Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-29
Harry Whitney Regrets That He Is Mixed Up in
Controversy Speaks Well Of Both Men--Peay's
Evidence Is Now Ready for the Arctic Club.
HARRY WHITNEY TALKS.

ST. Johns, n. F., Sept. 2S.-Harry
Whitney of New Haven, believes that
Dl. Frederick A. Cook found the pole
and that Commander Peary did the
same In expressing this belief today
Mr.. Whitney said that he knows no
reason for doubling Cook more than
Peary
CDR Cooks story" he added, it
seems to me truthful and probable.
Nothing else would explain his 70
months absence"
The schooner Jeanne arrived here to-
day with Mr.. Whitney aboard, coming
from the Greenland coast by way of
Indian Harbor, Labrador. Mr.. Whit
ney feels keeny the position in which
he is placed. He went north. he said,
merely on a hunting trip and now finds
himself in the storm center of a polar
controversy. DR.. Cook left with him at
Annotok several instruments and
some other belongings, but as far as
Mr.. Whitney knows 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 possession.
Speaking of DIR. Cooks detailed account
of his trip to the pole, Mr.. Whitney said
that the explorer showed him how the
western drift of the ice had landed him
in region remote from where he expect
ed to go. and he was unable to get back
He could not speak with authority as to
whether Dr. Cook and his two EsqumauX
could carry on their three sledges enough
food for their journey to the pole. as he
himself is a novice in Arctic travelling.
He declared he knew nothing of thu
controversy beyond the vaguest details
The first he learned of it was at Indian
I1arbor, when he received messages from
several American papers asking for a
statement. These he answered briefly.
Mr.. Whitney denied that Commander
Peary had removed DR.. Cooks stores
from Annotok to Etah. What Peary real
ly Cid was to transfer few things ana
rebuild the house at Annatok. Boatswain
Murphy's only reason for refusing to help
Capt. Bernie's Canadian expedition to &c,
dogs and sledges at Etah was that they
were short of dogs themselves. Mr.. Whit
ney had trouble in getting enough dogs
for his teams all through the winter and
Murphy was looking out for Peary. so
I that he would have sufficient dogs for the
commanders exploring trips around the
country when he returned from the North
ST. Johns, n. f., Sept. 2S.-The Arc
tic vessel Jeanne with Harry Whitney.
the New Haven big game hunter, OH
beard, has arrived here from the
Greenland coast by way of Indian
Han Dor. Labrador
Mr. Whitney was questioned regard
ing the statements made to him by Dr.
| Frederick A. Cook in Greenland. He
said Cook arrived at Annatok in April
of this year and declared that he had
reached the North pole year ago. He
| pledged Whitney, however. not to tell
Commander Peary. who was to be in
formed only that Cook had gone far
Their north than Peary's previous rec
| ord 81 degrees, 6 minutes. DR.. Cook
| told Whitney that he had accomplished
| all he expected to and more besides
and that he was through with the
northern countrv Whitney did not
communicate the latter part of this
statement to Commander Peary.
Continuing, Mr. Whitney said that
Pearys taking over of his house and
stores but declared that he had suf-
| fered no unfairness. Peary's steward
William Pritchard, was present when
these statements were made and like
MIR. Whitney he was pledged to score
cy by DIR. Cook Murphy. Peary's
pGatSWain, who was in charge of the
stores, was absent at Etah on this day
and did not hear DR.. Cooks commune
cations.
There were two houses on the Green
land shore. one at Annatok, holding
Cooks stores. and another at Etah
! holding Pearys stores The three white
men, Whitney, Murphy and Pritchard.
! some times occupied one and sometimes
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 We're very
| stringent They directed Murphy to
use Cooks stores first and Peary's af
iterwards. Murphy was told in them
| that he was to give DR.. Cook every
! help if he came along in needy con-
1 diticn, and furthermore the instruc-
tons implied that Murphy was to or
! game an expedition to search for DIR.
1 Cook. but according to Mr.. Whitney,
| this part of the instructions was
worded very ambiguously.
| Mr.. Whitney said that Cook had a
copy of these instructions and would
| doubtless make them public. Murphy
treated Cook very civilly and Cook
/ suffered no discourtesy.
! When Dr. Cook and his Esquimaux
/ arrived at the house they had no
sledge. Being too tired to drag it over
the rough ice, they had left it 20 miles