The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-09-20
WEAK POINT IN
PEARY'S DELAY
Of HIS REPORT
Did Not Mention Discovery in
Letter to Prof. Mcmillan on
Return


mtmtEk u Pthkt PAklI
SAW COOK RETURNING
hsts
- NcaI It Etah and Claimed Part Of
supfas red There-Eskimos
Said They lad Been Way Nprth-
Cook Looked Haggard and Tired.
Sydney, G. b. Sept. 2O.-A new
light was thrown on the controversy
over the discovery of the North Pole
today on the arrival of the steamer
Tyrian, from Battle Harbor, where
the correspondents learned from two
members Of Commander Peary's ex-
pedition that DR.. Frederick A. Cook
had met them at Etah and had men
toned nothing of discovering the
pole.
When Harry Whitney, George Nor
ton and Larned went to Etah on the
Erik to bring provisions for Com
mander Peary, both Norton and Larn-
ed turned back and Whitney obtained
permission from Commander Peary to
remain at the Etah station. Com
mander Peary stationed John Murphy,
boatswain of the Roosevelt, and Will
liam Pritchard, assistant cook of the
Roosevelt at Etah to guard the
stores. Murphy, telling Of his expert
ences at Etah, said to the newspaper
men:
Commander Peary told me to go
ashore at Etah to guard the stores
which l saw taken from the Roosevelt
and the Erik, Pritchard was with me.
Some time last spring whiteman
came into camp and Mr.. Whitney told
me that 1t was DR.. Cook. He did not
stay long in camp and soon went
away. Cook looked tired and worn
out and said he was hungry. l had
an argument with him, as he claimed
! that some OF the stores that we were
4 guarding belonged to him.. He only
had two Eskimos with him and as all
his dogs were dead the doctor had to
pull his own sledge."
| AAASSAolO 0dlu lucSc GShllllOS LOlO
him that they had been way. way
north. None of the Peary party ct
Battle Harbor would discuss what IN
formation has been learned from Har-
ry Whitney as Commander Peary had
given orders that the Cook controv-
ersy must not be mentioned. 1t was
.commonly reported at Battle Harbor,
however. that Peeary had some Diff
ferences with Whitney, who decided
that instead Of returning to Sydney
on the Roosevelt, he would do some
shooting in Greenland.
| Friends of DR.. Cook here pointed
out that when Commander Peary, on
his return from the pole sent for
Prof. Mcmillan, who had gone to es-
tablish a base of supplies at Cape
Morris Jesup, he did not mention in
his letter to the professor anything
of his discovery of the pole. The
message which was made public by
Prof. Mcmillan at Battle Harpor.
road:
McMillan's Letter.
"S. s. Roosevelt, April %, 1909.
"My Dear Mcmillan.
ARRIVED on board yesterday. Nor
thern trip was entirely satisfactory.
There is no need of Greenland depot.
Captain came on board the oath. Con-
centrate all your energies on tidal
observations and line soundings north
from Cape Morris Jesup. Use intend
ed supplies for me for this purpose.
(Signed) Commander Peary."
The adherents Of Commander Peary
assert that the words in the message,
Northern Trip Entirely Satisfactory
indicate clearly that the expedition
had accomplished its purpose. Prof.
Mcmillan said at Battle Harbor that
he had seen Harry Whitney at Etah
and that Whitney did not tell any one
of DR.. Cooks reported discovery of
the pole.
1t was In an old sailors and store left
in Battle Harbor, Labrador that Com
mander Peary told the story to a
score or more of correspondents of
his journey to the pole. He will head
no more trips to the arctic, nor, Tor
that matter, to the antarctic. His
work in the ice fields is finished.
Il have accomplished the ambition
OF my life," said the Commander. 81
shall always be interested in arctic
exploration, but It must now be left
to younger men,"
Commander Peary did no fencing
with his interviewers and prefaced
the "inquisition" as he called, 1t, with
the statement that he had made his
position clear In reference to the
Cook controversy in earlier dispatch
es which had been sent by wireless TO
the Associated Press. To the bonn
bardment of interrogations the COM
mander replied in sharp, clear voice
and couched his answers in terms
that left no mistake in their mean
ing.
Il shall pay no attention to fake
stories or any side issues" said Com
mander Poary, that are put out 70
distract from the main question, has
Cook been at the pole"
do you think It possible for any
body to fake observations to prove
that he was al. the pole?" he was ask
ed.
"In the opinion Of Admiral Melville.