The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-10-06
COOK GOT THERE
WHITNEY SAYS so AND TELLS
OF PEARY's LITTLENESs.
Says Peary Made Him Separate All
Of Cooks Luggage From His and
Leave 1t Behind.

Harry Whitney, Of New Haven
| Conn. has arrived at st. Johns, \
F. He says he believes that Dr
| Frederick A. Cook found the pole
and that Commander Peary did thu
same. In expressing this belief Mr.
| Whitney said that he knows no rea
son for doubling Cook more that
Peary. "Dr. Cooks story" he added
seems to me truthful and probable
| Nothing else would expalin his II
months absence"
Or. Cook left with him at AnnatoR
several cases containing instruments
and some belongings, but so fa7
as Mr.. Whitney knew, no written rec
ords. There may have been records
however, packed with DR.. Cooks per
sonal effects, but the explorer DID
not tell him especially that he was
leaving written records in his pos
session.
Speaking of DR.. Cooks detailed
account of his trip to the pole, Mr.
Whitney said that the explorer show
ed him how the western drift OF the
Ice had landed him In a region fa'
remote from where he expected TO
;o,and he was unable to get back.
He could not speak with authority
as to whether DR.. Cook and his two
Eskimos could carry on their three
sledges enough food for their jour
ney to the pole. as he himself is
a novice in Arctice travelling. He
declared he knew nothing Of the
controversy beyond the vaguest de-
tails, The first he learned Of 1t was
at Indian Harbor, when he receiver
messages from several American pa
pers asking for a statement.
Mr.. Whitney denied that Com
mander Peary had removed DR..
Cooks stores from Annatok to Etah,
What Peary really did was to trans
fer a few things and rebuild the
house at Annatok. Boatswain Muir
phys only reason for refusing to
help Capt. B~ernier's Canadian expe-
dition to get dogs and sledges at Etah
was that they were short or dogs
themselves. Mr.. Whitney had trouo
le In getting enough dogs for his
teams all through the winter and
Murphy was looking out for Peary.
so that he would have sufficient
dogs for the commanders exploring
trips around the country when ne
returned from the north.
The day the Roosevelt was leaV.
ing Etah for home Whitney inform
ed Peary that Cook had intrusted to
him certain belongings to bring home
ON the vessel that was coming up
for Whitney, but as this ship had no!
arrived Whitney was at a loss VIVA
to do with the property.
Peary declined to permit Dr
Cooks belongings to be brought
aboard the Roosevelt and he put
Whitney on his honor not to include
anything belonging to DR.. COOK IN
his own luggage. Whitney thereup-
on went ashore from the Roosevelt
separated DR.. Cooks property from
his own baggage, and with the aid
of Capt. Robert Bartlett, commander
( the Roosevelt, whom he had ask
ed to help. repacked Cooks proper
y in boxes.
After this had been done. Whit
new and Bartlett cached all Cooks
property in a I've In the rocks. They
built up the cave securely with stones
and turf and left 1t and the proper
ty in charge of one of DR.. COOKE
Eskimos.
It may be remembered In passing
Mr.. Whitney went on, that ten years
ago Peary did with the explorer
,eyerdrup, who was cruising in Faith
sound, what he has done with Cook
he refused to bring back any OF
S~everdrup's letters or records.
In conclusion Mr.. Whitney declar"
ed he regretted being dragged Into
he controversy. He said he had
found both DR.. Cook and Commander
Peary courteous and c~onsiderate and
that ne had never met any men whose
conduct generally was more com
mendable or whose dealings with MIN
had been more fair.
DR.. Cook, when shown Mr.. Wnl'
news statement, said that he approx
ed of all that Mr.. Whitney had said