Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-29

Eskimo Idea of Distances.
He says the Eskimos have an idea OF
| long distances but cannot say whether
they would know if they had reached the
pole or q point nea: it. Their knowledge
IL this respect one cannot assess with
certainty.
Whitney recognizes that Cook is a. a
disadvantage in having no testimony but
that Of Eskimos to prove his story, but
he thinks Peary equally at loss for any
! evidence to prove Cook a fa's fl r. Per
sonally his feeling is one of difhdence in
discuss ng this subject.
Both men, he says. have used him as
well as any white man could be used He
parted from both on the most friendly
terms, and does not critici- e Peary's ac-
ton in refusing transport fer Cook S be-
long:nss.
He prefers to believe both mems stories.
He thinks that Cook reacLed the pole and
Peary reached the pole.
He promised Cook not to tell 1'eary lie
had reached the pole. and he kept his
promise. On the other hand he could
no, honorably take Cooks property
Peary, as he did, and he leaves the pub
lie to form its opinion from all the facts
Of the case.
Puzzled by Peary's Attitude.
II can't understand Poary's attitude
| ~
not telling ,..m all about Cooks instru-
ments. What was there to tell him? l
know nothing about the instruments but
their names. and these I told him. l
couldn't foresee their becoming important
in polar dispute feary's men knew as
much about them as did, and also anout
his furS and ivor:es.
Asked if Peary had been criticised by
his crew for his trading methods with the
nat declined
Pcarys affairs. but others aboard the
jeanne said that Peary's refusal to allow
his followers to trade with the Eskimos
was potent source of friction. On the
other hand. whitney says. the Eskimos
seem well disposed toward Peary. and he
had greatly Improved the economic condi-
ton OF the tribe.
Asked II the F.sk.ucs stole Cooks stores
at Annootok. Whitney replied:
NO. there was very little taken by
them. bit the place becane dismant'ed
by neglect curing Francke's absence.
When Peary's men took charge they built
the house on better site.
"Peary didn't remove Cooks stores to
Etah Very little was taken away.
''Peary seemed to have arranged with
somebody in New York. presumably
Cooks friends, to take possession of his
stores and collections. Inventories were
made of everything"
Murphy's Instructions Vague.
Murphy's letter OF instructions as to send
ing a relief expedition after Cook, Whit
ney replied:
Il do not recall it's wording. The APP
parent idea was that Murphy was to send
out Eskimo parties, but the purpose was
not made full and clear
Asked what Cook told him about his
polar journey, Whitney replied:
His details We're not very tul. He told
Nf t,fe
fell them after. He showed me tracings
of his journey on maps. | saw no rec
ords. and don't know of any. l assumed
he took these to Copenhagen with him."
Asked what Cook meant by Saying that
Whitney might tell all he knew, Whitney
said:
Il do not know. have nothing con-
cealed. state the facts truthfully and
without bias. l am TO partisan. 1 have
as much regard for Peary as for Cook
Il was told by Cook OF his being to the
pole and asked to keep it sectet 1 con-
sented. l was asked by Cook to bring
home his belongings and agreed, as /
expected a ship for myself. When she
didn't come l couldn't take them on
Peary's ship without his consent and this
was refused Peary kindly gave me
passage home on his ship. and I appre-
ciate this fully
Asked If he expected sensational dis
closures from either explorer, he replied:
II don't see what there Is OF sensa-
tional character to disclose. / hope the
outcome will be to prove that both reach
ed the pole. Whatever may be said they
both achieved great results-Cook in prov
Ing that he could subsist in arctic wastes
fourteen months away from his base. and
Peary in his finely organized advance on
the pole. Cook said several times that
he believed that Peary might reach the
pole
Asked respecting the charges that he
left the Roosevelt because whaler gave
peary news of Cooks reaching the pole
Whitney said:
The Dundee whaler Morning was to
have landed mail for all of us at Cape
York. ! left the Roosevelt at North Star
bay, sixty mics north.
II never heard OF the whaler there, and
d:Cint know whether she landed the mail
or not. l haven't got my mail yet. | pre-
sumo the Roosevelt picked up the mail
later and took 1t south. ! left the Roosa-
welt on the best terms with Pearv and