The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-27
Harry Whitney is Heard
From
DID NOT TELL PEARY
Says Peary Refused to Bring Back the
Instruments and Sledge Belonging
to cook-They Are Now on the
Rocks at Etah.

from a correspondent aboard the steamer
Jennie, with Harry Whitney on board
giving Whitney's account Of his meeting
with DR.. Cook, when Che latter told him
he passed two days at the pole. When
Cook left on his sledging trip to Uper-
nawk, he entrusted Whitney with hts
sextant and horizon finder Cook re-
quested that he only tell Peary that he
Cook had passed Peary's record, and
not to say anything about finding out
the pole. Whitney promised and there
fore did not tell Peary or anyone aboard
the Roosevelt what Cook had told him
about bis success
Fearing that no ship might arrive,
Whitney determined to return with
Peary. The latter told him in a most
emphatic way that he would not take
anything on board belonging to Cook
and added that he would say no more
about it, but would trust Whitney's
word Of honor that he would not take
anything with him belonging to Cook.
Whitney was forced to unpack the in.
struments, flags and boxes, The contents
Of which he was ignorant and leave them
on the rocks at Etah. where they now
are Peary refused also to take Cooks
sledge. which Cook had given to Whit
ney. on which Cook had made the entire
journey, Whitney ends BY expressing
faith IN Cooks story. which the Eskimos
corroborated 50 far As Whitney was
able to understand.
Halifax Sept. 27.-Harry Whitney Of
New Haven, who was with Dr. Frederick
A. Cook al Annatok and to whom Or.
Cook is said to have given detailed ae-
count Of his trip to the pole, has sent
wireless message 70 Halifax from In.
dian Harbor, Labrador, in answer to the
question, did Cook reach the polef'
saying, 4 have no reason 70 doubt
COOKS statement"
According TO dispatches received az st.
Johns, n. r.. Harry Whitney, who is
now at Indian Harbor Labrador, says
that DR.. Cook told him ~ Etah last
April that he had reached the pole but
pledged him TO secrecy Dr. Cook also
left with him certain documents and in.
struments which he is bringing to the
United States Mr. Whitney declines to
give further details until be reaches some
point where he can ret At the merits II
the controversy.
In an interview given to the New He.
ven Register, m New York Friday night,
Dr. F. A. Cook said that Harry Whitney
81 New Haven was expected To reach his
home On oct. Isl tbs explorer said he
was On bis way south and when within
five miles Of Annstok was surprised to
see several men approaching the party.
Said DR., Cook in the interviews 1T was
Harry whitney and some Of the Eski-
mos with him on his hunt II was the
first time had ever seen Mr. Whitney,
and he had to introduce himself He
then told me Of wintering at my quar-
ters, and told me that Commander Peary
was up north and that he had spotted
my party over the Zee That was the
first had heard Of Paary being there.
We vent to the eappIy house and
told sr. Whitney had been to the pole.
Ii fell out that in discussing my route
south II occurred to me that as Mr..
Whitney expected vessel 10 coU.e for
him that It would be a good plan to send
to America my documents and instru-
ments on his ship because Of their great.
er safety Of transport BY water He
readily agreed 70 40 80. and when be
comes I'm sure they viii be aboard N
good shape.
mir. Whitney and myself put in two
days at the storehouse, and then ] start,
ed for my final tramp 70 the port where
| could ship for civilization, Now, one
set Of records Is with Mr. Whitney and
another set with myself. While delayed
on my trip south from the pole copied
every bit Of my original data to insure
the possession Of at least one complete
set oF records in case of accident 70 The
originals When handed over to Mir
Whitney one set, the other went with
me, and | felt sure Of getting one back
home. The manuscript and The instrp-
ments In Mr. Whtney's possession are
very carefully put away in watertight
boxes and although nailed ZIP IN the
ordinary way, we oil feel sure that no
one viii tamper with them.
DR.. Cook secretary. AIR. Lonsdale.
says he advised Dr. Cook not to SAP
anything about the records with Mr.
Whitney. The doctor. however, had told
Of meeting the New Haven man. and iii
Ehis desire Ia be frank and open, he told
of giving these records to Mr. Whitney
as soon as doubt arose regarding the
value Of the documents. Mr. Lonsdale
in reply to a question, said that Mr.
Whitney had seen some of the records
OF Dr.. Cook, but had been asked 70 with
hold Information 81 what he had learned
until Nr Cook had first made known III
achievement. It had been feared BY Or
Cook that the Whitney boat would reach
civilization before he did. although. un-
less the ship arrived earlier than expect
ed, such a contingency would not arise