valrus and musk oxen.
| The second boy was then called l.
anA tie tve vent over the chart 10
eethsr. tAs second boy suggest;a.
cone eAanses ~ noted hereafter
| DuFins the taking Of this Testimony