The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-16
IT'S A GOLD BRICK
Peary Breaks Out Again Con-
corning DIR. Cook.
Reiterates That He Has Buncosd
the World.
HIS OBSERV VATIONS.
Made Those at the Pele Him.
self.
Much Appears to Depend on
WhiAnov Tho Hn-+n-
HIS OBSERV ATIONS.
Much Appears to Depend on
Whitney, the. Hunter.


F.-Commander Robert E. .Peary to-
day talked further concerning his
dash to the North Pole He dealt
particularly upon the observations
taken and the movements of Harry
Whitney, the sportsman of New
Haven, Conn.,. who has been de-
scribed as the bearer of records sub
stantiating DR.. Frederick A Cooks
claim to have reached the pole April
21, 1908.
1--WE took five, observations prior to
reaching the Dole,'' Commander
Peary said. 'Two of them were
made and worked out by the late
Prof. Ross Marvin. who prepared
duplicate records in each case and
duly signed the duplicate certificates.
To guard against accident I took one
set of these papers and Prof. Mar
vim took the other
when within a distance of 1926
miles from the pole, the third OBJ
servation was made by Captain
Bartlett who also signed the records
and certificates in duplicate. He re-
tanning one set and 1 the other. The
fourth and fifth observations were
made by myself, the last being taken
five miles from the pole proper"
Took Own Observations.
"Were there more than one OBJ
servation taken at the pole and by
whom" the explorer was asked. :,
There were several observations,
he replied. 'tAnd I took them all
myself They all agreed. You must
understand that the pole is a theore-
tical point, without length, breadth or
thickness. Its actual location de-
pends on the accuracy of the instru-
ments employed and the conditions
under which the observations are
taken"
and polar observations was wrapped
in a piece of a silk American flag and
deposited in an ice cavity at the pole'
did any person witness this act!---=
TO this question Commander Peary
declined to make any answer at pres
ent.
Continuing Peary said that DR.. Cock
was expected by the world to submit
to an impartial tribunal or ooarpNs 81 ol
arbitration a revised and authentic
statement of his alleged discovery OF
the pole. DIR. Cook soon would reach
the United States, Commander Peafy
said. and he was glad at the prospect
of the matter being submitted for con-
sidered at an early date. 1t should be
done inside of a couple of weeks, arc
when it was done, the commander de-
clared, he was prepared to turn over
to the board of arbitration, to the pub
lie and to scientific bodies an array Of
testimony which would d1sproVe Dr
Cooks claims for all time.
Cooks Gold Brick.
Continuing the explorer said that he
had stated in a private message to Q
friend that DR.. Cook had given the
world "a gold brick" This message
had been allowed to leak out and while
he would have preferred more ele-
CANT expression, he was willing now to
let let these words stand, because the@
were at least emphatic. The explorer
said also that he would turn over to
competent tribunal and the public Ger
titled copies of his own observations
made on his trip to the pole with all
other information bearing thereon !
Peary does not care to exhibit these |
records at the present time for the rea-
son that the information contained |
therein, if divulged in advance of The |
placing on file of DR.. Cooks authentic |
and definite statement might be of ad-
vantage to the doctor.
1t is rumored here that Commander |
Peary's briefs will make sensational
statements and that portion OF his
document was prepared as long ago as
were received from DR.. Cook, in Green
land, giving notice that he intended to
make a dash for the pole.
Why Whitney Remained i'm North.
Asked how Harry Whitney happen
ID to remain in the north, Commander
sportsmen who went as passengers on
board the steamer Erik. The party
Whitney, w. Norton OF New
York; a man named Harner and G. X
he purpose of taking magnetic obser-
yations for DR.. Baeur, head of the de-
oartment of terrestrial magnetism of
he Carnegie institute at Washington
and a party and supplies for the re-
fef of DR.. Cook, particularly In view
IF the fact that Rudolph Francke was
oeing invalided home, Whitney asked
1unt walrus and Polar bear in the
spring. This was decided on. In or
Ter to provide against the contingency
f the Roosevelt not coming down
rom the north in the summer OF 1903,
n which event he would be obliged to
.eu1ain in the Arctic for two years,
Wr whitney made arrangements for
hip to come Up for him this summer
sfWhile am not in a position to go
nto the details of the plans in regard
% this relief ship Commander Peary
continued. 81 was informed by Whit
lev and Norton that the general pro-
oosal was that Norton should get up
mother party of SpOrtSmen and that
his marty who were to be Whitney's
'riends or relatives, should pick him
ID. Whitney had no doubt as to this
hin coming north and when the
3ooseveIt was sighted bv EskimoS at
7,tah. August IT last, Whitney started
nj at once in a sail boat for the
roosevelt under the impression that
he was his own ship
sAs a matter of fact the party of
portsmen did not materialize, but the
eIief vessel JEANNE was sent north to
ring Whitney back. On her ARRIVAL
Whitney was transferred from the
roosevelt to the JEANNE and he is nowI
robably engaged in hunting bears