Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-21
WAS PRlTcHARD DREAMING?

Sydney, n. s., Sept. 20.-AccCrdnG
to the statement made last Saturday
at Battle Harbor by William Pritch-
ard, cabin-boy and assistant cook on
the Roosevelt, two persons knew as
long ago as last April that DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook claimed he had reached
the pole April q of 1905 These per-
sons are Harry Whitney, a wealthy
sportsman OF New Haven, who is at
present on the Greenland coast on
board the steamer Jeanne and Pritch-
ard himself. They saw Cook at An
not'ok, Greenland, after his return
from the north.
The only reference to DR.. Cook
which Whitney is known to have made
during his rrief sojourn on board the
Roosevelt, was casual remark to q
member Of the Peary party that he
believed that DR.. Cook had reached
the pole Pritchard kept the news
even more faithfully and his state
ment of Saturday was the first in
tn,aton that he had any information
on this subject. Pritchard explained
saturday that he kept the news t.
himself because he did not wish t.
Re dragged into the trouble. He was
asked how he knew, before he came
south on the Roosevelt, that there was
going to he a controversy, whereupon
he declared that DR.. Cook had eau
toned him not to speak to anyone
until he reached civilization. Pritch-
ards reticerce with this important
news in his possession was complete
surprise to everybody on board tn,
Roosevelt.
In the beginning P,itchard told tn,
correspondent that Cook had talked
freely TO him at Anrctok with regart
to his dash over the ice indicating
TO him on a map the route he haC
followed. Later Pritchardl modified
this by explaining that Cooks stor.
was related to Whitney and that he
Pritchard, was present in the room
Pritchard said DR.. Cook had only two
F,squimaux with him at the poie Tho
language barrier made it impossible
for pritchard to talk with these Els
quimauX.
John Murphy. the boatswain of the
Roosevelt, who was ashore will
Pritchard when Dr. Cook appeared at
their station, was greatly astonisheG
when informed of Pritchard's knowl-
edge. Murphy declared that Cook
| talked with him on several occasions
| while they were together about his
| trip on the ice but said nothing aDou'
having reached the pole. Cook merely
| told Murphy that he had passed the
| S1th degree, which was Peary's farth-
est north in 1906 and that the ice was
| rough IN to Sd.
| According to Murphy Cook arrived
at Annotok with one scdge ard tw,
| EsnumauX but no dogs. The Sledge
| was left out on the ice for a day anf
| lhen brought in. Murphy was curious
| to know more about Cooks expert
ences on the ice and later. when ir
company with Whitney in the musk
Ok country opposite Etah. he inquired
if Or. Cook had reached the pole. The
bOatswaip says Whitney told him he
did not know.
Asked how it was possible fol
Pritchard and Whitney to have heart
Cooks story without his also hearing
it, in so much as all four men occu
pied the same house at Annotok dur
| ing Cooks stay, Murphy replied tha
a question to PritcharG had brough
him the answer that DR.. Cooks stOr,
Of his dash to the pole was recited {,
| Whitney and the cabin boy on a da,
when he. Murphy, was absent a
| Etah.
This statement was referred t,
Pritchard, who identified the date H.
heard the Cook statement as the ia,
Murphy was absent at Etah.