New-York tribune., 1909-09-29
BOTH MEN FOUND POLE
HARRY. WHITNEY'S VIEW
OF POLAR CONTEST.
No KnozcEedge of Written Records
Left by DR.. Cook-NOt I'm
fairEu Treated.

G. Tohn's " f.. Sept. 2s-Harry Whlthey'
OF New Haven, believes that Dr. FreoricA "a
Cook found the pole and that Commander FeaiS
did the same In expressing this bellef 'o-uaS
Mr.. Whitney said that he knew no reason iof
doubling Cook more than Peary. Dr. CoOA .
story" he added, "seems TO me truthful ana
probable Nothing else would explain HIS
twelve months absence
The schooner Jeanie arrived here to-day Win
Mr Whitney aboard coming from the Green
land coast by way of Indian Harbor, Lanraoor'
Mr. whitney feels keenly the position IN Whch
he is placed He went north, he said, merely on
a hunting trip, and now finds himself IN the
storm centre of a polar controversy. DR.. COOK
left with him at Annotok several cases, contain
ing instruments and some other belongings ouI
as far as Mr. Whitney knew. no written records.
There might have been records packed with Dr.
Cooks personal effects but the explorer did not
saw specially that he was leaving written rec
ords in his possession.
Speaking of Dr. Cooks detailed account Of his
trip to the pole, Mr. whitney said that the ex-
plorer showed him how the western drift of the
ice had landed him In region far remote from
where he expected 10 go. and he was unable TO
get back. He could not speak with authority
whether Dr. Cook and his two Esquimaus could
carry on their three sledges enough food for
their journey 20 the pole. he himself is a
knew nothing of the controversy beyond the
vaguest details. The first news of IL he learned
at Indian Harbor when he received messages
from several American papers asking for a
statement. These he answered briefly.
COOKS STORES NOT REMOVED.
Mr.. whitney denied that Commander Peary
had removed DR.. Cooks stores from Annotok TO
Etah. What Peary really did was to transfer a
few things and rebuild the house at Annotok.
Boatswain Murphy's only reason for refusing TO
help Captain Berniers Canadian expedition TO
get dogs and sledges at Etah was that they were
short of dogs themselves Mr.. Whitney had
trouble in getting enough dogs for his teams all
through the winter. and Murphy looking out
for Peary, so that he would have sufficient dogs
for the commanders exploring trips around the
country when he returned from the north
Mr.. Whitney said that DR.. Cook arrived al
Annotok in April of this year and announced
that he had reached the North Pole a year ago
he pledged Whitney. however. not 10 tell Com
mander Peary. who was 10 be informed only
that Cook had gone further north than Peary's
previous record. So degrees 6 minutes DR.
eek told Whitney that he had accomplished
all he expected 10, and more besides, and thai
he was through with the northern country
Whitney did not communicate the latter part
OF this statement 20 Commander Peary.
NJ UNFAIR lhEA1MENI Of X.
DR.. Cook. Mr. Whitney said, had complained
20 him of Peary's taking over Of his house and
stores. but added that he had suffered no un-
fair treatment. Peary's steward William
Pritchard, present when these statements
were made; like Mr.. Whitney. he was pledged
20 secrecy by DR.. Cook Murphy. Peary's boats
vain, who in charge of the stores was alb
sent at Etah on this day, and did not hear DR.
Cooks communications
There were two houses on the Greenland
shore. one at Annotok. holding Cooks stores
and another at Etah, holding Peary's stores
The three white men, Whitney, Murphy and
Prtchard, sometimes occupied one and some
times the other
Murphy was in charge of both houses. He
was not able TO read or write He had written
instructions from Pesry which Whitney, at
Peary's request. read over 10 him from time 10
time. These instructions were stringent. They
directed Murphy 20 use Cooks stores first and
Poary's afterward. Murphy told in them
that he was 10 give DR.. Cook every help If he
came along in a needy condition, and, further
more. the instructions implied that Murphy was
20 organize an expedition 20 search for Dr.
Cook, but. according to Mr.. Whitney, this part
OF the instructions was worded ambiguously
Mr. Whitney said that Cook had copy of these
instructions and would doubtless make then
suffered no discourtesy.
INSTRUMENTS LEFT BEHIND.
When Dr. Cook and his Esquimaus arrived
at the house they had no sledge. Being toe
tired 10 drag il over the rough ice. they had
left IL twenty miles from Etah. The following
day other Esquimaus went out, recovered tn,
sledge and brought IL in. On it were DR.. Cooks
Instruments. clothes and food.
After spending two days at Annotok where
Cook first met Whitney, Cook started for Etah
Whitney MINED him. Cook remained fol
three days al Etah arranging his trip south Il
Upernsvik. Dr. Cook had figured out roughly
the date when he would probably reach Uper.
navik and when the Dundee whalers or tn,
Danish store ships would reach there, and hc
argued that he had no time TO lose. He had
planned originally 10 take two Esquimaus and
two sledges, but Esquimau fell sick, and
this made Il necessary for him TO cut down the
luggage He consequently asked Whitney tC
take charge OF the instruments with which ht
had made his observations at the pole.
There were three cases. one containing a sex.
tant, another artificial horizon and the third
instrument which Mr. Whitney said he could
not recall. II possibly might have been q
ohronometer. Cook left no written records with
Whitney that Whitney is aware Of There
might have been som, records, however in the
other boxes in which Cook packed his clothes
and his personal effects, but Cook did not tel