New-York tribune., 1909-10-18
BENSON WELL HECkLED
MEETS STORM OF QUERIES.
Laughs at DR.. Cooks Story, IN Hip
podrOmc Lecture.

s,ts,- ffensor thc NEGRO Who accompanied Conn
-sc~ r. T. Poary 10 tho polar regions. wallowed
: ,restions Of ice aud snow for more .fan an hour
s,-, NJ retired from tho stage of the Hippodrome.
,re lc opened his course of metropolitan lectures
- night With William A. Brady. his manager,
-sserce Henson tho target for every variety
"a ,,eetiou which for time came fast that the
,i-e audience became involved in a verbal riot
n,,ts of fair play ignored. while Henson APP
I'D 20 Nir Brady for protection, and finally
lool that his inouisiiors would have 20 wait for
',o,nusnder Peary's reports 10 be made public on
N-edneSday-
AZ lecturer. Henson struggled along The shores
. Greenland with = number of photographs until
- reached q scene which he explained was taken
a, miles from tho pole Then ne showed picture OF
s,r Fsauiuasus who. he said. made up the party in
.hs fnsl dash. When he had prepared tine audience
sor Tho last march, Henson announced that he
would answer any questions asked. Then he
showed photograph which he said had been
tsken a. the coolest place recorded during the
rorthv,srd trip. Like bomb. the first question
vas fred him in loud voice from the
chssua
How cold uc'
Henson replied that the thermometer registered
70 degrees below
Cook says it Was IS below zero" came from
another part Of the auditorium.
Cook or any else never found Sc degrees
heov zero. No could live in that cold''
shouted the negro. who by this time beating
time With both feet as he thought Of the frigid
5oC5ou here he had taken the picture. Then the
arst voice insisted that Greely had reported tenn
rersturee Of IS degrees below zero but Henson in
sisted that he. too. was mistaken in his observa-
nons
While the temperature going up and down
81 elderly made frantic efforts be heard
as he asked Henson when and where he had first
heard Ct Cooks alleged discovery. The question
had 10 he repeated several times before the cry
was taken up all over the building and an inn
mediate answer demanded. Henson appeared
over5oyed 81 the question He chuckled and smiled
AZ he announced August s.
HENSON VOICES Suspicious.
Why do you smile@' was next demanded.
Because We knew that It was impossible for
him 10 do j.: tell the truth. had suspicion
before left the report the negro
isken with another NJ of laughter.
This made the audience eager for more, and
dozen voices wanted 10 know what reasons Com
mander Peary's party had for being suspicious Of
pr Cook. Mr. Brady then put the question 10 the
negro. saying:
The audience wants TO know Vhy it was sus-
rected that Or. Cook might set Up claim for the
Poe?"
Henson's smile vanished as he again swung his
and feet and began his reply:
The hrst reason-Before left Dr. cook had
claimed that he climbed Mount Mckinley. We
doubt il to-day and did then. DR.. Cook claimed
thai he did other things and We know personally
that ne didn't
Henson was unable 10 tell what the other things
Cheers, Misses, questions, Shrl whistles ana
shouts Of Give US the pictures" drowned every
further effort al explanation. When all attempts
70 restore ouie; had failed the lights turned
on Up TO this time the heckling had been con-
Quoted in the dark something went wrong with
the picture machine when the pole was almost IN
sigfit Taking advantage Of a moments quiet the
oid man VINO was prirned with scientific data asked
Henson about observations.
We took observations when one hundred and
twenty miles from the pole. the negro's reply
tefore he vas interrupted by Mr.. Brady, who an
uamced that the information would be given with
picture 10 be shown later
ID Peary refuse TO bring anything back for
Or Cock?' came the next question.
lie certainly did" was Hensons comment but
the old gentleman had not forgotten about the OBJ
sryatons and insisted that reply should be given.
After much cross-questioning the negro admitted
that Fesry took three observations at the pole but
he said that they could be 10 the minute,
ss he was not sure how far they were from the
sexual centre.
It is impossible give seconds the pole.
ADDED Henson, as he again cautioned the audience
II wait until the commanders report published.
Following another spell of riotous Vrangling,
Henson vas asked If the Esquimaus were truthful.
FAITH IN EsoUIdAU HONOR.
They arc more truthful than the white man. and
they can draw maps on paper with lead pencils
snd on tho SLOW with sticks" the information
given by the negro when he had picked the ques-
iions which were flying at him from every direction
When pressed for mere details about the sus-
piclons directed against Dr. Cook Henson de-
cisred that il impossible for man to make
that journey with only two natives and two sleds
Ile added that Peary had FIVE men. including the
four Esqumaus and himself. and was therefore
ste 70 cross tho icebergs. The picture taken when
approaching the pole showed a clear stretch Of ice
WIN several sleds in the background. while The
tracks Of seds plainly visible IN the fore
ground. This. Henson explained was taken when
ff', miles from the goal
As final illustration. picture representing the
eyed discovery Of fhe pole was flashed on the
screen EIr Brady explained that this photograph
showed Pesry al the North Pole The explorer, as
shown in tho film. had his back turned 10 the
csr1era A snow house. snow shoes and sleds made
W ths remainder of the scene, which was sp-
p.auded.
Before Henson gave up his attempts 10 answer
questions no replied an inquiry as 10 why the
Pear party failed 10 tell the people Of the United
stste- of Dr.. Cooks alleged discovery when Peary
ne1 Lad been Informed last August
We were 100 far away 10 tell any one. was the
rssrcs answer.
Then he was compelled 10 make another appesl