The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-17
Explorer Says He Took Obser- Vations At the Pole and
 Has the Records
PEARY IS WAITING FOR
 THE ARRIVAL OF COOK
Dispute Will Be Settled When Claims of Explorers Are Examined By Scientists and Their Truth
 or Falsity Established.

Battle Harbor, Labrador via Marconi Wireless Telegraphy to Cape Ray, N, F. September 16.-Commander Robert F. Peary consented today to talk further concerning his dash to the north pole. He dwelt particularly upon observations taken at the apex of the world and the movements of Harry Whitney, the sportsman of New Haven, Conn.,. who has been described as the bearer of rec ords substantiating Dr. Frederick A. Cooks claim to have reached the north pole April 21 1908.
 we took five observations prior to reaching the pole,' Commander Peary said Two of them were made and worked out by the late Prof. Ross Mar win. who prepared duplicate records in each case and duly signed the dupli- cate certificates. To guard against ac- oident I took one set of these papers and Professor Marvin took the other.
 When distance of 125 miles from the pole the third observation was made by Captain Bartlett, who also signed the records and certificates in duplicate, he retaining one set and I the other. The fourth and fifth observations were made by myself, the last being taken five miles from the pole proper
 was there more than one observa- fion taken at the pole and by whom?" the explorer was asked
 ''There were several observations he replied, and took them all myself They all agreed. You must understand
 
 out length breadth or thickness. It's ac- tual location depends on the accuracy of the instruments employed and the conditions under which the observations are taken.
 Declines To Answer.
 You have stated Commander Peary. that a copy of your records and polar observations was wrapped in piece of a silk American flag and deposited in an ice cavity at the pole; did any person witness this act?'
 To this question Commander Peary de- clned to make answer at present. Con- tinuing Peary said that Dr. Cook was expected by the world to sumbit to an im- partial tribunal or board of arbitrat ton, revised and authentic signed statement of his alleged discovery of the pole. Dr. Cook soon will reach the United States, Commander Peary said, and he was glad at the prospects of the mat ter being submitted for consideration at an early date. It should be done in- side of a couple of weeks and when 1t was done the commander declared he was prepared to turn over to the board of arbitration, to the public and to scientific bodies array of testimony which would disprove pr. Cooks claims for all time.
 Continuing the explorer said he had stated that he had stated in a private message to a friend that Dr. Cook had given the world "gold brick" This message had been allowed to leak out and while he would have preferred more elegant expression. he was will ing now to let these words stand be- cause they were at least emphatic The explorer said also that he would turn over to a competent tribunal and the public certified copies of his own ob- servations made on his trip to the pole with all other information bearing thereon.
 Records Kept Secret.
 Peary does not care to exhibit these records at the present time, for the reason that information contained thereon, If divulged in advance of the placing on file of Dr. Cooks authentic and defining statement might be of advantage to the Cook partisans.
 It is rumored here that Commander Peary's brief will contain sensational statements and that portion of his document was prepared as long ago as the early months of 1868 when letters ir, land giving notice that he intended to make dash for the pole. Asked as to how Harry Whitney happened D remain in the north Commander Peary said Whitney was one of party of sportsmen who went as passengers on board the steamer Brick. The party i'm cluded Whitney, w. Norton of New York, man named Harmed and G. J. Crafts of Washington, who came for the purpose of taking magnetic obser- vations for pr. Bauer of the Carnegie institute at Washington. At Etah where 1t was determined to lan6 a party and supplies for the relief of pr. Cook, particularly in view of the fact that Rudolph Francke was being in valided home Whitney asked if he might remain on the station to hunt walrus and polar bear in the spring and make a trip to Ellesmere land with Eskimos, after musk oxen. This was decided on. In order to provide against the contingency of the Roosevelt not coming down from the north in the summer of 1909, in which event he would be obliged to remain in the Arctic for two years, MT. Whitney made arrangements for the ship to come up for him this summer.
 an increase of per cent this year. per cent over the same months in
 "While am not In position to go N0<o he 5ofo of1 f1o If e to this relief ship" Commander Peary
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