Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-10-07
COOK Got THERE
WHITNEY SAYS SO AND TELLS
OF PEARY's LITTLENESS.
Says Peary Made Him Separate All
OF Cooks Luggage From His and
Leave it Behind.

marry nitney, OIL new Raven
Conn. has arrived at St Johns, n
F. He says he believes that DIR
Frederick A. Cook found the pole
and that Commander Peary did the
same. In expressing this belief Mr.
Whitney said that he knows no rea
son for doubling Cook more THAI
Peary. "Dr. Cooks story" he added
seems to me truthful and probable
Nothing else would expalin his Il
months absence"
DR.. Cook left with him at Annatok
several cases containing instruments
and some belongings. but 80 far
as Mr.. Whitney knew. no written rec.
ords. There may have been records
however. packed with DR.. Cooks per-
sonal effects. but the explorer did
not tell him especially that he was
leaving written records In his pos
session.
Speaking of DR.. Cooks detailed
account Of his trip to the pole. Mr.
Whitney said that the explorer show
ed him how the western drift OF the
Ice had landed him In q region far
remote from where, he expected to
o.and he was unable to get back.
He could not speak with authority
as to whether DR.. Cook and his two
Eskimos could carry on their three
sledges enough food for their jour.
ney to the pole. as he himself is
novice In Arctice travelling. He
declared he knew nothing of the
controversy beyond the vaguest de-
70 ilc ha 10 Nf q
at Indian Harbor, when he received
messages from several American pa
pers asking for a statement.
Mr.. Whitney denied that Com.
mander Peary had removed DR..
Cooks stores from Annatok to Etah.
What Peary really did was to trans
fer a few things and rebuild the
house at Annatok. Boatswain Muir
phys only reason for refusing to
help Capt. Bernier's Canadian expe-
dition to get dogs and sledges at Etah
themselves. Mr.. Whitney had troub
lie In getting enough dogs for his
teams all through the winter and
Murphy was looking out for Peary,
so that he would have sufficient
dogs for the commanders exploring
trips around the country when he
returned from the north.
The day the Roosevelt was leav-
ing Etah for home Whitney inform
ed Peary that Cook had intrusted to
him certain belongings TO bring home
on the vessel that was coming up
for Whitney. but as this ship had not
arrived Whitney was at a loss wha,
to do with the property.
Peary declined to permit DR.
Cooks belongings to be brought
aboard the Roosevelt and he put
Whitney on his honor not to include
anything belonging to DR.. Cook in
his own luggage. Whitney thereup-
on went ashore from the Roosevelt
separated DR.. Cooks property from
his own baggage, and with the aid
of Capt. Robert Bartlett. commander
the Roosevelt. whom he had ask.
ed TO help, repacked Cooks proper
~ in boxes.
After this had been done, Whit
ney and Bartlett cached all Cook s
property In a cave In the, rocks. They
built up the cave securely with stones
and turf and left 1t and the proper
ty in charge of one of DR.. Cooks
Eskimos.
1t may be remembered In passing
Mr.. Whitney went on. that ten years
ago Peary did with the explorer
'everdrup. who was cruising in FAITH
sound. what he has done with Cook
he refused to bring back any Of
Severdrup's letters or records.
In conclusion Mr.. Whitney declar-
ed he regretted being dragged into
the controversy. He said he had
found both DR.. Cook and Commandel
| Peary courteous and conslderate ano
| that he had never met any men whose
| conduct generally was more com
| mendable or whose dealings with hin
had been more fair.
DR.. Cook, when shown Mr.. Whit
neys statement. said that he approx
ed of all that Mr.. Whitney had said
Everything In the interview Il
substantially correct" said DR.. Cook
1T confirms all my declarations"
Mr.. Whitney was in all probabil
ity unaware OF the written records
| rRA