Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-09-30
MAN TO WHOM EXPLORER TRUST
ED INSTRUMENTS ARRIVES IN
RELIEF SHIP AT NEW FOUND
LAND PORT.
PEARY REFUSES
COOKS BAGGAGE
WHITNEY WAS COMPELLED TO
SEPARATE COOKS BELONGINGS
AND LEAVE INSTRUMENTS IN
TRUSTED TO HIM ASHORE.

st. Johns, N. F., Sept. 2S.-The arc
tic vessel JEANNE, with Harry Whit
ney of New Haven on board. has arriv-
ed here from the Greenland coast via
Indian Harbor, Labrador.
Whitney said DR.. Cook arrived at
Annotok last April and told him he
had been to the pole the year before,
but pledged him to tell Peary nothing
except that he had passed Peary's
furthest north. Peary's steward. Muir
ply, had charge of both Cooks and
Peary's stores in Greenland and had
instructions from Peary to use Cooks
stores first, but IL Cook arrived to
give hi mevery help. Cook came into
Annotok without sledge, but the
next day the Eskimos brought it in.
1t contained Cooks instruments,
clothes and food. At Cooks request
Whitney took charge of the scientific
instruments, but Cook left no written
records that Whitney knew of.
Whitney Raps Peary.
Whitney said he told Peary Dr.
Cook had entrusted to him certain
belongings to bring home. Peary de-
clined, Whitney says, to permit
Cooks belongings to be brought
aboard the Roosevelt. Whitney there
upon went ashore and with the as
sistance Of Capt. Bartlett, commander
of the ROOSEVELT, separated Cooks
property from his own baggage, re-
packed it in boxes and left it ashore.
Peary and Hubbard Confer.
Bar Harbor, Me, Sept. 2S.-Com-
mander Robert e. Peary, accompanied
| by his wife, reached here last night
from Portland, and within half an
hour was in conference with General
Thomas H. Hubbard, president of the
Peary Arctic club, concerning the
statement which soon will be made
public by Commander Peary to sup
port his contention that DIR. Frederick
A. Cook did not reach the pole. The
conference was still in progress late
| last night.
From what can be learned of the
conference last night Peary went over
every phase Of his alleged evidence
against Dr. Cook, dating from the
time the Brooklyn explorer began his
preparations to go north more than
two years ago and until after Peary's
| interviews with Dr. Cooks Eskimos
at Etah. Gen. Hubbard has been ar
ranging this material in order as per
sonal counsel for Peary.
|
Peary spoke frequently of Harry Whit.
ney.
There might have been some
strange reasons why Whitney did not
go bac kto Etah in the JEANNE for
| DR.. Cooks stuff" he said II cannot
understand how anyone could let such
records get out of his hands. / would
not give my records to my dearest
| relative. | secured my instruments in a
/ bag and the flag which | took to the
pole sewed in my clothes, and
wore it until / reached Battle Harbor
Close Watch on Records. :.
81 kept my records under watch day
and night, and l was prepared in case
/ the Roosevelt was crushed in the ice
to throw them overheard so that they
could float in their cases. Can you
imagine me giving up these records
to O perfect stranger?
Harry Whitney did not tell me
what was in DR.. Cooks stuff except
six fox skins, a narwhal horn and
some other trophies. / could not see
why I should have carried the stuff
| when Cook could have taken it. II
| DR.. Cooks stuff was Of such import
ance why didn't Whitney go back in
the JEANNE and get it?
"I saw DIR. Cooks sledge at Etah
and looked it over carefully while Pro
fessor Mcmillan held up Cooks snow
shoes and showed them to me- But ]
didn't examine the snow shoes care
fully. / imagine Dr. Cooks stuff was
made UP of superf1uous instruments
After Whitney had put the stuff
ashore told the Eskimos to leave IL
alone.
"On my return from the pole saw
1 all the Eskimos and talked with them
After what | heard | would not credit
Cooks claims. The letter that inform
ed me that Dr. Cook had claimed the
lpole was from whaler named Capt
Adams and not Walker as had beer
stated. The letter was dated June II
and / received it at Cape York"
Demonds Data as Proof.
What proof would you require Of
4 an explorer that he had been fal
north?" Peary was asked.
'"That If man went to the highest
point that had ben reached before he
should bring back the records ht
found there" he replied you viii
note that DIR. Cooks route to the pole
was 107 miles longer each way thar
mine. The people can make their owl
deductions whether DR.. Cook will