The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-20
Members of Peay's Party Tell of Seeing Dr Cook At
 the Etah Station
COOK NEVER TOLD OF
 DISCOVERY OF POLE
Peary Declares That He Has Accom- plished His Life Work and That He Will Not Take Part In Any
 More Polar Trips.

Sydney N s.. September 19-New light was thrown the controversy over the discovery of the north pole today on the arrival of the steamer Tyrian from Bat tie Harbor, where the correspondents learned from two members of Command CT Peary's expedition that Dr. Frederick A. Cook had met them at Etah and had mentioned nothing of discovering the pole. hWen Harry whitney George Norton and Larned went to Etah on the Erik to bring provisions for Commander Peary, both Norton and Larned turned back and Whitney obtained permission from Com mander Peary to remain at the Etah sta ton. Commander Peary stationed John Murphy, boastwain of the Roosevelt, and William Pritchard, assistant cook of the Roosevelt, at Etah, to guard the stores Murphy, telling of his experience at Etah, said to the newspaper men:
 Commander Peary told me to go ashore at Etah to guard the stores, which I saw taken from the Roosevelt and the Erik. Pritchard was with me. Some time last spring white man came into camp and MT. Whitney told me that it was
 
 and soon went away. Cook looked tired and worn out, and said he was hungry. l had an argument with him, as he claimed that some of the stores that we were guarding belonged to him. He had two Eslxiinos with him and as all his dogs were dead the doctor had to pull his own sledge."
 Pritchard said these Eskimos told him they had been way, way north.
 Secrecy Is Maintained.
 None of the Peary party at Battle liar bor would discuss what information had been learned from Harry Whitney, as Commander Peary had given orders that the Cook controversy must not be men toned. It was commonly reported at Battle Harbor, however. that Peary had some differences with Whitney, who de- cided that, instead of returning to Syd- ney on the Roosevelt, he would do some shooting in Greenland.
 Friends of Dr. Cook here pointed out that when Commander Peary, on his re- turn from the pole, sent for Professor Me- Milan who had gone to establish base of supplies at Cape Morris Jesup, he did not mention in his letter to the professor anything of his discovery of the pole. The message which was made public by Professor McMllan at Battle Harbor, read
 steamship Roosevelt, April 2S, 1909.
 My Dear McMillan: Arrived on board yesterday. Northern trip was entirely satisfactory. There is no need of Green land depot. Captain came on board on the 24th. Concentrate all your energies i. on tidal observations and line soundings north from Cape, Morris Jesup Use in- tended supplies for me for this purpose.
 "COMMANDER PEARY."
 The adherents of Commander Peary as- sert that the words in the message, northern trip entirely satisfactory" in dicate clearly that the expedition had ac- complished its purpose.
 Professor McMillan said at Battle Har- bor that he had seen Harry Whitney at Etah and that Whitney did not tell any one of Dr. Cooks reported discovery of the pole.
 Peary Tells His Story.
 It was in an old sail and stores loft in Battle Harbor, Labrador. that Command CT Peary told the story to score or more of correspondents of his journey to the no]e. He will head no more trips to the Arctic nor for that matter, to the Ant arctic. His work in the ice fields Is .T have accomplished the ambition of my life," said the commander; T shall always be interested in Arctic explora- tions. but it must now be left 10 younger men,"
 Commander Peary often broke his mar rative to call upon Prof. Donald McMil- Ian. naturalist and geologist Of the ex- petition, to relate some incident or the trip. No less interesting than Pearys dash to the pole were the discoveries by Professor McMillan of relics and stores or seven previous arctic expeditions, those of General Greedy in 1S81-A; Com mander Hall in 1871; the Amundsen ex- ploration party of 1sO3 Sir John Lock- woods exploration; the exploration party of Admiral Sir George Mares. in lS75-76, and the expeditions of Commander Peary in 1896 and 1900.
 Peary's Position Clear.
 Commander Peary did no fencing with his interviewers and prefaced the 'in- .,,,is,tion." as he called 1t, with the state ment that he had made his position clear in reference to the Cook controversy in earlier dispatches, which had been sent Inv wireless to the Associated Press. To inc bombardment of interrogations the commander replied in a clear voice and couched his answers in terms that left no mistake in their meaning
 or any side issues" said Commander paarv' that are put out to distract from t Inc main question, Has Cook been at the pole?'"
 "Do you think it possible for any man to fake observations to prove that ne was at the pole? he was asked
 .In the opinion of Admiral Melville, U. s NJ. Admiral Sir George Mares. R. N, and myself, yes.' he responded quickly.
 Then he continued:
 q do not care to speak of other obser- vations in view of what claim. and l won't say anything more until the state- ~>~>~~->>-@-- f.t ffsaSnrumN rrmn nM RAGH 2l