The San Francisco call., 1910-11-09
ESkIMOS SAY
COOK WASN'T
NEAR1HEPOLE
Native Companions in Polar
Quest Declare Explorer
Travelled in Circle
Arctic Voyager Accused of
Making False Map of Trip
He Didn't Take

CHICAGO, Nov. s.-Dr. Frederick A.
Cook was further discredited in spe-
cial cable dispatch to the Chicago
Daily News today from its correspond
ent in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The story was the first publication Of
Knud Rasmussen, the Danish explorer,
as sent by him to his wife in Copen-
hagen and given out by her.
Contained in the story is what pur-
ports to be the statements of Cook 8
two Eskimo companions in the polar
quest, Itukusuk and Apilak. in which
they confirm Commander Robert E.
Peary's charge that Cook Travelled in a
circle and never even approached the
pole.
himself did not interview the men, but
that their statements were taken by
Rev. Gustaye Olson and Kateket Sech-
mann Rosetach. missionaries.
DOUBTS EXPRESSED
Already in 1909. when I was on an
expedition to Greenland" writes Ras-
mussen, there existed grave doubts as
to whether Doctor Cook really had
reached the pole, so 1 determined to
find out from his two Eskimo compan-
ions. I secured their statements
through the missionaries.
This is the story of the Eskimos as
given in the dispatch:
I'VE travelled from Annatook with
Cook at the first sunshine february.
From there to El1esmere we slept only
once on the ice. 1t took four days to
cross Ellesmere land. Eighteen days
out our companions left US. We then
had gone only about II English miles
from land.
The ice was fine and there was no
reason to stop. for any one who
wanted to go on could do so. The
nineteenth day Doctor Cook took OBJ
servations with an instrument he held
in his hand and we then changed our
course westward.
COOK FEARED ICE
1--WE left here lot of food for men
and dogs and one of us 1tukusuk)
went ahead ITO examine the ice. We
reported it in good shape, which it
was, but Dr. Cook looked at 1t and
said it was bad.
"On the way back we stopped at
open water near the land. We stopped
one day and went over to Ringnas
island before the snow had melted
(ApriD.
'one day / (Apilak) came upon DR..
Cook sitting down and drawing map.
I looked at it and asked him:
Whose route are you drawing
My own. replied DR.. Cook.
But that was a lie, because he drew
the map long way out at sea, where
we had never been.
1--WE continued to shoot bears on the
ice, until we had enough for the dogs.
We do not know how many nights we
slept on this part of the journey The
1u he
when we reached Hells gate.
Here, as Dr. Cook directed, we left
our dogs behind US although they were
fat from the meat on bears. We
crossed the great sound and had to
push our boat along the ice.
DIR. Cook said:
1--WE will reach human beings (Baf-
fins land) within two days
PREPARE FOR WINTER
I'VE had slept twice when he looked
ahead and said he saw a tent. but 1t
was only stone. We kept hunting for
human beings long time. Then we
came to an island on which elder birds
were resting We followed the land
past Cape Sparbo, and when our pro-
visions were nearly gone we returned
toward Cape Seldom, where we ar
ranged for wintering.
1T was yet twilight the whole night
and we built a house of peat and
stone. just as we do at home. We
caught walrus, musk OK and bear for
the winter 1t was a fine autumn and
we had made provisions for the win
ter During the dark time we were
inside most of the time making clothes.