The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-17
Dwells Particularly on OBJ
servations Taken at Apex
of the World.
MAKES ANOTHER
ATTACK ON COOK
SAYS He is WILLING TO LET HIS
STATEMENT STAND THAT COOK
HAD HANDED THE WORLD A
"GOLD BRICk"-SAYS HE CAN
SUBMIT AN ARRAY OF TEST.
MONY THAT WILL DISPRoVE
COOKS CLAIMS.


Battle Harbor, Labrador, (vfa Mar
conf wireless telegraphy to Cape Ray,
n. ~ Sept 16.-Commander Robert
E. Peary consented today to talk fur
Their concerning his dash to the north
pole. He dWelt particularly upon the
observations taken at the apex OF the
world, and the movements of Harry
Whitney, sportsman, Of New Haven,
Conn, who has described the bearer
OF records substantiating Dr. Fred
erick A. Cooks claim to have reached
the north pole April 21, 1908.
We took five observations prior to
reaching the pole" Commander
Peary said. Two OF them were
made and worked out by the late
Prof. Ross Marvin, who prepared
July signed the duplicate certificates
To guard against accident l took one
set of these papers and Prof. Marvin
took the other.
When a distance Of 12s miles from
the pole the third observation was
made by Captain Bartlett, who also
signed the records and certificates in
duplicate, he retaining one set and
the other. The fourth and fifth OBJ
seTvations were made by myself, the
last being taken ave miles to the
pole proper"
WAS there more than one obser-
walton taken at the pole and by
whom?" the explorer was asked.
ALL TAKEN RY PEARY.
There were several observations"
he replied. '.and took them all my
self. They agreed. You must under
stand that the pole is a theoretical
point, without length, breadth or
thickness. It's actual location de-
ponds upon the accuracy Of the in
struments employed and the condI-
lions under which the observations
are taken"
You have stated, Commander
Peary, that copy Of records and
polar observation was wrapped in a
piece of silk American flag and de-
posted in an ice cavity at the pole.
Did any person witness this act?"
To this question Commander Peary
declined to make any answer at
present.
Continuing, Peary said that DIR.
Cook was expected by the world 10
submit TO an impartial tribunal or
board Of arbitration, revised and
authentic signed statement Of his al
legged discovery Of the pole. DR..
Cook soon would reach the United
States, Commander Peary said, and
he was glad at the prospect Of the
matter being submitted for consider |
alton at an early date. It should be
done inside of a couple of weeks and
when it was done, the commander
declared. he was prepared to turn |
over to the board OF arbitration, 10 !
the public and to scientific bodies an
array of testimony which would dis |
prove Dr. Cooks claims for all time. /
STANDS BY STATEMENT.
Continuing, the explorer said that |
he had stated in a private message to !
q friend that DR.. Cook had given the |
world a gold brick" This message |
had been allowed to leak out and /
while he would have preferred a more !
elegant expression, he was willing /
now to let these words stand because /
they were at least emphatic The ex-
plOrer said also that he would turn |
over to a competent tribunal and the /
public certain copies of his own OBJ /
made on his trip to the
pole, with all other information bear /
ing thereon.
Peary does not care to exhibit |
these records at the present time, for 4
the reason that the information con- !
tanned therein, if divulged in advance /
OF the placing on file of DR.. Cooks 1
and definite statement /
might be Of advantage to the Cook /.
partisans.
1t is rumored here that Commander /
Peary's brief will contain personal /
and that a portion of his
document was prepared as long ago /
as the early months of 1908, when /
letters were received from DR.. Cook /
in Greenland, giving notice that he /
intended to make q dash for the pole /
Askd how Harry Whitney happened /
to remain in the north, Commando
Peary said Whitney was one Of a par
ty Of sportsmen who went as pas
sengers on board the steamer Erik
The party included Whitney, w. Nor
ton, Of New York, and G. J. Crafts,
Of Washington, who came for the
purpose of taking magnetic ObserVa-
tons for DR.. Bauer of the Carnegie
Institute at Washington. At Etah,
where it was determined to land 4
party and supplies - the relief OF
DIR. Cook, particularly in view of the
fact that Rudolph Francke was being
invalided home, Whitney asked if ne
might remain on the station to hunt
walrus and polar bears in the spring
and make a trip to Ellesmereland
with Eskimos after musk oxen. This
was decided on. In order to provide