The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-28
Big Game Hunter Arrives at st
Johns, N. f.
Says Cock COnfided to Him Dis
coVsry OF the Pole.
ENJOINED SECRECY.
Peary Was Net to Be Informed
Regarding His Success.
Explorer Had Abandoned His
Sledge 90 Miles From Etah.

| st. Johns, N. F., Sept. 28.-The Arctic
vessel EeaEnie with Harry Whitney, the
New Haven big game hunter, on board
has arrived here from the Greenland
coast by way of Indian Harbor, Labra-
dor
| Mr.. Whitnev was questioned regard
| ing the statements made to him by DR..
Cook in Greenland. He said Cook ar
rived at Annotok in April of this year
and declared that he had reached the
North Pole a year ago. He pledged
Whitney, however. not to tell Com
rnander Peary, who was to be inform
ed only that Cook had gone farther
rorth than Peary's previous record, 81
degrees, 6 minutes. DIR. Cook told
Whitney he had accomplished all he
expected to and more besides and that
he was through with the northern coun-
-ry. Whitney did not communicate the
latter part of this statement to Peary.
Mr.. Whitney said DR.. Cook had COM
planned to him of Pearys taking over
his house and stores. but declared he
had suffered no unfairness. Peary's
steward. William Pritchard, was pres
ent when these statements were made;
like Mr.. Whitney, he was pledged to
secrecy by DR.. Cook.
Murphy. Peary's ooatswain, who was
in charge of the stores. was absent at
Etah on this day and did not hear
Cooks communications.
There Were Two Houses.
There were two houses on the
Greenland shore, one at Annotok,
holding Cooks stores, and another at
Etah, holding Pearys stores. The
and Pritchard, sometimes occupied
one and sometimes the other of these
houses.
Murphy was in charge of both
l. III
write. He had written instructuions
from Peary which Whitney at Peary's
request, read over to him from time
to time. These instructions were very
use Cooks stores first and. Peary's af-
terwards.
Murphy was told in them that he
was to give DIR. Cook every help if he
came along in a needy condition, and
farther more the instructions implied
that MurShy was to organize an ex-
pedition to search for DR.. Cook, but
according to Mr.. Whitney, this part
of the instructions was wOrded very
ambiguously. Mr.. Whitney said that
Cook had a copy of these instructions
and would doubtless make them pub
lie Murphy treated Cook very civily
and Cook suffered no discourtesy.
Cook Had No Sledge.
When DIR. Cook and his Eskimos ar
rived at the house they had no sledge.
rough ice they had left it 20 miles
from Etah. The following day some
other Eskimos went out, recovered
the sledge and brought it in. On it
were DR.. Cooks instruments, clothes
and food.
After spending two days at Annotok,
where Cook first met Whitney, Cook
started for Etah. Whitney accom-
panied him. Cook remained for three,
days at Etah, organizing for his trip
south to Upernavik.
The doctor had figured out rightly the
date he would likely get to Upernavik,
and when the Dundee whalers or the
Danish store ships would reach there
lose. He planned originally to take two
Eskimos and two sledges, but one
Eskimo fell sick and this made il
necessary for him to cut down the lug
gage he could take with him south. He
consequently asked Whitney to take
charge of the instruments with which
he had made his observations at the
pole.
ing a sextant, another an artificial hori-
zon and the third an instrument which
Mr.. Whitney said he could not recall.
1t possibly might have been a chrono-
meter. Cook left no written records
with Whitney that Whitney is aware
Of There may have been some records.
however in the other boxes i'll which
Cook packed his clothes and his per-
sonal effects, but Cook did not tell
Whitney especially that he was leav-
ing any written records with him. Mr..
Whitney was very positive about this.
After Cook departed for the south
Whitney resumed his hunting. He
took over Cooks two Eskimos, Etuki-
shuls and Arwalalv, to show him the
country, where Cook had shot musk
oxen. This the two men did, and
Whitney bagged all the oxen he could
carry out in his sledges. He said he
found these two Eskimos to be quite
satisfa ctory in subordinate capacities,
but he knows nothing ftheir value
in a dash across the Polar sea.
Continuing Mr.. Whitney said that
last month when Peary on board the
Roosevelt, reached Etah from the
north after his winters work there,
he, Whitney, informed him of DR..
Cooks visit in April, adding that
Cook had told him, Whitney, to tell
Peary's farthest north. Peary made
no comment on this and Whitney. said
he was not asked any other questions
by Peary.
But the next day Cooks Eskimos
came to Whitney and asked him what
to say. Peary's men had shown the
Eskimos papers and maps, but the
Eskinos declared they did not under
stand these papers. So far as Mr..
Whitney is aware, Cooks Eskimos new
er admitted that while with the doctor
they had only progressed two sleeps"
from land.
Told Peary About Cooks Things.
The day the Roosevelt was leaving
Etah for home Whitney Informed
Peary that Cook had entrusted to him
certain belongings to bring home on
the vessel that was coming up for
Whitney but as this ship had not ar
rived Wfifnav, was at a loss what TO