The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-13
~ Associates Press.

New York. Oct 1.-THE following
statement of Commander Robert E.
Peary. which he submitted to the
Peary Arctic Club in support of his
contention that Dr. Cook did not reach
the North Pole, is now made public
for the first time. The statement has
been copyrighted by the Peary Arctic
Club:
(Entsred according to the Act of Con-
tic Club, IN the once Of the Librarian of
Congress. at Washington. y Cl
INTRODUCTION ~ PEARY.
Some of my reasons for saying that DR.:
Cook DID not 60 to the North Pole ole T wi
s h rss9oa oy tnose VINO Feaa ane b Io,s
who went with him. and who told me and
Others Of my party where ne did go Sew
from Anoratok in February, 1908, were at
1905 They told me that DR.. Cook had
twenty dogs The boys were I-tooK-a-
from their ckiIdhood. One was abaut
eighteen and the other about nineteen
on my r return from Cape sheridan and
at the very first settlement 1 touched
Eassrlke. near Cape Chaloni IN Augsl5at,-
the Esklmos told me. in general way
where DIT. Cook had been. that be mad
told the white men at Etah that he had
been long way north, but that the boys
who were with him. !,sook-a-shoo and
The Eskimos laughed at Dr. Cooks story
On reaching EtRh. talked with the Es-
asked them TO describe DR.. Cooks Jour
ney to members of Tny party and myself.
This they did In the manner stated below.
Signed statement 81 Pesry.
The two Eskimo boys, i-took -s-snoo
Cook while he was away from Anoratok
In 1905 ana 1903. were questioned sepa-
rateiy and independently; and were cor
of them (-took- a-shool, who was per-
sonally familiar with the frst third and
said that, as shown BY them was as de-
scribed TO him by his son after his re-
Notes OF their statements were taken
by several OF us, and no one OF US has
any. doubt that they told the truth.
Their testimony was mistaken py
cross examination. was corroborated by
other naen IA the tribe, and was elected
neither BY threats nor promises. the two
boys and their father talking Of their
Journey and their experiences In the same
way that they would talk Of any hunt
TO 20 more into details; One Of the
boys was called IN, and. With chart on
where he had gone with DIR. Cook. This
he did pointing out with mis- finger on
the map. but not making any marks upon
AS no 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, alld indt-
Gated the same route and the same de-
tails as did the first boy.
When he was through, Panikpah the
father of I-took-a-sho0, a very intelh-
gent man, who was in the party of Es-
from the northern end Of Nansen's Strait,
who Is familiar as hunter with the
Jones Sound region. and who has been
in Commander Peary's various expedi-
fions for some fifteen years, came In and
indicated the same localities ana details
as the two boys
Then the first bow was brought In
again, and with a pencil he traced on
the map their route, members or our
PARTY writing upon the chart where. &C
cordfng to the boys statement. they had
killed deer, bear, some OF their dogs. seal,
Wairus and musk-oxen.
TIE second boy was called IN ana
tire two went over the chart together,
the second boy suggesting some changes
as noted hereag ter.
Finally, Panilxpah, the father, was
AGAIN called in TO verify details or the
portions Of the route with which he was
personally familiar.
The bulk OF the boys testimony was
not taken by Comma nder Peary. nor in
IFS prcse nee. q fact that obviates any
possible claim that they were awed by
him.
Certain questions on independent lines
from the direct narrative OF the Eskimo
boys were suggested by Commander
Peary TO some OF US, and were put by
tConsInued on Page TNo)