Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-13
Makes Statement in
Which He Gives
Lie to Doctor
TELLS ROUTE TAKEN
Eskimos and Others Who
Were with Disputed
DiScOverer Inter
rogated
Members in Expedition of Rival or
Lieutenant Present Alleged Facts
to DisproVe Data offered
by Claimant
uTAsH1NGToN, oct. 12.-The fol-

VIZ ASHINGTON, Oct 12.-The fol-
w lowing statement of Commander
W R, E. Peary which he submitted
together with a map, to the Peary
Arctic club in support of its contention
that DR.. Cook did not reach the north
pole, is now made public for the first
time. The statement and map have
been copyrighted by the Peary Arctic
club:
Entered according to the act of Congress
in the year 1909 by the Peary Arctic club in
the office of the librarian of congress at
Washington, ID. @.
Introduction by Peary
Some of my reasons for saying that
DR.. Cook did not go to the north pole
will be understood by those who read
the following statements of the two
Eskimo boys who went with him and
who told me and others of my party
where he did go. Several Eskimos
who started with DIR. Cook from Ano-
ratok in February, 1908. were at Etah
when 1 arrived there in August, 1908.
They told me that DR.. Cook had
with him after they left two Eskimo
boys or young men, two sledges and
two dogs The boys were I-Took-a-
Shoe and AhPe-Lah. l had known
them from their childhood. One was
about IS and the other about 19 years.
On my feturn from Cape Sheridan
and at the very first settlement l
touched (Nerke, near Cape Chalon), IN
August, 1909, and nine days before
reaching Etah, the Eskimos told me
in a general way where Cook had been.
That he wintered in Jones sound and
that he had told the white men at
Etah that he had been a long way
north. but that the boys who were
with him, I-Took-a-Shoo and Ah-Pe-
Lab, said that this was not So The
Eskimos laughed at DR.. Cooks story.
On reaching Etah L talked with the
Eskmos there and with the two boys
and asked them to describe DR.. Cooks
journey to members of my party and
myself This they did in the manner
stated below. r. E. PEAR1.
Explorers Make Signed Statements
The two Eskimo boys, I-Took-a-Shoo
and AhPe-Lah who accompanied DR..
Cook while he was away from Anora-
tok in 1908 and 1909 were questioned
separately and independently and were
corroborated by Panikpah, the IA
ther of one of them Q-Took-a-Shoo
who was personally familiar with the
first, third and the last third of their
journey. and who said that the route
for the remaining third, as shown by
them was as described by him and by
his son after his return with DR.. Cook.
Notes of their statements were taken
by several of us and no one of us has
any doubt but that they told the
truth.
Their testimony was mistaken by
cross examination, was corroborated
by other men in the tribe and was
elected neither by threats nor prom
ises, the two boys and their father
talking of their journey and their ex-
periences in the same way that they
would talk of any hunting trip.
TO go more into details:
One of the boys who was called in.
and with a chart on the table before
him, was asked to show where he had
gone with DR.. Cook. This he did, point
ing out with his finger on the map, but
not making any marks on it.
Eskmos Show Route Taken
AS he went out the other boy came In
and was asked to show where he had
gone with DR.. Cook. This he did, also
without making any marks on the map,
and indicated the same route and the
same details as did the first boy.
When he was through Panigpah, the
father of I-Took- A-Shoo, a very intel
ligent man, who was in the party of
Eskimos that came back with DIR. Cook
from the northern end of Nansen'5
strait, who is familiar as hunter with
the Jones sound region and VINO mas
been in Commander Peary's various
expeditions for fifteen years, came n
and indicated the same locations and
details as the two boys.
The first boy was brought in again
and with a pencil he traced on the MAJ
their route. members of our party writ
ing on the chart where, according to
the boys statement, they had killed
deer, bear, some of their dogs, seal,
walrus and musk oxen.
The second boy was then called in,
and the two went over the chart to-
gether, the second boy suggesting some
changes, as noted hereafter.
Finally Panikpah, the father. was
again called in to verify details of the
positions of the route, with which he
was personally familiar.
Not Awed by Peary
The bulk of the boys testimony was
not taken by Commander Peary, nor in
his presence, a fact that obviates any
possible claim that they We're awed By
him.
Certain questions of independent lines
from the direct narrative Of the Eski-
mo boys were suggested by Comman-
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