Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22
Peary Committee of Geograph-
ic Society Defended.
MEMBERS NOT PERTURBED
Denial of Some Statements Made by
Representative Roberts.
MIR. GANNETT'S CORRECTION
Minority Report of House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs on Peary
Records Discussed.

Officials Of the National Geographic So
ciety are not the least bit perturbed over
the minority report of the House COM
mittee on naval affairs on the Peary
records, which was presented by Repre-
sentative Roberts of Massachusetts yes
terday. The report arraigns the special
committee of the society, consisting Of
Henry Gannett and o. III. Tittmann and
Admiral Chester, on the ground that the
committee had announced its findings
after only cursory examination Of
Capt. Peary's north pole records. The
members Of the society committee say
they do not care to be drawn into q
discussion Of details. Mr.. Gannett comes
forward with the statement that he did
not give the testimony ascribed to him
as to dogs and other equipment which
Commander Peary took on his final dash
to the pole, as Is credited to him in the
record quoted by Representative Roberts.
Il never had chance to see the re-
port made by the stenographer." said
Mr.. Gannett, land I want to say right
here that did not make the statement
credited to me-
House Committees Admission.
The fact that the committee says that
Peary was within 1.6 miles of the pole
Is passed over by the members Of the
committee, as that small distance is not
to be considered when one takes up the
final decision in regard to such ques-
ton as to whether or not the identical
spot was reached.
"The best that could be done has been
done in this instance was the COM
ment made by Mr.. Tittmann last evening
when he was asked for a statement as
to whether he was sure that Peary
had actually reached the pole.
Commenting on the men and equip
ment which Peary took in his final dash.
Mr.. Tfttmann said he had read what Mr..
Gannett Is reported to have said before
the committee. as well as what Peary Is
quoted as saying.
II saw Pearys records when he pre-
sented them for our examination, and
after full and complete hearing I am
convinced that he reached the pole. l
don't go into a discussion of details l
satisfy myself and then announce my
decision in the matter. I followed this
course in the Peary case"
Statement Quoted.
Neither Messrs. Gannett nor Tittmann
would discuss the statement Of Repre-
sentatives Roberts that ''after his ex-
animation of Capt. Peary's proofs Mr..
Gannett did not know how many days 1t
took Bartlett to reach the pole and re-
turn to the Roosevelt, that Information
being supplied by Mr.. Grosvenor."
Mr.. Roberts added: "It will also be OBJ
served that Mr.. Gannett, as d result of
his careful examination of Capt. Peary's
proofs and records, gives Capt. Peary. In
his final dash to the pole, equipment con-
sisting of two sledges, th1rty-tWo TO
thirty-six dogs. two Eskimos and Hen
son. From Capt Peary's own testimony
It appears that he had on that final dash
forty dogs, five sledges and total Of six
men In his party. This discrepancy on SO
that the examination Of the Geographic
Societys committee was anything out
careful"
This report was read over to Mr. Can
nett last evening, and he commented gen
orally on the report. saying:
"Mr. Roberts has reached the same re-
suit that the Geographic Society reacheo
The only difference is that he took year
to reach that result. while the committee
required only a few hours"
Representative Roberts reflects on the
fact that the report was not carefully
made up" Mr.. Gannett was reminded,
but his reply was. with decision:
II don't care"
Peary's Success Not Questioned.
Several members Of the Geographic So
ciety were seen during the evening. and
each was of the opinion that the matter
OF Peary getting to the pole was q settled
fact and that Representative Roberts. by
certain statements in his minority report,
could in no way shake the confidence OF
the public In general in the thorough re-
liability Of the report as returned by Ad-
miral Chester. who Is now in Europe. and
Messrs. Gannett and Tittmann.
The fact was pointed out that all are
recognized as leading scientists in many
parts of the world and have been spe-
cially honored upon many occasions IN
Europe by scientific circles.
1t was also claimed that one could not
fairly place Representative Roberts against
such men with such question under dis
cussion and allow the legislator to throw
a cloud over the glory of Peary's achieve
ment by pointing out small flaws in de-
world