The Mena weekly star., 1909-10-21
DR. COOK STAADSPAT
ARCTIC EXPLORER SAYS LIVING HUMAN WITNESSES WILL
 PROVE HIS ASSERTIONS.
PROF. DYCHE DEFENDS COOK
The Kansas Naturalist Declares That Commander Pearys Statement IS Absolutely lncredibIe--Esqulmos % Iunorant to Make Map of Country.

| DuudiOt @ eC@s
 say that the actual living human wlt- nesses of nay journey to the pole Will themselves be able to disprove the distorted declarations put into their mouths in the statement issued Dy Commander Peary," said pr. Frederick A. Cook, to the Associated Press.
 There could not be better testi- mony than that given by the men themselves before an unbiased body or | inauirers. Commander Peary evident ly regards their evidence as of the most profound importance, and so do II. It seems to me that he might have brought them along with him if he was so confident that they would corro- borate his story.
 He, however, chose not to do so. I will, therefore, send for them as soon as possible and place them at the dis posal of any scientific or other body that may desire to examine them with the aid of any competent interpreters whom the examining body may ap- point"
 Asked whether he would make a direct reply to Peary's statement, as had been intimated in an interview at Cleveland, Doctor Cook said:
 There is nothing to add to what has been said. l do not intend to enter q newspaper controversy with anyone. 1 shall depend upon the witnesses who have already been brought into the case and prove my case by them" Doctor Cook was given public re- ception on the floor of the chamber of commerce at noon.
 Dyche Out n Cooks Defense.
 Topeka, Oct. I4.--Prof l.. l.. Dyche, head of the department of natural his tory in the University of Kansas. who made several trips to the North as a member of both the Peary and the Cook exploring parties, and who is personally acquainted with the ex- plorers, made statement touching on the present controversy. The state rient was made after reading Com mander Robert E. Peary's statement,
 Professor Dyche, with Emil Die bitsch, brother-in-law of Commander Peary. went together on an expedition to rescue Peary in 1895, and found him In Inglefield Gulf Professor Dyche also went with Doctor Cook and about 40 other professors and advanced col 1 legiate students on an expedition into the Arctic regions In the interest Of science. This whole party was ship wrecked twice and lost it's steamer, l the Miranda. Doctor Cook, Professor Dyche and all the other scientific men and crew were rescued by fishing vessel, the Golden hope, commanded by Capt. Henry Dixon.
 Commander Pearys statement. ? said Professor Dyche, ito my mind is absolutely incredible. It is based on he testimony of ignorant Esquimos who were incapable of understanding a country to which they had never been before well enough to outline such map as that credited by MT Peary to their explanation Only in- ltelligent white men with instruments 1 could make their way to such coun- 1 try and be able to report in detail upon it year after the trip was made.
 While l believe Commander Peary reached the pole accompanied by re- lays of men, provisions and supplies backed up by four we'll equipped sup. porting parties with Esquimas anG trained dogs, 1 have not the shadow doubt that Doctor Cook reached the pole first and exactly as he details In his own published story, supported by he photographs and observations
 aken by him and printed or told il. eonnection with his story"