Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-09
MORE LIGHT ON COOKS FRAUD
story of Two EskimOs aa Related to
Northumberland Ice Was
in Fine shape.

CHICAGO, Nov. S.-Dr. Frederick A.
Cook was further discredited in a special
cable dispatch TO the Chicago Daily News
today from its correspondent in Copen-
hagen, Denmark. The story was the first
publication Of the report Of Knud Ras-
mussen. the Danish explorer, as sent by
him to his wife in Copenhagen and now
given out by her.
Contained in the story is what purports
to be the statements Of Cooks two Eskimo
companions in the polar quest, Itukusuk
and Apilsks, in which they confirm Com
mander Robert Z. Pearys charge that
Cook Travelled in a circle and never even
approached the pole.
Rasmussen in the story is quoted as
saying he himself did not interview the
men, but that their statements were taken
by Rev. Gustav Olsen and Kateket Sech-
mann Rosebach, missionaries.
The dispatch to the Daily News says:
Already in 1903, when / was on an expe-
dition to Greenland" writes Rasmussen,
| there existed grave doubts as whether DR..
Cook really had reached tho pole. so 1
determined to find out from his two Eskimo
companions. 4 secured their statements
| through the missionaries.
I'VE travelled from Annatook with eight
sledges in company with DR.. Cook at the
first sunshine February. From there 20
Ellesmsre land we slept only once on the
Ice. 1t took four days to cross Enesmere
land. Eighteen days out our companions
left US We then had gone only about
twelve English miles from LAND.
No Reason for stopping.
''The ice was fine and there was no
reason TO stop, for any one who wanted to
60 on could do so. Then DR.. Cook took
] Ohgarzva uyff lna ~. HI
in his hand, and We then changed our
course westward.
I'VE left here q lot of food for men and
dogs and one OF US Qtukusul1) went ahead
toexamine the ice. We reported II in good
/ shape, which II was, but DR.. Cook looked
at it and said It was bad.
ION the way back we stopped at open
water near the land. We stopped one day
and went over to Ringnss island before
the snow had melted. (ApriD. At this
time the sun was just below the horizon
at night. 1t was tha-mOpth when it does
not get dark, CAdarch).
"one day, ]. (Apilal) came upon DR..
Cook sitting down and drawing a map.
looked at 1t and asked him:
" What route are you drawingT
q" Ny own replied DR.. Cook.
" But that was a lie. because no drew
the map way out at sea where we never
had BEEN
I'VE continued to shoot bears on the ice
till we had enough for the dogs, The small
rivers had only begun to break when we
reached He'll Gate,
Here, as Dr. Cook directed us, we left
our dogs behind US, although they were
( fat from the meat OF bears. We crossed
the great sound and had to push our boat
along the ice.
'Dr. Cook saidt
" We will reach human beings (Baffins-
lRnd) within two days
I'VE had slept twice when he looked
ahead and said he saw q tent, but it was
only a stone. We kept hunting for human
beings for @ long time Then we came to
an island on which Elder birds were nest
| ing. We followed the land past Cape
Sparbo and when our provisions were
nearly gone we returned toward Cape Sed-
don, where we arranged for wintering
Build House for Winter.
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-ox and bear for the winter. It was
a fine autumn and we had made provision
for the winter. During the dark time we
we're inside most of the time making
clothes and DIR. Cook wrote all the time
| AT urst sight or the sun we started home
I'VE pushed the sledEe ahead of us and
much target practice at seals until we
had only four cartridges left Not before
we were near ApnatOOk did We leave the
sledge.
'Dr. Cook during the journey promised
us a good reward. but he proved himself
q liar and swindled US out OF the payment
We did not set the guns he promised US
These he sold for fox skins. He gave US
only knife and some matches and a use
! less boat.
This all we, Itukusuk and ApilalS, have
to tell OF our journey with the great DIT.
! Cook"
To this Rasmussen adds:
Il regard the report as absolutely au-
thentlc. According to what is known, DR..
Cook said nothing of the pole while with
his two companions"
Rasmussen also sent his wife a similar
report on Pearys trip. says the dispatch.
purporting to give the tales Of IFEanguralS
and UkuRrk, Peary's companions. This
part Of the dispatch says Peary prepared
for the march by sending head men and