The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-10-13

New York, Oct. 1.-THE following
statement of Commander Robert e
Peary, which he submitted, together
with an accompanying map. to the
Peary Arctic Club in support of his
contention that Dr. Cook did not reach
the North Pole, is now.made public foi
the first time. The statement and
map have been copyrighted by the
Peary Arctic Club
(Entered according to Act of Con
gress, in the year 1909, by the Peary
Arctic Club. in the office of the Librar-
ian of Congress. at Washington, d.
IC.)
INTRODUCTION BY PEARY.
Some Of my reasons for saying
that DR. Cook did not go to the North
Pole will be understood by those who
read the following statements of the
two Eskimo boys who went with him,
and who told me and others of my par
ty where he did go. Several Eskimos
who started with DIR. Cook from Amor
atok 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 sledges and some
twenty dogs. The boys were I-took-a-
shoe 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 Sheriden
and at the very first settlement | touch
ed (Nerke, near Cape Chalon) in Aug
gust. 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 long
way north, but that the boys who were
with him, I-took-a-shoo and Ah-pe-lah,
said that this was not So The Eski-
mos laughed at Dr. Cooks story. On
reaching Etah, | talked with the Eski-
mos 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.
(Signed) R. e. PEARY
(Signed statement of Peary. Bart
lett, Mcmillan. Borup and Hensen. in
regard to the testimony of Cooks two
Eskimo boys
The two Eskimo boys, Etook-a-shoo
and Ah-pe-lah, who accompanied Dr.
Cook while he was away from Anora-
tok in 1908 and 1909. were questioned
separately and independently. and
were corroborated by Panikpah, the
father of one of them O-took-a-shoo)
who was personally familiar with the
first third and the last third of the
journey, and who said that the route
for the remaining third. as shown by
them, was as described to him by his
son after his return with Dr. Cook
Notes of their statements were tax
en- by several of us. and no one Of us
has any doubt that they told the truth.
Their testimony was mistaken by
cross-examination, was corroborated
by other men of the tribe, and was
elected neither by threats or promises,
the two boys and their father talking
Of their journey and Of their experien-
res in the same way that they would
talk of any hunting trip.
To go more into details One of
he 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 out
with his finger on the map. but not
making any marks upon it,
As he went out. the other boy came
n and was asked to show where he
lad gone with Dr. Cook This he did,
llso without making any marks. and
the same details and the
anne route as did the other boy
When he was through Panikpah.
he father Of Itook-a-shoo. a very in
elligent man. who was in the party Of
lskimos that came back with Dr.
'ook from the northern end of Nan