The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-10-11

GEOGRAPHIC AND NATURAL HIS
TORY SOCIETIES APPOINT A
COMMISSION TO EXAMINE AND
REPORT.

Washington, Oct. 1.-THE Ma
tional Geographic society, in response
to a proposal from the Peary Arctic
club, today adopted resolutions agree
ing to join the American Geographic
society and the American Museum OF
Natural History in requesting DR.. Ira
Remsen, president of the National
Academy of Scientists, to appoint
commission to examine and report on
the arctic records and observations
and data of Commander Robert E.
Peary and DIR. Frederick A. Cook.
Peary COmbats Statement of Cook.
The carefully prepared evidence
which Commander r. E. Peary has
been working upon ever since his re-
turn from the north, and with which
he intends to annihilate DR.. Cooks
claims to have reached the pole, is
said to be complete.
Gen. Thomas Hubbard, president Of
the Peary Arctic club, in conference
with Herbert Bridgeman, its secrc-
tary. has given the finishing touches
to Commander Peary's attack.
The official statement is said to
comprise many typewriter sheets.
All those who have seen it were un-
animous in their expression of belief
thta it vii completely disprove not
only DR.. Cooks claim to have reached
the pole, but many of the statements
he has made concerning his adven-
lures within the Arctic zone.
Maps made by Cooks Eskimos of
distances travelled by them while in
his company; statements of other Es-
kimos as to what Cook had told them
and observations of the Peary party
play an important part in the brief
Among other things. the document i
said to contain a statement that the
Cook expedition left this city two
years ago with the determination to
return with the assertion of polar
discovery.
With this in mind, Commander
Peary, as he is expected to assert,
laid his plans to combat claims of
the Brooklyn physician before the
Roosevelt set sail for the polar seas.
1t is asserted that the document
will tell of constant surveillance of
DR.. Cook by Peary's men during the
two years Cook spent in the icebound
region. and state that this surveil-
lance resulted in the discovery that
DR.. Cook never went out of sight Of
land and that his assertion of polar
success was mere fabrication.
Commander Peary's brief against
DR.. Cook is said to contain not only
the statements of the two Eskimo
companions of Cook that the Brook
lyn explorer did not venture far from
land, but also the assertions of other
Eskimos. who are said to have seen
Cook camping on the western coast
of Grantland at time when he said
he was at the pole.
The bulk of the ePary document,
however, is known to be argumenta-
tive. 1t points out what ePary char
acterizes as the "impossibilities" in
Cooks story. 1t bases most of its
deductions on the results of former
expeditions.
The official statement is said TO
hinge largely On the testimony of the
two Eskimo lads whom DR.. Cook said
accompanied him to the pole This
testimony was obtained by ePary at
Etah. 1t was also said to have been
vouchei for by Capt. Bartlett, Prof.
Mcmillan. George Borup and Mat
Henson. all of whom were members
of the Peary expedition.
All the statements of the two
Eskimos were not uttered in the
presence of Commander Peary for
the reason, 1t is said. that they might
tell their stories without any fear Of
displeasing or winning the favor OF
the commander.
AS nearly as has been learned by
friends of Commander Peary. the Es-
kimos testified that DR.. Cook and
Francke, accompanied by eight or
nine Eskimos, went from Annatook
to Cape Sabine by way OF Smiths,
Sound. Later Francke and three Es-
kimos turned about and came to An
natook. Meantime Cook and his re-
naming companions Of EskimoT
worked their way eastward across
Ellesmere Land to q point south OF