The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-28
New Haven Man Tells Of Hear
ing Of Explorers Success
WAS WITHHELD FROM RIVAL
ACCORDING TO WHITNEY, WHO
REACHED ST. JOHNS TODAY,
COOK AT ANNcToK DECLARED
He HAD ACCOMPLISHED HIS
MissIoN-o9JEcT IN SECRECY.

st. Johns, N. r., Sept. 2s.-The arc
tic vessel JEANNE. with Harry Whitney,
the New Haven came hunter on board,
landed here from the Greenland coast
by way Of Indian harbor
Mr. Whitney was questioned regard
ing statements made to him by DIR.
Cook in Greenland He said Cook
arrived at Annotok in April of this
year and declared that he had reached
the north pole year before. He
pledged whitney, however. not to tell
Commander Peary. who was to be i'm
formed that Cook had gone further
north than Peary's previous record Of
81 degrees and minutes
Continuing DIR. Cook told whitney
that he had accomplished all he ex-
pected to and more besides and that
he was through with the northern
country.
Peary Kept in Dark.
Whitney did rot communicate the
latter part of this statement to Peary.
Continuing Whitney said that Cook
had complained to him of Peary's TAX
ing over his house and stores, but de-
clared that he had suffered no unfair
ness.
Peary's steward, VIM. Pritchard, was
present when these statements were
mad Like Mr.. whitney, Pritchard
was pledged to secrecy by DR. Cook.
Murphy, Peary's hoatswain. who was
in charge Of the stores was absent at
Etah on this date and did not hear DIR.
Cooks communications.
Peary's Attendant Ignorant
There were two houses on the Green
land shore, one at Annotok holding
Cooks stores and another at Etah
holding Peary's stores. Three white
/ men, Whitney. Murphy and Pritchard,
sometimes occupied one and sometimes
the other of these houses. Murphy
was In charge of both houses. He Is
not able to read or write He had
written instructions srom Peary which
whitney. at PeaEy,s request read over
to him from time to time.
These instructions were very strin-
gent. They directed Murphy to use
/ Cooks stores and then Peary's after
wards. Whitney said that Cook had a
copy of these instructions and would
| doubtless make them public Murphy
was told in them to give Cook every
help if he came along in needy condi-
lions.
Cook arrived at the house and after
spending two days at Annotok, where
DR. Cook first met Whitney. started
for Etah. Whitney accompanied him.
Cook remained for three days at Etah.
He was unable TO take his instruments
with which Cook had made ofserva-
tons at the pole farther on account of
the sickness of one Eskimo and left
them in charge of Whitney.
Left No Written Records.
There were three cases, one contain
| ing a sextant, another an artificial
horizon and a third an instrument
which whitney said he could not re-
call. Cook left no written records
with Whitney that Whitney was
aware of. Whitney said that the last
month when Peary on board the
Roosevelt reached Etah from the north
after a winters work there, Whitney
informed Peary OF DR.. Cooks arrival
In April adding that Cook had told
him, whitney, to tell Peary that Coon
had gone beyond Peary's farthest
north. Peary made no comment on
this.
Whitney said he was not asked any
other questions by Peary but next dal
Cooks Eskimos came to whitney: ask.
led what Peary's men were trying II
lget them to say. Peary's men HAD
lshown the Eskimos papers and maps
hut the Eskimos declared they did no
understand these papers. SO far al
WHITNEY is aware, Cooks Esidmoi
never admitted that while with thu
doctor they had only progressed TIVE
l"sleeps" from the land.