Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1909-09-23
COOK NEARING HOME
EXPLORER BARELY FOUR DAYS
FROM NEW YORK.
WHITNEY SWORN TO SlLESCE
Accounts for Evaslve Replies to
,esry's Observation-Disclosures Told
Peary Cook Was Dead.

On Board the Steamship oscar II,
at Sea.-yia Marconi Wireless Tele.
graph to Cape Race, N. F.-''Tell the
people of America TO have the fullest
confidence in my conquest of the pole
| have records of observations made
by me which win prove my claim I
shall be glad again to set my foot
on American SOIL
This was the brief message Dr. Fred
erick A. Cook Friday asked the Asso
ciated Press TO give to his countrymen
as he nears home on the steamer Os-
car II bound from Christiansand, Nor
way, to New York. The Oscar II is due
to arrive there some time Monday.
DR.. Cook discussed freely with the
Associated Press correspondent the as
sertions of Commander Peary that he
Cook had never reached the North
Pole, and from him was drawn de
tailed story of the causes that brought
about the dlssensions between the two
explorers.
When he departed for the North DR..
Cook said he left a depot of provi-
sions at Annatook, north OF Etah, in
charge of Rudolph Francke and sew
eral Bskimos. Francke had instruc-
lions to go south aboard whaler and
return later. This he did, but missed
the returning vessel owing to slight
illness. He. was then taken aboard
Peary's ship. the Roosevelt, and pro
ceeded north.
Commander Peary found my sup
ply depot at Annatook." DR.. Cook con-
tinued, "and the Eskimo in charge
told him that was dead, as they fully
believed 1t to be true at the time
.Peary placed two men in charge
of the depot, Boatswain Murphy and
another, Harry Whitney, the New
Haven hunter, also remained there.
Murphy had orders not TO search for
me. but was told he could send Els
kimos northward the following spring
from the relief depot.
When returned from the pole un-
expectedly Harry Whitney was the
first to see me and to tell me what
had occurred. Whitney was placed in
possession of the facts concerning my
journey to the pole on condition that
he would not inform Commander
Peary or his men. At the same time
the Eskimos who had accompanied me
north were told 10 maintain the strict
est silence.
When l went into the depot there
was dispute between myself and
Murphy, who delivered to me written
instructions he had received from
Peary, although he himself could nei-
Their read nor write. These instruc-
lions showed that he was making
trading station of my depot, the con
tents of which had been used in trad
ing for furs and skins
Dr. Cook said he was intensely an
noyed at the alleged wrongful use of
his supplies and threatened to kick
out Murphy and his companion. Fin
ally, however, he consented to their
remaining at the depot, as there was
no other shelter in the vicinity for
them.
"On one occasion Murphy asked me
abruptly, Have you been beyond S7?'
But ! was determined not to let Peary
know of my movements, and replied
eUasiyely that had been much fur
Their north. From this statement has
been concocted the declaration that |
had said that mad not reached the
pole"
Dr.cook declared that neither Har-
ny Whitney's nor his (Cooks) records
are on board the Roosevelt and mat
therefore Peary's information concern
ing him emanated from Boatswain
Murphy.
nr coot soid also that he hod
,nada arranaarman,s sor .ba tvo