Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-28
Dining T ables.

unassailable, because I have the backing
of my own conscience. I do not care
who doubts any proof ] offer. who turns
have the conviction that I did go to the
north pole. All these records were sent
back to Mrs. Peary."
Perhaps the most significant; points in
the whole indictment are that Peary has
testimony from the Eskimos in the Smith
Sound region that Cook in one of his
sledging seasons covered more than twice
what any other explorer has ever Known
to have travelled, and the intimation that
Cook may claim he had left records at
Etah SO that in the event of challenge he
could claim they were destroyed and not
be made to submit them.
Records Not Brought Back By Cook.
Peary lays great stress on the fact
that Cook did not bring back from Thomas
Hubbard the records left in cabin there
in 1906. He points out that Cook arrived
at that point going out with a large num-
Der OF Eskimos. and could have made
search. He believes he should have made
a search on his return trip.
He says that to his knowledge no ex-
plorer has brought back the records.
Peary gees into detail to uphold his con-
tention that Cooks equipment was not
such as an experienced explorer would
take Win MIN Oh lung uasi " lie
pole.
Peary came from his home on Eagle
Island early in the morning with Mrs.
Peary. Almost as soon as the train was
out Of Portland Peary was asked:
did you see any Of DR.. Cooks equip
ment at Eah?"
II did"
Did you see his snowshoes or his
sledge?"
Il did Cooks sledge was lying on the
rocks high above the beach and in po-
sition where any one could see IT,"
Gould you describe It? Was it like
your Morris X. Jesup sledSe?"
'It was modelled on lines unlike those
of any other sledge have ever seen used
in arctic work.
Was it such Sledge as you would
likely use?"
1T was not. 1 would not trust myself
with it for any length of journey; 1t
would not have Travelled one day on the
ice with a standard load.
do you think Cook could have gone to
the pole with it,"
Absolutely no. Never at any time
while was in the north did 1 think there
was possibility of Cook having reached
the pole. nor did 1 think so later
Have you any special means of OBJ
tanning information regarding Cook or
any other explorer aside from what would
come through whalers?"
"Well. Henson or myself could have
dependently of what came from whal-
ers.''
.'Why did you not ask Whitney what
he knew of DIR. Cooks trip to the pole?
Why did you not seek his proof or this
proofT'
Because l didn't need any"
What is your strongest line of PROOF
that DR.. Cook was not at the po'e?'
Peary's Strongest Proof.
of he fI,o
strongest that has been advanced in arc
tic exploration ever since the first great
expedition. was sent there, that it is the
recognized custom of an explorer when
reaching a point attained by an explorer
in the cairn there, put it in place Of the
original and bring the original back with
him. DR.. Cook did not do this at Cape
Thomas Hubbard I left record in 1905
DIR. Cook declares after he left An
nootok he went to Cape Thomas Hub
he had men enough to make
a thorough search, he did not do so.
He passed the place twice in his trip
to the pole, and he outlined It, but at
looked for the cairn. My record is still
there. If he can show that record l
will accept it as part of the proof he
was at Cape Thomas Hubbard.
You have read what Df. COOK equip
ment was and you know what mine was.
Remember that he had to travel PA miles
more than l did. He claims to have gone
from Annootok, about 70 degrees 70 min
utes north latitude, to the pole. 30 degrees.
a distance Of 1111 degrees, then from the
pole to Jones sound, IS degrees. dis
lance of IA degrees. in one single sledging
season.
That is 25h degrees. or more than LOO
miles, in a single sledging season. that is,
from the beginning of the season of day
light in February to the breaking up. of
the ice Previous to Dr.. Cook no other
explorer has ever been able to cover more
than IL degrees of latitude In single
sledging season. even with perfect equip
ment sturdy men and a full complement
Of the best dogs.
Peary was asked what was his best rec
ord for a single sledging season.
Considerably less than fourteen" he
replied.
Finds Fault With Snow Shoes.
Peary then pointed out what he consid
cred a great defect in the Cook equipment
the snow shoes.
THE Cook snow shoes were not the best
for practical purposes. such as mine were
They were short and round and wide. and
were not the best for arctic purposes
Those used in my expedition were long,
they were turned up at the toes. SO that
they would not catch the snow, and they
had long tail at the rear that aided