Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-20


Peary's Cabin Boy Knew
Cook Had Reached Pole
SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, September 20
The arctic steamer Roosevelt. with Com
mander Robert E Peary and the mem
bers of his party on board, passed St
Pauls Island siXty-five miles north OF
here at o'clock this morning. The
Roosevelt is expected to reach Sydney
about o'clock this afternoon.
The tug Douglas H. Thomas which left
Battle Harbor Saturday morning in COM
pany with the Peary steamer Roosevelt.
arrived here at daylight this morning and
reported the Roosevelt having travelled
south under steam and sail at speed
approximating ten knots an hour She
should be off Sydney at or g O'Clock this
evening. and the buildings of the town,
together with the shipping in the harbor:
are today gay with a f1uttering display Of
flags in anticipation of Commander
Pearys return. The streets present a
holiday appearance and the people are on
the tiptoe of expectancy.
Knew Cook Reached Pole.
According to the statement made last
Saturday at Battle Harbor by William
Pritchard, cabin boy and assistant cook
on the Roosevelt, two persons knew as
long ago as last April that Or. Frederick
A. Cook claimed he had reached the pole
April 81 of 1908. These persons are
Harry Whitney, a wealthy sportsman Of
New Haven Conn. who is at present
on the Greenland coast on board the
steamer Jeanne, and Pritchard himself.
They saw Cook at Annootok, Green
land after his return from the north.
The only reference to DR.. Cook which
his brief sojourn on board the Roosevelt
was casual remark to a member of
the Peary party that he believed DR..
Cook had reached the pole. Pritchard
kept the news even more faithfully. and
his statement of Saturday was the first
intimation that he has any information
on this subject. Pritchard explained Sat
urday that he kept the news to himself
because he did not wish to be dragged
into the trouble.
He was asked how he knew, before he
came south on the Roosevelt, that there
was going to be a controversy. and de-
olared that DR.. Cook cautioned him not
70 speak to any one until he reached civ
ilization. Pritchard's reticence, with this
important news in his possession, was
complete surprise to everybody on board
the Roosevelt.
In the beginning Pritchard told the
correspondent that Cook had talked freely
to him at Annootok with regard to his
dash over the ice. indicating to him on
q map the route he had followed. Later
Pritchard modified this by explaining
that Cooks story was told to Whitney.
and that he Pritchard) was present in
the room. Pritchard said DR.. Cook had
only two Eskimos with him at the pole.
The language barrier made it impossible
for Pritchard to talk with these Eskimos.
Boatswain Not Told.
John Murphy, the boatswain of the
Roosevelt. who was ashore with Pritch-
ard when DR.. Cook appeared at their
station, was greatly astonished when in
formed Of Pritchard's knowledge
Murphy declared that Cook talked
with him on several occasions while
they were together about his trip on
the ice, but said nothing about having
reached the pole. Cook limited ltis in
he had passed the S7th degree, which
was Peary's farthest north in 1906, and
that the ice was rough up to 81. Ac-
at Annotok with one sledge and two
Eskimos, but no dogs. The sledge was
left out on the ice for day and then
brought o1 In: Murphy was o, curious to
company with whitney in the musk OK
country opposite Etah. he inquired if
DR.. Cook had reached the pole. The
did not know.
Asked how it was possible for Pritch-
ard and Whitney to have heard Cook s
story without his also hearing 1T, in
asmuch as all four men occupied tho
same house at Annotok during Cooks
stay. Murphy. replied that question
to Pritchard had brought him the
answer that DR.. Cooks story of his
dash to the pole was recited to Whit
ney and the cabin boy on a day he
Murphy was absent at Etah. This
statement was referred to Pritchard.
who identified the date he heard the
Cook statement as the day Murphy
was absent at Etah.
Will Fly the Pole Flag.
Commander Peary will be greeted by
glorious weather. The day is bright
and warm. like a day in June. The
north pole flag" which Peary had made
at Battle Harbor will be displayed for
the first time on the Roosevelt entering
this port. 1t is standard United States
nag with broad white band laid on
diagonally from the union corner down.
On the white ground are the words
North Pole" in black letters. Coming
into Sydney q Canadian ensign pre-
sented to Peary at Battle Harbor by
the captain of the Canadian govern
ment vessel Tyrian will decorate the
foretopmast of the Roosevelt.
The Peary Arctic Club flag will be
flown at the mainmast, and the New
York Yacht Club flag that has been
displayed At Cape Sheridan will be at
the mizzenmast The north pole flag"
which is ten by twenty feet, will fly