Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-29
What Cook Told Whitney.

speaking or Dr. COOKS detailed dc- count of his trip to the pole sr. Whit ney said that the explorer showed him how the western drift of the ice had landed him in a region far remote from where he expected to go 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 journey to the pole, as he him. self is a novice in Arctic travelling. He declared he knew nothing of the controversy beyond the vaguest details. The first he learned of 1t was at In- dian Harbor, when he received mes- sages from several American papers asking for. statement. Theese he answered briefly.
 Cooks Stores Were Transferred.
 MT. Whitney denied that Commander Peary had removed Dr. Cooks stores from Annootok to Etah. What Peary really did was to transfer few things and rebuild the house at Annootok. Boatswain Murphy's only reason for refusing to help Captain Bernier's Cas' fadian expedition to get dogs and short of dogs themselves. Mir. White peY had trouble in getting enough dogs for his teams all through the winter, and Murphy was looking out for Peary. so that he would have suf- fcient dogs for the commanders ex-- ploring trips around the country when he returned from the north.
 Peary's instructions Reeardins Cooks
 Stores.
 There were two houses on the Green land shore, one at Annootok holding Cooks stores, and another at Etah, holding Peary's stores The three white men, Whitney, Murphy and Pritchard. sometimes occupied one and some times the other of these houses.
 Murphy was in charge of both houses. He is not. able to read or write. He had written instructions from Peary which Whitney, at Peary's request, read over to him from time to time. These instructions were very stringent. They directed Murphy to use Cooks stores first and Peary's af- forwards. Murphy was told in them that he was to give pr. Cook every help if he came along in a needy con- dition; and, furthermore, the instruc- tions implied that Murphy was to or ganize an expedition to search for Dr. Cook; but according to MT Whitney, this part of the instructions was word ed very ambiguously. ...i-----..4-I-------
 MT. Whitney said that Cook had copy of these instructions and would uoupliess Hdhe Lncm pupHc. Murpny treated Cook very ciyilly and Cook suffered no discourtesy.a
 Whitney said that last month, when Peaxy, on board the Roosevelt, reached Etah from the north after his winters work there. he -(Whitney) in- formed him of Dr. Cooks arrival in April, adding that Cook had told him (Whitney) to tell Peary that Cook had gone beyond Pearys farthest north pa1rv made n n, thic Whitney said he was not asked any other questions by Peary.
 What copk's Eskinros Said.
 But the next day Cooks Eskimos came to Whitney and asked him what Peary's men were trying to get them to say. Peary's men had shown the Eskimos papers and maps but the Eskimos declared they did not under stand these papers. So far as MT. Whitney Is aware Cooks Eskimos never admitted that while with the doctor they had only progressed two sleeps" from the land.
 The day the Roosevelt was leaving Etah for home Whitney informed Peary that Cook had entrusted to him certain belongings to bring home on the weasel that was coming up for Whitney. but as this ship had not ar rived Whitney was at loss what to do with this property. Peary declined to permit Dr. Cooks belongings to be brought aboard the Roosevelt, and he put Whitney on his honor not to in clude anything belonging to Dr. Cook fin his own luggage.
 what Was Done With. Cooks Property
 Whitney thereupon went ashore from the Roosevelt, separated pr. Cooks property from his own baggage, and, with the aid of Capt. Robert Bartlett. commander of the Roosevelt, whom he had asked to help him, repacked Cooks property in boxes After this had been done Whitney and Bartlett cached all Cooks property in a cave securely with stone and turf and left it and tne property in charge of one of Dr. Cooks Eskimos. There was nowhere else to put pr. Cooks prop erty, MS Pearys house had been dis manfled and hiss stores given to his kskimos and as- all the material and stores in Cooks holise in Annootok had been destroyed. It may be remarked in pa ssins, MT. Whitney went on, that ten years ago Peary did with the explorer Sverdrup who was cruising In Smith sound, what he has done with Cook: he refused to bring back any of Sverdrup's letters or records. G w
 NIT. Whitney said that when the Roosevelti left Etah she proceeded seuth and. on meeting the Jeanie, Whitney transferred to this vessel.