The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-23
Scouts All References to
Peary.
DECLARES HE WILL
NOT ENTER CONTROVERSY
New York Council Recognizes His
Claims.
Aldermen Provide Public Reception
for the BrookIyn Explerer--
Peary Ia Rushing Home
on Train.

New York. Sept. 22--Dr. Frederick
A. Cook. seeking rest and seclusion
with his family after the boisterous
welcome of yesterday. denied himself
to interviewers today and remained In
his suite at the Waldorf-Astoria until
late this evening. when no submitted
cheerfully to one OF the severest cross
examinations since he announced his
discovery of the North Pole.
The ordeal of the Interview. which
was conducted by forty newspaper re-
porters, including several from foreign
newspapers. proved ut least that he
was not afraid to meet the public.
AS the questions ASKED were put BY
laymen. they did not 60 deeply into the
scientific aspect of the expedition. But
DR.. Cook was ready to answer any
thing pertinent to the issue.
The most interesting phase or the
interview was reached wnen DIR. Cook
was asked II he would object 70 show
ing his diary. He immediately con-
sented. and after going to hts room, rec
turned with a small octave notebook.
which he showed freely to all 1t was
a thin book. containing 1fs pages, ev-
cry one of which was filled with fiftv
or sixty lines of pencilied writing OF
the most minute character. ~
The book, he said. contained consid-
erably more than 100000 words. while
he has. besides. other books embracing
his observations and other data.
The interviewers were rather severe
In regard to details, put nothing In
dicate that the Polar traveller was ~
fault even n the most minute parfic-
ulars. Sometimes. when a petty ques-
ton Indicated Ignorance, he smiled
with good humored sympathy 1T the
lack of technical knowledge displayed.
Not once did he refuse 70 reply, ex-
cept when the name OF Commander
Peary was broached. Even then he said
he had always and did now consider
Commander Peary as his friend. but
controversial subjects in connection
with his rival he avoided entirely.
saying that they could wait.
When rAquested TO say what had ocs
CURED at his meeting with Marry Whit-
ney, the New Haven sportsman, pc
| said he preferred 10 let whitney tell
| his own story. as whitney was quite
| unbiased. His reasons in imposing Sc
crecy on whitney. on Pritchard, Com
| mander Peary's cabi.s boy, and the Es'
KINDS, were prompted by mis- desire q
be the first TO tell the world OF his dis.
covery. He had done the work, be
said. and was entitled TO relate how u
had been carried out.
Answers He Gave. a.
some OF the more important guess
lions put to Or. Cook during the inter.
view. and his replies thereto. follow:
"o.-Did anything ever occur in the
lifo of yourself and Mr.. Pearv that
would create an enmity or bitter-
ness between your?
"A.-Notiiing that know Of.
"Q.--would you be willing to meet
Peary In a debate when he gets hereT''
"A.-As for as I am concerned the
Peary incident is closed. Mr.. Peary ia
not the dictator Of my AFFAIRS. and
do not care to say anything further
about him."
"Q.--Did you know Mr.. whitney
when you met him on your return -
Etahr'
"A.-No: he introduced himself
"o.-what caused yoa TO have such
confidence In Mr.. Whitney that you en-
trusted your instruments to himY
Al knew him by name. and cfr-
aumstances that arose while was with
him justified my confidence. ! gave
him the instruments to bring back be-
cause I thought they would be less ia
BILE to injury on board mis- vessel than
IL r took them across glaciers and
rough ice covered country"
"O.-What is your opinion or tina
story told by the negro Hansen OF the
information he obtained from your two
EsRfmosT"
"A.-weli. the Eslximos were bound
down by me not to tell anyone where
they had been. I should like you to
HAYS Hansen here and cross question
him yourself. Hensen's testimony -
entirely founded on hear-say."
"Q.-Knowing that a ship was cona-
Ing north this summer for Whitney
why did you not wait for that ship
and come direct to New York instead of
going to South Greenland and sailing
from there to Copenhagen
al knew that the Danish govern
ment ship would get me nome before
whitney's ship"
"Q.-what Instruments did you have
with YOU from Cape Thomas Hubbard
and backT'
"A.-sextant. ARTIFICIAL horizon.
three compasses. three chronomter
watches, thermometers. barometers.
and a pedometer.
"A.-One sextant; 8 French appara-
tus.
"Q.-what kind of transit or theodo-
lite did you have and how many?
Ave did not use any.
"o.--what kind of compass did you
have?
"A-we had one liquid compass. one
surveying compass.
"Q.-what kind of compass did you
use to determine your compass varia-
ton?
"A.-surveying compass; II had an
azimuth attached.
"o.-what compass course did you
take from Cape Thomas Hubbard
north?
"A.-Well. that changes every day.
II you follow the course OF map you
have got the compass course.
"Q.-was your determination of the
pole solely by an observation of tha
suns altitude or did you take observa-
lions of the polar star twelve hours
apart. and by the determination of the
celestial pole midway between the two
positions prove the accuracy OF your
position on the terrestrial pole?
Allow are you going to take an
observation by the polar star when
you have a continuous sun? There Is
no night: you cannot have any stars.
there Is no darkness.
"Q.-what kind of observations did
you make at the pole, and hew many 7
ana what was the altitude of the sun
Regular Observations. vk
q haua fala that nIktk,.1a