Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-26
ESKIMO STORY
FALSE, SAYS
DR.. COOK
DECLARES RASMUSSEN
Is ONLY A MUCKRAKER
Brooklyn Explorer Answers the
Statement Imputed to Two
Companions and Made Public
by Dane in November.

by Dane in November,
IBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wirel
New York, Dec. 26.-By implica-
tion accusing Knud Rasmussen, the
Danish explorer. of "stooping to the
depths of literary muckraker TO get
public attention" DR.. Frederick A.,
Cook, the Brooklyn explorer gave
out q reply tonight to Rasmussens
recent attack on Cook, which was
published on November last.
Incidental TO his defense of his
own narrative of Arctic exploration,
DR.. Cook says that by Rasmussen's
methods OF investigating Robert ~.
Peary could with equal ease be dis
credited, but declares that he viii
take Mr.. Peary's word In preference
to either that of Rasmussen or the
Eskimos in the matter of his own ac-
complishments."
Rasmussens attnck on Cook was
sent by him to his wife in Copenhagen
and by her made public. 1t contain
ed what purported to be statements
from Cooks two Eskimo companions
in his north polar quest, ItukusulS and
Apilak. Rasmussen said he did not
personally talk with the Eskimos but
their statements were taken by TWO
missionaries who We're working in the
country from which Dr. Cook said he
started for the pole.
These stories were in brief:
The Eskimos left Annatok with
Cook with eight sledges in February,
slept once on the Ice on the way To
Ellsmereland and took four days TO
cross that land. Eighteen days out
all but the two Eskimo boys left. The
nineteenth day they changed their
course westward. Later Apilak came
upon Cook drawing a map. He ask
ed him whose route he was drawing.
MY own" said the explorer, but
that" the statement makes the boy
| say, was a lie because he drew the
map long way out at sea where
we had neVer been"
The Eskimos statement continued
| that the party eventually reached
Cape Seddon and wintered there; that
Cook spent most of the time writing
and at first sight Of the sun they start
| ed home; that the explorer promis-
ed them a good reward, but I'VE did
not get the guns he promised us. lie
gave us only a knife, some matches
and a useless boat"
Commenting on this report, Ras-
mussen said:
'I regard the report as absolutely
authentic"
In his statement given ont tonight,
Cook answers categorically the state
ments imputed to the Eskimo boys,
denying each in turn and giving rea-
sons why he thinks they should be
considered false; declares that Ras-
mussen has reason to dislike him; says
no effort was made to get at the
truth in the alleged examination OF
the two boys but that on the contrary,
they were piled with leading ques-
tions designed to evolve the answers
desired and points out what he terms
| the well known tendency of all In
dians to give answers which they be-
| lieve will please their questioners.
Cook says Rasmussens reputation
as an Arctic sledge traveller rests up
on Journey from Tassuasak to Cape
York.
This trip" he says. (which Is
truly wonderful, was but step In
my return voyage, occupying only
three and one half days, and 1t Is eov-
cred by one sentence ending my mar
rative."
Rasmussen's reason to be hostile tc
| him Cook finds in a snub which he
was compelled to administer to the
Dane in 1907. when the yacht Brad
| ley arrived in North Star bay. Ras-
mussen came aboard. he says, dress
ed in old, greasy furs and exuding a
strong stencil of train oil. lie and the
Dane became "chummy" at once and
he said to Mr.. Bradley;
I'VE must invite Rasmussen to dim
ner."
Bradley, he says. replied:
mo, for Gods take no. l Will get
seasick from that odor."
The result was, Cook says, that he
asked the captain to take the Dane
to his mess and Rasmussen has good
reason TO take this treatment as q
snub.
I'm 1909" says the statement, "Ras-
mussen saw relatives and friends of
the Eskimo boys who had been with
me and from them gathered informa-
tion which convinced him that ! had
been to the pole. He has no other
information now, but for reasons best
known to himself he comes TO an ops
posite opinion.
Now. let us examine Rasmussen 8
latest charges. lie starts out by say
| ing. Already IN 1909 there existed
grave doubts as to whether DR.. Cook
really had reached the pole IL this
Is a true statement then Rasmussen
convicts himself of q false opinion AT
the very start. For without a word
of instruction from me he came out
| in vigorous and vOlumniOus reports
in my defense. Why did he jump in
to the Cook band-wagon and shout
| IL he had doubts?
I'm the story which II Is alleged
came through two missionaries Ras-
mussen puts the following phrases
into the mouths Of my Eskimo boys;
We travelled from Annotok with eight
slcees I'm company with DR.. Cook.
| (There were eleven sleers-arlse
statement No. -. From there 20
Ellsmerelan. We slept only once We
slept several nights before we reached
Flagler bay. (False statement NO.
%.
Eighteen days out our compan-
ions left us The last companions
left us thirty-two days out. (False
statement No. 80.
n The 18th dav We changed our