Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-29
NO REASON FOR U0uBTIGG STORY
New Haven Hunter Believes Brooklyn
Mans Account of Discovery Of the
Pole. Which He Heard in Arctic
Reeions-Psarys Treatment Of
sverdrup.
tBy Associated rrsss,.

ST. JOHNS. n. f.. Sept. 2S.--tiarry
whitney. OF New Haven. Conn, be-
lieves that DIR. 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 doubt
ing Cook more than Peary.
! DIR. Cooks story" he added. Seems
TO ,me truthful and probable. Nothing
else would explain his twelve months
absence.
! The schooner Jeanne arrived here
today with Mr.. Whitney aboard, CONF
ing from tho Greenland coast by way
OF Indian Harbor. Labrador
Mr.. Whitney feels keenly the POSI-
tion in which he Is placed.
He went north, he said, merely on
hunting trip. and now finds himself
in the storm center of g polar cont
! troy0rsy. Dr. Cook left with him at
Annatok several cases containing In
struments and some other belongings,
but so far as MIR. Whitney knew, no
written records.
There may have been records. how
ever. packed with DIR. Cooks personal
effects, but the explorer did not tell
him especially that he was leaving
written records in his possession.
Cock Care Him Detailed Account.
Speaking of DR.. Cooks detailed ac-
count OF his trip to the pole. Mr.
Whitney said that the explorer show
ol him how the western drift OF the
ice had landed him in region far re-
mcte from whore ne expected to 60
and that be was unable to get back.
, He could not speak with accuracy as
10 whether DR., Cock and mis- two rs
KINDS could carry on their three
sledses enough .ood for their journey
to the pole. - he himself is a novice
I'm Arctic travelling he declared he
knew nothing Of the controversy be-
ycnd the yaguest details The first
he learned OF II was at Indian Har-
bor. when he received messages from
several American papers asking for
statement.
peary Didn't Move Stores.
Mr.. Whitney denied that Peary has
removed Or. Cooks stores from Anna
tex TO Etah. What Peary really did
was TO transfer a few things and re-
build the house at Annxtok Boat
swain Murphy's only reason for re-
fusing to help Captain fseruier's Ca
madam expedition to get dogs and
slcdgcs at Etah was that they were
shor; CT dogs themselves
Mr. Whitney had trouble in getting
enough dogs for his teams all through
the winter and Murphy was looking
cot for PeaFy, so that he would have
sufficient dogs for the commanders
exrlor.ng trips around tie country
when he returned from the north
The day the Roosevelt was leaving
Etah for home Whitney informed
Pesry that Cook had. entrusted 10
him certain belongings to bring home
on the vessel that was coming up COR
whitney. but as this ship had not r.
rived. whitney was at a loss what
to do with this property
Couldn't Bring Cooks Property.
PeaTy declined 70 permit Dr. Cooks
belongings 10 be brought ABOARD the
Roosevelt and he put Whitney On hts
honor not 20 include anything BE-
longing 10 Dr. Cook In his own leg
gage
whitney thereupon went asaorc
frcm the Roosevelt. secured ID. Cocks
property from his own baggage and
with the aid Of Captain Robert Bart
lett, commander Of the Roosevelt
whom he had asked 10 help him re-
pack Cocks property In boxes.
After this had been done Whitney
and bartlett axec 81 Cooks pfcpery
in = cave in the rocks. They cqin
up the cave securely ~ith stones apd
turf ana icf. n. and the property m
charge e one q Dr. Cock's B>kinc<-
II may tc remarked In passing. Hr.
whitney went ont. that ten Jears e.,
Pca=y did with the explorer. S~czdrup-
who vas cruising IN Smftt @<unS