Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-10-02
WHITNEY'SSTORY
IN POLE WAR
Confirms Story That Cook Left
instruments With Him.
WAS PLEDGED TO SECRECY
Says Brooklyn Explorer Told Him He
Had Reached Pole and EskImos Did
Not Say He Was Never Out Of sight
Of LF'..

0I GF's.
Harry Whitney, OF New Haven. be
lieyes that Dr. Frederick A. Cook
found the pole and that Commander
Peary did the same. In expressing this
belief Mr.. Whitney said that he knows
no reason for doubling Cook mare than
Peary.
"Dr. Cooks story" he added. Seems
to me truthful and probable. Nothing
else would explain his twelve months
absence"
The schooner Jeanie arrived at st.
Johns. ". f., with Mr.. Whitney on
board. coming from the Greenland
coast by way Of lndiar Harbor. Labra'
dor. Mr.. Whitney feels keenly the
position in which he is placed. DIR.
Cook left with him at Annotok sew
eral cases containing instruments and
some other belongings. but so far as
Mr.. Whitney knew. no written records.
Speaking OF DIR. Cooks detailed &C.
count OF his trip to the pole. Mr..
Whitney said that the explorer showed
him how the western drift Of the ice
had landed him In a region far remote
from where he expected to go. and he
was unable to get back. He could not
speak with authority as to whether
DIR. Cook and his two Eskimos could
carry ON their three sledges enough
food for their journey to the pole. as
he himself Is novice In Arctic travel
ing. He declared he knew nothing OF
the controversy beyond the vaguest
details.
Whitney said DIR. Cook had com
planned to him OF Pearys taking over
OF his house and stores, but declared
that he had suffered no unfairness.
Peary's steward. william Pritchard.
was present when these statements
were made; like Mr.. Whitney. he was
pledged to secrecy by DR.. Cook.
Continuing. Mr.. Whitney said that
last month. when Peary. on board the
Roosevelt. reached Etah from the
north after his winters work there.
he whitney informed him of DR..
Cooks arrival in April. adding that
Cook had told him (Whitney) to tell
Peary that Cook had gone beyond
Peary's farthest north.
Peary made no comment on this.
and Whitney said he was not asked
any other questions by Peary. But the
next day Cooks Eskimos came TO
Whitney and asked him what Peary's
men were trying to get them to say.
Peary's men had shown the Eskimos
papers and maps. but the Eskimos de
clared they did not understand these
papers.
So far as Mr.. Whitney is aware,
Cooks Eskimos never admitted that
while. with the doctor they had only
progressed two sleeps" from land.
The day the Roosevelt was leaving
Etah for home Whitney Informed
Psary that Cook had entrusted to him
certain belongings to bring home on
the vessel that was coming up for
Whitney. but as this ship had not ar.
rived whitney was at q loss what to
do with this property.
Peary declined to permit DR.. Cook 8
belongings to be brought aboard IT,
Roosevelt. and he put Whitney on his
honor not to include anything belong.
ing 70 DIR. Cook in his own luggag'
Whitney thereupon went ashore froi
the Roosevelt. separated DIR. Cooks
property from his own luggage, and
with the aid OF Captain Bartlett re-
packed Cooks property in boxes.
Continuing his recital. Mr.. Whitney
said that when the Roosevelt left Etah
she proceeded south. and on meeting
the Jeanie. Whitney transferred to this
vessel.