Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-13
introduction BY Peary.

Some of my reasons for saying that
DIR. Cook did not go to the Norih
Pole will be understood by those
who read the following statements by
the two Eskimo boys who went Win
him. and who told me and others OF
nv party where he did go. Several
Eskimos who started with DR.. COOK
from Anoratok in February, 1908. were
at Etah when | arrived there IN Au-
gus. 1908. They told me that DIR.
Cook had with him, after they lett
two Eskimo boys or young men, two
sledces and some twenty dogs. The
boys were I-took- a-sheo and ah-pe-
lah. I had known them from their
childhood. One was about eighteen
and the other about nineteen years OF
age
On my return from Cape Sheridan
and at the very first settlement
touched (Nerke, near Cape Chalonl IN
August, 1909, and nine days before
reaching Etah, the Eskimos told me,
in a general way. where DR.. COOK han
been. that he had wintered In Jones
Sound and that he had told the white
men at Etah that he had been long
way north. but that the boys who we're
with him. I-took -ashoo and Ah-pe-
lah. said that this was not so. The
Eskimos laughed at Or. Cooks story
On reaching Etah, talked with the
Eskimos there and with the TWO
boys and asked them to describe Dr.
Cooks Journey to members OF my par
ty and myself. This they did in tue
manner stated below.
(Signed) r. f. Peary.
SIGNED STATEMENT OF PEARY,
BARTLETT, MCMILLAN, BORuP
AND HENSON, IN REGARD TO
TESTIMONY OF COOKS TWO
ESKIMO BOYS:
The two Eskimo boys l-to0x-a-
shoe and Ah-pe-lan. who acc ,mp"ais1
DIR. Cook while re was away from
Anoratok in 1908 and 1909. were
questioned separately and independ-
entIy. and were corrctorated byPanik-
rah the father of enc of them IL
took -a-shoo). who was personally Ia
m.liar with the first third and the iast
third OF their journey. and who SAID
that the route for the remaining third,
as shown by them. was as descriDed
by his son after his return with DIT.
Cook.
Notes Of these statements were
taken by several of US. and no one oil
us has any doubt that they told tne
ruth.
corroborst-d by Other Men.
Their testimony was mistaken by
REORGANIZATION, was corTooofaten
nv other men in the tribe. and was
ELECTED neither BY threats nor prom
ises. the two boys and their father
talking Of their journey and their ex-
uericuccs in the same way that they
voad talk Of any hunting trip.
To go more into details: One OF
the bows was called in. and with
chart on the table before him, was
asked 20 show where he had gone
with Dr. Cook. This he did. point
ing out with his finger On the map,
buf not making any marks upon H.
A. he went out. the ether boy came
in and was asked to show where &c
had gene with Dr. Cook This he
did. also without making any marks
and indicating the same route and the
same details a. did the FIRST hoy.
When he was through. Panikrah- the
father Of I-tOok-a shoe. a very IN
fclIigrnt man. uho was tn the party
81 EsI NOS that came back with 1T.
Cook n. = go Northern end of Nan.
sens Sfra pho u familiar a. HINT
OF with the Jones Sound region. and
who has been In Commander Pcary :
various expeditions for some fifteen
years. came tn and Indicated the same
localities and details as The two boys
Then the first boy was brought IN
again. and with pencil he traced on
the map their route. members OF our
lr.--.-...-.-I -. Gath d.