Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-20
DENY DR.. COOK
TOLD OF LUCK
PEARYS MEN SAY SURGEON
WITHHELD TRUTH
MADE NO MENTION OF FIND
WHILE 1T ETAH
New Light Is Thrown on Polar
Controversy by Statements of
Two Members of Rival
Expedition
tContluned from Paes one,


that when Commander Peary on his
return from the pole sent for Prof. Nc
MILAN, who had gone to establish a
base of supplies at Cape Morris X.
Jessup he did not mention in his let
ter to the professor anything of his
discovery of the pole. The message
which was made public by Prof. Nc
MILAN at Battle Harbor read:
Peary's Message
IS. S. ROOSEVELT, April %, 1907
My Dear McMillan-Arrived on board
yesterday. Northern trip was entirely
satisfactory. There is no need of Green
land depot. Captain came on board the
oath.
Concentrate all your energies on
tidal observations and line soundings
north from Cape Morris Jessup. Use
intended supplies for me for this pur-
pose. COMMANDER PEARY."
Commander Peary's adherents assert
that the words northern trip entirely
satisfactory indicate clearly the ex-
pedition had accomplished it's purpose.
Prof. Mcmillan said at Battle Harbor
that he had seen Harry Whitney At
Etah and that Whitney did not tell
anyone of DR.. Cooks discovery Of the
pole.
1t was at Battle Harbor that Com
mander Peary told the story of his
Journey to a score or more correspon-
dents. He will head no more trips to
the Arctic, nor, for that matter, to the
Antarctic.
His work in the ice fields is finished
'T have accomplished the ambition
of my life" said the commander. -
shall always be interested in Arctic
exploration, but it must now be left to
younger men,"
Helps Him Out
Commander Peary often broke his
narrative to call on Prof. Donald Nc
MILAN, naturalist and geologist, to re-
late some incident Of the trip. No less
interesting than Peary's dash to the
pole were the discoveries by Prof. Nc
MILAN of relics and stores of seven
previous Arctic expeditions, those o.
Gen. Greedy in 1874 Commander Hal
in 1871, the Amundsen exploration
party of 1908. Sir John Woods expedi-
| ton, the exploration party of Admira
| Sir George Mares in 1855 and thu
expeditions of Commander Peary IL
| 1895 and 1900,
Commander Peary prefaced the "in'
| quisition" as he called it with the state
ment he had made his position clear
in reference to the Cook controversy II
early dispatches by wireless to the AS
| sociated Press.
81 shall pay no attention to the fake
stories or any side Issues said Com
mander Peary, that are put out tc
! distract from the main question, Has
| Cook been at the pole?'
"Do you think 1t possible for any mar
TO fake observations to prove that he
was at the pole?" he was asked.
I'm the opinion of Admiral Melville,
U. S. N, Admiral Sir George Mares,
R. N, and myself, yes" he responded
Will Walt Awhile
Then he continued: II do not care to
sneak Of observations in view of what
| 7 claim, and 1 won't say anything
more until the statement signed By
another is offered and then l Will SUD-
NIT my statement"
The story of Christmas day In the
arctic was pictured by Commander
Peary. Athletic contests were arranged
by Professor Mcmillan and running
course of rs yards on the ice ana sho"
was laid out beside the Roosevelt.
Christmas day falls in the dead OF
the arctic night, and to light the racing
path little whale oil lamps were set on
snow mounds. In the flickering yellow
light this weird company, hooded and
garbed in the heavy furs of the north,
| gathered and applauded the con-
/
testants
Tuh Cub Nah won the race for the
married women, and professor NC
MILAN had offered the selection Of one
of three things as the prize-a bar OF
soap, a box of thread and frosted
| cake.
1--WE were all curious to know when
article Tuh Cub Nah would select,
| said Professor Mcmillan. Il knew |
1 4.Ir I,n IF
had been my choice, but she quickly
took the soap.
! Winners of Race
poor Ross Marvin won the foot
race for the Americans, While Slgloo
won the race for the Eskimo men.
"The holiday was observed fittingly
on the Roosevelt, and while musk OK
took the place of turkey, there were
all sorts of puddings and sweetmeats
on the table.
I'VE had washington pudding and
plum pudding, and Captain Bartlet'
opened a locked canister of good things
which his wife quietly gave to me De
fore we left the south and told me to
give it to her husband Christmas day
| found that Mrs. Peary had WORKED
the captain the same way and had
given him a locked canister for me, to
| be opened on Christmas day. We had
hot toddy and cigars for all: All the
members of the party received box oil
candy from Mrs. Peary.'
Speaking of the scientific value OF
the expedition to the north pole, Com
mander Peary said soundings from
Cape columbia to the pole were val
liable and supplemented the data given
by Nansen and Cagni on the other
side of the pole.
proof of CONQUEST of Earth
"The reaching of the pole" added
Peary, "is proof of mans final con-
quest of the earth. AS it stood, with
the pole unbound, it was constant
reproach to civilization. The discov-
cry of the south pole now may be
looked for as an accepted fact, Work
in the Antarctic is quite different from
that in the north. An expedition to the
north pole must complete its work
within the year. No base can be left
for another years operations, while in
the Antarctic an explorer can lay
base which will be permanent for the
further advance the next year.