New-York tribune., 1909-09-30
WHITNEY'S STATEMENT
CAUSE OF RETURN SOUTH.
Captain Bartlett May Bring Back
DR.. Cooks Belongings.

The following dispatch has been received by
The Associate Press from Harp Whitney. the
New Haven hunter who returned to ST. Johns.
n. F. yesterday on the schooner Jeanie from
Greenland and is on his way home:
''Stephenvie Crossing, n. r. Sept. 20
$50 many questions are being asked of me
by different papers that desire to make the
following statement
My reasons for not going back to Etah after
DR.. Cooks things were that the engine in the
Jeanie one OF the smallest boats that ever went
to the North Arctic. was not working satIsfac-
torily. and we were depending partly on sails.
which later we had to do entirely. There was
no reason why the Jeanie could not have gone
back, but, not knowing that DR.. Cooks things
left with me were of such Importance as they
have since turned out TO be, / did not return In
addition. I had promised the Esquimaus who
were with me after musk oxen in Ellesmere Land
certain things which 1 expected the ship
coming for me, bat they were not aboard the
Jeanie. and 1 did not want to return and dis
appoint the men. Another was that 1
wanted to prolong my bunting trip. which 1
was able to do by not going back. but by cutting
across Smith Sound from North Star Bay and
following the edge OF the ice south
Il do not believe that either DIR. Cook or
Commander Peary. IL placed In my position.
would have done any differently than did. nor
would they. having started south for civillza-
tion have turned back. / had never seen Dr.
Cook until l met him IN the Arctic He told
me he had been to the North Pole. and I was
pledged not 20 reveal this fact to Commander
Peary, but could say that ne had gone further
north than Peary in 1906
Commander Peary. to my knowledge. knew
absolutely nothing about what had been left
with me by DR.. Cook. except that mentioned
Instruments clothes and furs and also q mar
whal horn DR. Cooks belongings left in my
charge were placed in boxes. which were nailed
up Then saw the Esquimaus cover them with
rocks.
NO one could have been kinder 10 me or
shown me more consideration than Commander
Peary did while the Roosevelt and
he said he would be very glad to have me re-
main aboard and return with him. instead OF
Joining the Jeanie HARRY WHITNEY"
st. Johns. n F.. Sept 29.-Men on board the
schooner Jeanie which Harry Whitney ar
rived here from Indian Harbor said to-day that
when Mr. Whitney learned in Labrador OF the
polar controversy and of the important bearing
which DR.. Cooks instruments had on this he
engaged Captain Sam" Bartlett and his vessel
60 go up next year and recover Dr. Cooks be-
longngs at Etah. Captain Bartlett himself de-
cned 20 speak this subject but his manner
gave the impression that the statement was
correct.
According to the Jeanie's crew. while Com
marder Peary scofYed az the idea that the sIedge
which Dr. Cook gave a souvenir 10 Mr.. Whit
ney ever covered long distance Mr.. whitney
contended that the sledge showed proofs OF
what II had endured. and that the rear sections
had been cut of 20 make arrows for killing
game. as Or. Cook described
The Jeanie met the Canadian ship Arctic in
command OF Captain Bernier. at Clyde River
Bafin Land. on September Q. Captain Bernler
told Captain Bartlett. OF the Jeanie. that he had
received letter from DR. Cook By a Dundee
whaier thanking him for landing stores for Dr.
Cook at Etah the previous year and saying that
he CCootD had found the pole