Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-17

tonight which, hOlled down resolved
itself into a series of charges and
ccunter-charges such as have been fire.
uuent since DR.. Frederick A. Cook now
in mysterious seclusion, announced he
had discovered the North pole.
b. S. OSbon, secretary of the Arctic
Club. came out first with a statement
indicating that capt. August w. Loose
was prepared to repudiate a recent
affidavit published in New York
newspaper that he mad faxed records
Cor DIR. Cook.
After a hurried search Loose was
found together with his associate,
George G. Dunkle. He denied that he
intended to retract anything, stood by
mis- affidavit and said on the other
hand that attempts had been made to
bride him into a contradiction of his
nrnyiOus declarations. Dunkle confirm
ed him in this
No one denies that Loose did pre-
pare records for DR.. Cock. The question
left open is whether these records were
used by TIE explorer FOR the purpos
of comparison or otherwise.
New York, Dec 16.-Capt. b. S. Os-
Dor of this city. secretary of the Arc
tic Club. has written Capt. Joseph E.
Bernier and othars that Capt. August
w. Loose's story of his dealings with
DR. Cook, us published in New York
newspaper, was concocted for sale,
without regard for the truth.
"In the presence of Witnesses said
Can't. Osbon tonight, Il heard Loose
say: ] was out for the money and [
T il W.
Capt. Osbon does not believe that
Losses narrative as supported by his
affidavits vas a part of any plot to
discredit Dr.. Cook.
"rhe idea originated with Loose and
Dunkle," says Capt. Osbon. "They mad
for sale matter in this controversy so
explosive that nobody dared handle 1t.
When they found that out they cast
about for something else. Dunkie was
the promoter, Loose the workman.
"Also Dunklc got most Of the morey.
That's what Loose says. and now ne
is casting around to see where he
stands. He's got a conscience and 1t
smarts.
ct wrote these facts il private let
tiers to Capt. Bernier and others, ana
their premature publication is mis-
take and may spoil what would nave
been complete documentary proof OIL
INV assertion, sworn to before notary.
Loose had an appointment today to
sign a confession which has already
been drawn up. He did not appear
and now he has Just "a hours grace
If he does not sign tomorrow. the SUD-
stance of the confession will then De
printed from notes of the conVersa-
tions on which it was based
Cant. Osbon was not at liberty to
give the name of the person who OBS
tanned and drafted the confession. "A
shin owner" he said. "a former en-
nloyer of Loose and man who has
personal influence with him.
"How did this man prevail on Loose
To confess?" was asked.
"He told Loose straight out said
the captain, that Loose was playing
checkers with his own nose.
Cant. Osbon does not deny that Or.
Cook and Loose had business dealings
and that money passed between them.
But he adds:
IT know enough shipmates of the
doctor who went into the Arctic with
him to be sure the doctor needed no
body to fabricate observations for nm.
No doubt he set problems for Loose
bv which to check his own calcula-
TONS
George Dunkle made the following state
ment tonight
yesterday Capt. Loose showed me a
copy of a letter he had received inviting
him to make a clean breast of it. 1 told
him that he ought to remember that he
had already made an affidavit and that
any contradiction of that affidavit over
his signature would make him out a liar
in one instance or the other.
"He told me that he had never made
any verbal confession and therefore, OIL
course, he did not intend to make writ
ten one, although he had been Informed
that there was $4,000 on deposit that would
be turned over to him the minute he put
his signature to a confession"
In the foregoing Dunkle gave the name
of the man whom he said had maze this
offer to Capt. Loose.
Capt. Loose in his statement said:
Il have refused an offer of between
$4,000 and 5000 to repudiate my affidavit
with regard to the observations 1 fur
nished Dr. Cook. The offer was first
made to me verbally on Dec 10. I refused
it On Dec. II I received letter from
the person who made me the offer, asking
me to come to his Office. 1 paid no at
tention to it and on Dec. Is 1 received a
second letter urging that l come forward
with the whole truth and make a clean
breast of it. To this 1 also paid no at
teEtion. I understand, however, that
Capt Osbon has sent copies of these let.
tiers. They are the only basis for his
accusation
Capt. Loose volunteered further details
of his dealings with Dr. Cook which
were not published in his first narrative
'The observations 1 made for DR.
Cook" said Capt. Loose were calculated
on the basis that they were taken at F.!
O'Clock in the morning. I told the doctor
to take these records and figure out from
them what the obse.vationst would be al
3 o'clock in the afternood bf the same
day. In that way I explaine4 it would not
(shesaeeeasary for tissaoee6f Ito submit te
the Copenhagen commission the actua
records that had faxed for him.
Il did this in order that I might as ia,