Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-29
Explorer Calls His Former Friend
Rasmussen a Literary
Muckraker.
DEFENDS His OWN CLAIMS
Will Take Peary's Word in Pref
erence to That of the Eski-
mos Who Agree with
Everybody.

New York, Dec. 25--By implication nc
cusinr Knud Rasmussen, the Danish ex-
ploror. Of "stoopine to the depths Of n
literary mSckraker to get public atten-
ton. Dr. Frederick A. Cook. Brooklyn
exploroT. Tonight gave out q reply to
Rasmussen's recent attack on him (Cook)
which was published on November o. last.
Incidentally 10 his defense of lis own
narrative Of Arctic exploration. Dr. Cook
says that by Rasmusscn's methods Of
investigating. Robort T.. Peary could with
equal ease he discreditcd. but declares
that he will take MIR. pesry's word in
preference to either that Cr Rasmussen
or tho Fskimos in the matter Of his own
accomplishments.
Rasmussen g attack on Cook contained
what purported TO he statements from
Cooks two Eskimo companions In hi
north polar quest, ftukusuk and Arilak.
Rasmussen said he did not personally
talk with the Eskimos, hut their stale
ments were taken by two missionaries
who were working in tho country from
which COOK said he started for the Pole.
TOR OF THE EsKIMOS.
These stories wore. in brief: The Eski-
mos left Anuoatok with Cook with eight
| sledges In February. slept once ON tle
Ice on the way TO Ellesmere land and
took four days to cross that land
| Eighteen days ont all hut the two tski-
mo boys lcft The 18th day they changed
their course westward. Later Apilak
came on Dr. COOK drawing a map. lie
asked 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 man a long
way out vt sea. where ne had never
been
The Eskimo statement continued that
the party eventually reached Cape Sed-
don and wintered there; that DR.. cook
spent most II the time writing and at
first sight of the sun they started home:
that the explorer promised them a good
reward bat we did not get the guns
he promised US. lie gave rs only II knife,
some matches and a useless boat
In his statement given out tonight Dr.
Cook answers cateEoricallY the statements
imputed to the Eskimo boys. denying
each in turn and giving reasons why he
thinks they should be considered false;
declares hat Rasmussen has reason to
dislike him Cook, 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
questions. designed to evolve the answers
desired, and he points out what he terms
the well known trait of all Indians to
give answers which they believe VIII
please their questioners.
DERIDES RASMUSSEN'S RECORD.
DR.. Cook says Rasmussen's reputation
as an Arctic sledee traveler rests upon
a journey from Tassuasak TO Cape York.
This trip he says, "which Us truly "a
wonderful one, wa but a step i'm my re-
turn voyage, occupying only tlree and
one half days. and il is covered by one
sentence ending my narrative
Rasmussen's reasons to 3, hostile 10
him. the Brooklyn explorer fnds in a
snub which he was compelled to admins
ter to the Dane In 1901. when the yacht
Bradley arrived in North Star bay. Ras-
musscn came aboard, he s.vs. dressed
In old greasy furs and exuding a strong
stencil OF train oil. He and the Dane
became 'chummy" at once and he said
to Mr.. Bradley "Wc must invite Ras-
mussen to dinner" Bradlry, he says, re-
piled mo, for Gods sake. no. I will
get seasick from that odor."
The result was. DR.. COOK says, that he
asked the captain 10 take the Dane 70
his mess and Rasmussen has good rea-
son to take this treatment a. q snuh
"In 1909" says the statement, "Ras-
mussen saw relatives and friends If the
Eskimo boys who had been with me and
from them gathered Information 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 opposite opinion.
JUMPED INTO BAND WAGON.
Now let us examine RasmuSscn's
latest chsrges. lie starts out by saying,
Already in 1909 there existed grave
doubts as to whether Dr. COOK really
had reached the Pole IF this is a true
statement then Rasmussen convict
himself OF a false position at the very
start. For without a word of instruction
from me he came out in vigorous and
voluminous reports in my defense. WIS
did he jump into the Cook band WAGON
and shout If he had doubts?
'In the story which it is alleged came
through two missionaries, Rasmussen
lhN' ~ ''A' 80 iHll h"'F Ahlb Iha
mouths Of my Eskimo boys. we Travelled
from Annoatok with eight sled9es. In
company with Or, cook there were
eleven sledses-false statement NO. J..
From there to Ellesmere land we .lep,
only once We slept several NIGHTS he.
fore we reached F1aElcr bay. NIalsc
statement No, .. Eighteen days out on,
companions left US The last companie.
: left us &c days out. False ststcmeu,
? No. 81.
" The 18th day We changed our COURSE
westward To have done 80 would hav,
: necessitated crossing the impossihl,
mountains of rock md ice Of Holberu
island. CFalse statement No. A..
COULD HAVE PROVED FAI.slTy
1--WE stopped at open water near land
t II So the returning t,skimos would hav,
frp"rtea ii. The nearest water to Ian,
y was at the big lead 100 miles off, wher
ana was but a blue haze ON the horri
=. Hon.' False statement No. 81.
All these false statements, says the doe
= Tor would have been found false by nh,
ting a few questions 10 the elder men a
me supporting party. but it was no
I hohe, although there were n half doze
, men who could have affirmed or denie
l me boys story. Even Mr.. Peary's state
l ments. says pr. Cook. contradict thes
\ assertions.
The Eskimos believe in a flat eartl
continues DR., Cook. and they oannc
} understand Il map of the midpolar hai
where all meridian rs meet, Thoy are a,..