The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-09-13
DR.. Norman Hansen, a Friend
of Explorer. Cook, Springs a
Story Which Delicacy Pre-
vented Him From Publishing
WILL PRINT ALETTER
IF DEEMED NECESSARY
Commander Peary Accused of
Taking Possession of His Ri
walls Arctic Retreat and APP
prOpdating It to Own Use,
TALE NOT VERY STARTLING

Copenhagen, Sept. IA remark
able letter, giving DR.. Frederick A.
Cooks version of the trouble with
Commander Peary over supplies, ap-
pears in the Politiken. The letter was
written by Dr.. Norman Hansen, a
prominent Danish physician, who
several times visited Greenland TO
study eye diseases.
DR.. Cook told practically the same story
TO one of his closest American friends
just d week ago. before Commander
Peary reappeared on the scene. but said
he did not intend to make it public be-
cause it might lead to unpleasantness.
Dr. Hansen was with Dr. Cook for
some time in Greenland and returned
with him on the Danish steamer Hans
Egede
Now that DR.. Cook has gone" he
writes, II am no longer under an obi
cations to keep silent, and viii exercise
my right to publish the story about the
house In AInatOOk, q story which Dr.
Cook himself had too much deliCdcy to
relate to the world. 7 write it from mem
DRY, as DR.. Cook told it TO me, and / am
fully convinced that in no detail are
my recOlleCtiOns wrong.
House That Cook Built.
"Dr Cook had built his house for
stores in AnnatOok, north of Etah. and it
was this depot which he started to reach
in February. 1903, crossing Smith sound.
1t was pretty large house. the walls
being built of heavily filled provision
boxes so that DR.. Cook knew that when
this important point was reached every
thing was safe. He had, before the start
given permission to young friend named
Whitney to use the house while hunting
vii HFa
190S-09
when DR. Cook and his two Eskimos
exhausted and half starved came within
a short distance Of the house iu Anna
took, young Whitney came out to bid
/ him welcome, but inside the house was
stranger, a giant Newfoundland boats
vain, on watch. This man had been
placed i'm DR.. Cooks house bv Pearv.
when the latter passed Etah with his
ship bound north. Peary had given the
bOatswaiu a written order which COM
menced with the following words:
Thought the Builder Dead
d" This house belongs to DIT. Frederick
a. Cook, but DR.. Cook is long ago dead
and there is no use to search after him.
/ Peary, install my bOatsWaiu in this de-
serted house
This paper, the bOatswain who could
neither read nor write, exhibited to Dr.
Cook and the latter took COPY.
This copy. however. he does not intend
to publish If Peary's course does not
force him TO do so. DR.. Cook gave me
q lively account of how the young mil
iiOnaire Whitney during the whole win
ter was treated like a dog by tine boats
vain and how he had witnessed the sailor
| bartering Dr. Cooks provisions for fox
and bear skins for himself. Dr. Cook
also had to put good face on the uu-
pleasant situation. He had to beg to get
into his own house and had To- make a
compromise with the bOastwaiu.
DIT. Cook made present of the house
with all Of its contents to his two faith
full EskimOs. with the provision that
/ Whitney was to have the use Of the house
as long as his hunting trip lasted. but
he was compelled to let the bOatswaiu
continue his watch. The b0atswafu
however, received strict orders not to- ex-
change any more of the provisions or
guns.
Kept Record Books.
"To Mr.. Whitney DIR. Cook gave his
instructions and his observations as he
/ thought these precious things were safer
there than on the long sledge trip I'm the
spring, across Melville bay, but an his
notebooks and sOiled record books. which
have been so closely written upon, he
kept and carried with him.
"TO me. who understand only very lit
tie astronomy, the record written down
/ so closely and in all directions We're very
hard to read. but what is the record to
Us? The two men, Peary and Cook, their
character, their conduct, that is what in
terests us. and every little item throwing
a sidelight upon their natures is val
/ uable.'
HOT WEATHER RECORD.