Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-28
Peary Talks About
 Cook s Stuff
THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND IN THE
 CACHE AT ETAH.
CONFERENCE WITH GEN. HUBBARD
President of Peary Arctic cIub-Peary Claims That Cook Had insufficient Equipment to Reach the Pole.

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 Bar Harbor, Me. Sept. 27.-Com- mander Robert E. Peary, accompanied by his wife, reached here tonight from Portland, and within half an hour of his arrival was in conference with General Thomas H. Hubbard, presf- dent of the Peary Arctic club, concern ing the statement which will shortly be made public by Commander Peary to support his contention that Dr. Fred erick A. Cook did not reach the pole. The two were still in conference late tonight at General Hubbard's summer home, where the explorer was a guest.
 Looking Over Data.
 There is nothing to say just now said General Hubbard tonight. Com mander Peary is here and we are look ing over the data he has on the Cook controversy, but there is no statement to be made at this time.
 "No date has been set for the meet : ing of the officers of the Peary Arctic club, and I shah, not determine that until my return to New York next week"
 The consultation will be continued tomorrow and late in the day Com mander Peary will probably return to his home at Eagle Island. It is gen. orally believed that he and General Hubbard will go to New York to- gether.
 Peary Goes Over His Evidence.
 From what can be learned of the conference tonight Peary went over every phase of his alleged evidence against Dr. Cook from the time the Brooklyn explorer began his prepara- tions to go north more than two years ago until after his interviews with Dr. Cooks Eskimos at Etah. General Hubbard has been arranging this ma terial in order >as personal counsel for Peary.
 There was a large crowd at the steamboat landing, notwithstanding the indictment weather, to give Commander Peary and his wife a hearty welcome today. General Hubbard greeted the explorer and his wife as they left the steamer; then the party drove to Hill Crest the generals home.
 Spoke Frequently of Harry Whitney.
 During the trip to Bar Harbor Peary spoke frequently of Harry Whit ney. There might have been some strange reasons why Whitney did not Cooks stuff" he said. T cannot un- derstand how anyone could let such records get out of his hands. I would not give my. records to my deares. relative: I say again don't see how Cook could have turned his stuff over to Whitney or anybody else. I se- cured my instruments in a bag and the flag which I took to the pole I sewed irl my clothes and wore until I reached Battle Harbor.
 Didn't See Why He Should Carry
 Cooks Freight.
 T kept my records under watch day and night, and was prepared, in case the Roosevelt was crushed in the ice. to throw them overheard so that they would float in their cases. Can you imagine my giving up those records to a perfect stranger?
 Harry Whitney did not tell me what was in Dr. Cooks stuff except six fox skins, a narwhal horn and tome other trophies. I cannot see why I should have carried the stuff when Cook could have taken it. If Dr.. Cooks stuff was of such import anee, why did not Whitney go back in the Jeanie and get it?
 Examined Cooks SIedse and Snow
 shoes.
 T saw pr. Cooks sledge at Etah and looked it over carefully. while Professor McMillan held up Cooks snowshoes and showed them to me. But I didn't examine the snovshoes carefully
 -Reverting to Dr. Cooks things, he continued:
 T imagine Dr. Cooks stuff was made up, of superfluous instruments. After Whitney had put the stuff ashore I told the Eskimos to leave it alone.
 fOn my, return from the pole I saw all the EskimoS and talked with them. After what I heard I would not credit Cooks claims. The letter that in formed he. that Dr. Cook had claimed the pole was from whaler named Captain Adams and not Walker as has been stated. The letter was dated June r and I received it at Cape York"
 The Proof an Explorer Should Bring
 Back.
 What proof would you require of an explorer that he had. been , far north" Peary was asked.
 That if a man went to the highest point that had been reached before, he found there" said Commander Peary.
 You will note that Cooks route to the pole was 107 miles longer each way than mine. The people can make their own deduction whether pr. Cook with. his equipment could have made such a journey.
 "Dr. Cook. claims he went from lati- tude 7S 1-2 to 90 degrees and back to 76 degrees, altogether just 25 1-2. Then think the best previous record made by any explorer was total of Il degrees.
 T cannot say whether the extra 107 miles each way that Cook says he travelled would have kept me away from the pole or not It might and it might not have; the difficulty in Arc tic travel as you proceed north in- ereases not in arithmetical but in ge-