Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-09-21

Sydney, N. S., Sept. 20.-The tug
Douglas H. Thomas, which left Battle
Harbor last Saturday in company with
the steamer Roosevelt, arrived here
this morninn and reported that the
Roosevelt would probably be here at
6 o'clock this evening. According to
a statement made last Saturday at
Battle Harbor, William Pritchard, a
cabin boy of the Roosevelt and Harry
Whitney of New Haven, Conn.,, knew
last April that Cook claimed he had
reached the pole q year before. They
saw Cook at Annotok, Greenland, aft
CT his return from the north and the
only reference to Cook, Whitney is
known to have made while on the
Roosevelt was a casual remark to re-
member the Peary party. He believed
Cfok had reached the pole. Pritchard
ktot the news even more faithfully
ar his statement Saturday was the
f st intimation that he had any infor-
nation on the subject and it was a
complete surprise to everybody on
'the Roosevelt. Pritchard said that
Cook told the story to Whitney and
that he was present.
According to Pritchard Cook had
only two Eskimos with him at the
pole. The language barrier made 1T
Impossible fer Pritchard to talk with
these Eskimos. John Murphy, boat
swain on the Roosevelt said that Cook
talked with him but said nothing about
having reached the pole Cook limit
ed his information to Murphy to the
fact that he had passed the eighty
CO.. tIof {no
rough up to eighty-four. Murphy said
Cooks story to Whitney and Pritchard
must have been recited on the day he
was absent at Etah. This was con-
fined by Prichard.
Due in New York Today.
New York, Sept. 20.-The steamship
Oscar IL, with DIR. Frederick A. Cook
aboard. is due to arrive off Sandy
Hook this afternoon and at the same
time Commander Robert E. Peary will
have reached Sydney, Cape Breton.
With the advent of both explorers the
polar controversy has attained white
heat, and developments of the next
few days promise to be sensational in
the extreme.
Will Prove His Own Case.
DR.. Cook promises to Immediately
prove his own case, and demands, in
justice TO science and nlmSelf, that
Commander Peary be compelled to do
the same. His challenge reads:
Commander Peary has as yet given
to the world no proofs of his own case
My claim has been fully recognized by
Denmark and by the King of Sweden;
the President Of the United States of
America has wired me his confidence;
my claim has been accepted by the in
ternational bureau for polar research
ut Brussels: most Of the geographical
societies Of Europe have sent me con-
gratulations, which means faith and
acceptance for the present, and almost
every explorer of note has come for
ward with warm and friendly approval.
"A specific record of my journey is
accessible to ALL and every one who
reads can decide for himself When
Peary publishes a similar report, then
our cases are parallel. Why should
Peary be allowed to make himself a
self-appointed dictator of my affairs? +?
In justice to himself, in Justice to the
world and to guard the honor of ma
tfonal prestige, he should be compelled
10 prove his own case; he should pub
lish at once preliminary narrative, to
be compared with mine, and let the
fair minded ponder over the matter
while the final records by which my
case may eventually be proved are be-
ing prepared