New-York tribune., 1909-09-21
PEARY In PORT TO-DAY
UIFE .AND CHILDREN GO
TO MEET EXPLORER.
The Roosevelt Steaming 4Slo5cly
Dozen COaSt-Ne7o Version Of
the 4nnatOk Incident.

]
will reach here in the morning. The Roosevelt
| anchored off St. Pauls Island, sixty-fve miles
north of Sydney, all day. and at $3.50 o'clock to-
night proceeded on her way to port.
The steam yacht Sheelah, owned by James
Ross. president Of the Dominion Coal Company,
with Mrs Peary Miss Marie Peary and little
Robert E. Peary, went nearly to St Paurs ISL
! and, but did not sight the Roosevelt and re-
turned here after IL o'clock tonight The Shee-
lah will go down the bay again in the morning
News that Commander Peary was nearing port
and would probably land late this afternoon
| caused a general cessation OF business IN the
town. Crowds filed the streets and the water
| front to greet the explorer. All manner OF
water craft. from yachts to sailboats, moved
| down the bay when three blasts Of the whistle
were heard. which the signal that the
Roosevelt was approaching
WELCOMING VESSELS RECALLED.
The observer at Low Point, however. at l
| O'Clock. reported that he could see twenty miles
/ and could not sight the. Roosevelt, and later it
/ was announced that the vessel had anchored off
St. Pauls. A tug was then sent down the bay
/ to spread the news that Commander Peary
would not be here until tomorrow morning.
The tug C. NJ Winch gayly decorated with
| flags. will convey the official welcoming party
| down the bay at an early hour. This party in
| cludes the Mayor OF Sydney. Wallace Richard
son. the heads of the city departments and other
prominent officials. The dinner planned in
| honor of the explorer has been held in allegiance
until Commander Peary has chance to COM
muncate his wishes to the Mayor.
Commander Peary has given emphatic denial
| TO the assertion credited to DIR. Cook that he
| told the Esquimaus at Annatok that DIR. Cook
was dead. and that he consequently would take
possession Of the supplies left there by Cook.
Information from members OF the Roosevelt's
crew indicates that the house built by DR.. Cook
/ at Annatok and left in charge of Rudolph
Francke, found unoccupied when the
Roosevelt arrived. Francke was away trying to
| get passage home. his authority for his depart
ure being a letter he exhibited purporting to be
/ from DR.. Cook at Cape Thomas Hubbard Dr.
Cooks house had been empty for several weeks
| and the supplies therein were being pilfered
| Francke sought permission TO go TO the United
States on the Peary auxiliary ship Erik This
was granted him, and he turned over an inven-
tory Of the supplies IN Dr. Cooks house. Boat
swain Murphy was then placed in cha, e OF the
house and its contents. He says he found that
many packages had been broken open and their
contents partly totally removed. The stores
were checked and the house. which was built Of
boxes. was taken down and re-erected a short
distance away on higher ground. the first loca-
tion having proved wet and uncomfortable
MURPHY'S MEETING WITH COOK
When Dr. Cook returned to Annatok he com
plaineo about the occupation of the house and
its removal to a new position Murphy SAYS
he explained the situation fully TO DR. Cook, who
appeared satisfied. and it was agreed that the
house be occupied jointly The boatswain saws
he offered to leave the house Immediately but
as everything had been satisfactorily explained
this was not thought necessary
Coming down from Battle Harbor the tug
Douglas H Thomas parted company with the
Roosevelt near Point Amour. At this time a
northwest wind was filling the Roosevelt's sails
and sending her along at a good rate Favor
able winds continued throughout Saturday Sun
day and Sunday night. bringing the Roosevelt
abreast OF ST Paul's Island at o'clock this
morning.
The Thomas arrived here at daylight this
morning
According the statement made last sat
urday at Battle Harbor by William Pritchard
cabin boy and assistant cook on the Roosevelt
two persons knew as long ago last April
that DR.. Frederick A. Cook had said that he
reached the pole April q. 1908 These per-
sons are Harry Whitney. wealthy sportsman
of New Haven, who is at present on the Green
land coast on board the steamer Jeanie. and
Pritchard himself. They saw Cook at Annatol
Greenland. after his return from the north
DIR. COOKS SECRET WELL KEPT
The only reference to DIR. Cook which Mr..
Whitney is known 10 have made during his brief
sojourn on board the Roosevelt was a casual
remark to member of the Peary party that he
believed DIR. Cook had reached the pole Pritch
ard kept the news even more faithfully. and
his statement Saturday was the first intlma-
ton that he had any information this sub
Ject. Pritchard explained on Saturday that he
kept the news 20 himself because he did not
wish TO be dragged into the trouble He was
asked how he knew. before he started south on
the Roosevelt, that there going to be a
controversy, whereupon he said that DR. Cook
had cautioned him not to speak TO any one un-
til he reached civilization. Pritchards retcence
with this important. news in his possession was
complete surprise to everybody on board the
Roosevelt.
In the beginning Pritchard told the CORE
spondent that Cook had talked freely to him at
Annotok regarding his dash over the ice. in
dicatIng to him map the route he had fol-
lowed Later Pritchard modified this by ex-
planning that Cooks story told to Whitney
and that he Pritchard, in the room at the
time. Pritchard said that DR.. Cook had only
two Esquimaus with Kim at the pole. The Ian
guage barrier made it impossible for Pritchard
to talk with these Esquimaus
BOATsWAIN ASTONISHED AT NEWS.
John Murphy, the boatswan of the Roosevelt
who ashore with Pritchard when DR.. Cook
appeared at their station, was greatly astonshed
when informed of Pritchard's knowledge Muir
ply said that Cook talked with him on several
occasions while they together about his !
trip on the ice, but said nothing about having
reached the pole Cook limited his information |
TO Murphy 20 the fact that he had passed the |
S1th degree, which was Peary's furthest north |
in 1906. and that the ice was rough up TO 81 |
According 10 Murphy, Cook arrived at Annotok |
with one sledge and two EsquImaus. but no
glo naee