The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-09-21
COOK PROMISES
TO PROVE CLAIM
Asks People TO Have Confidence
in His Conquest Of Pole.
CAUSE OF DISPUTE WITH PEGRY

Says the Commander Found His Sup
ply Depot and Left Two Men In
charss-TeIls How story Was Con
eOeted That He Had Not Reached
the Pole.
On Board the 5. 5. Oscar H.. at Sea.
sept IS. via Marconi Wireless Tele-
graph. Tell the people OF America
to have the fullest confidence in my
conquest OF the pole I have records
OF observations made by me which viii
prove my claim. shall be glad AGAIN
TO set my foot on American soil"
This was the brief message Or
Frederick \ Cook asked the Asso-
ciated Press 70 give TO his country
men as he nears home on the steamer
Oscar IL. bound from Christiausaud.
Norway. FOR New York.
pr. Cook discussed freely the asscr-
tons of Commander Peary that he
COOK had never reached the North
Pole. and the correspondent drew from
him detailed story of the causes that
brought about discussions between the
two explorers
When he departed for the north. De
Cook said. he LETT a depot of provisions
at Anuatok north OF Etah. in charge
Of Rudolph Francke and several r.
kimos
Peary Found His Supply Depot.
Commander Peary found my supply
depot az Annatok" Dr. Cook coutin-
ned. and the Eshimos in charge told
him that was dead. which they fully
believed o. he true az the time
"Peary placed two men IN charge OF
the depot Boatswain Murphy and an
other Harry Whitney. the New Haven
hunter. also remained there Murphy
had orders not TO search FOR me-. but
was told he could send Eskimos north
ward the following spring from the re-
lief depot
When ] returned from the pole. un-
evpcctedly. Harry Whitney was the
first TO see me and TO tell me what
had occurred Whitney was placed In
possession ot the facts concerning my
Journey to the pole ON the condition
that be would not inform Commando
Peary or his men of them. At the
same time the Eskimos who had ac-
companied me north were told to
maintain the strictest silence.
When I went into the depot there
was a dispute between myself and
Murphy. who delivered 10 me written
Instructions he had received from
Peary. although Dee himself could
neither read nor write. These instruc-
lions showed that ne was making a
trading station of my depot. the con
tents OF which had been used in trad
ing for furs and skins
Dr Cook said he was intensely an
noyed al this alleged wrongful use OF
his supplies and threatened To Kick
out Murphy and his companions
Finally. however. he consented 20 their
remaining al the depot as there was
40 other shelter in the vicinity for
hem.
Deceived Peary's 6oatswain.
ON one occasion Murphy asked me
abruptly. Have YOU been beyond So
Or. Cook said But / was determined
not 20 let Peary know OF my move
ments. ami replied evasively thar
had been much farther north. From
this statement has been concocted the
declaration that ! had said that ! had
not reached the pole"
Or Cook declared that neither Harry
Whitney nor his Cooks records are
On board the steamer Roosevelt and
that therefore Peary's information
concerning him emanated from Boat
swain Murphy who knew nothing of
his movements.
DIR. Cook said that the Danes. with
whom he lived for several months. are
acquainted with the whole story OF his
exploit; that he also has provided the |
Danish government with the fullest |
proofs OF his achievements and that he |
Is now prepared tO iay these proofs |
before competent body IN America.