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Year, In Advnc. " ; FOk uOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH. - ' '
VOL. XX, PLYMOUTH, N: C FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1909. .. 'y'
PEARY
g
Fourteen Counts Embodying His Coming State
ment, to Prove That Cook Did Mot j
Reach the North Pole.
Bar Harbor, Special --From Rob
ert E. Peary was obtained this infor
mation, a forecast of the indictment
he and Gen. Thomas Hubbard, presi
dent of the Peary Artie Club, will
draw against the contentions of Dr.
Frederick A. Cook that he has reach
ed the North Pole.
There are 14 counts in the indict
ment and they may be summarized
as follows:,
First That Mr. Peary and Matt
Henson, either individually or to
gether, talked with every member of
the Smith Sound tribe of Eskimos
and obtained testimony, that corro
rates that of E-treck-a-shoo and
A-pel-lah, the boys. who accompanied
Dr. Cook, that Dr. Cook had not been
out of sightof land.- ..' - .a";
Second That in violation of. the
recognitized custom of Artie explora
tion Dr. Cook has not brought back
.records left iii cairns at point's he
asserts he had reached,, notably the
one left at Cape Thomas Hubbard in
190G by Mr. Peary.
Third That Dr. Cook's story that
he traveled from Annotok to the Pole
and then back to Jones' Sound, a
distance of more than 251-2 degrees,,
or about 1,700 miles, in one sledging
season is impossible. -..He points out
that this is more than twice the best
previous record of 11 degrees, and
Mr. Peary's best record this year of
14 degrees.
Fourth That his' general equip
ment was such that it would be a
physical impossibility to have accom
plished the remarkable feat.
Fifth That Dr. Cook maintains he
carried a glass mercurial horizon on
his trip of 1,700 miles, whereas Mr.
Peary used a cast iron horizon, so
that it would not only be saved from
WHITNEY BELIEVES THAT
St. Johns, N. F., Special. Harry
Whitney of New Haven believes that
Dr. Frederick A. Cook found the
Pole and that Commander Peary did
the same. In expressing this belief
Mr. Whitney said that-he knows no
reason for doubting Cook more than
Peary. '
"Dr. Cook's story," he added,
"seems to me truthful and probable.
Nothing else would explain , his
twelve months' absence."
Speaking of Dr. Cook's detailed ac
count of his trip to the Pole, Mr.
Whitney said that the explorer show
ed him how the western drift of the
ice had landed him in a region far
remote from where he expected to
go, and he was unable to get back,
lie could not speak with authority as
to whether Dr. Cook and his two
Eskimos could carry oil their three
sledges enough food for their journey
to the Pole, as he himself is a novice
in Artie traveling. lis declared he
knew nothing of the controversy be
yond the vaguest details. The first
he learned of it was at Indian Har
bor, when he received messages from
several American papers asking for
a statement. .
Mr. Whitney denied that Com
mander Peary had removed 1 Dr.
Cook's stores from Annotok to Etah.
What Peary really did was to trans
fer a few things and rebuild the
house at Annotok. Boatswain Mur
phy's only reason for refusing to
help Captain Bertnier's Canadian ex
pedition to get dogs and sledges at
Etah was that they were short of
dogs themselves. Mr. Whitney had
trouble' in getting enough dogs for
his teams all through the winter and
Murphy was looking out for Peary,
so that he would have sufficient dogs
for the commander's exploring trips
around the country when he returned
from the north.
The day the Roosevelt was leaving
Etah for home Whitney informed
Peary that Cook had entrusted to him
HARRY WHITNEY MAKES
A St. Johns special says Whit
ney makes one startling state
ment. He declares that he under
stands Commander Peary and his men
went among the Eskimos and tried
to have them declare Cook did not
exceed Peary's "farthest north," but
he insists that he understands the
Eskimos did not do so. He also
denies that he quarreled with Peary
on the Roosevelt.
"Dr. Cook did leave me three cases
of scientific instruments," declared
the New Haven sportsman. "They
being broken, but could be ueated
when the mercury froze. Thi9 is
necessary, sometimes, Mr. Peary con
tends, as mercury freezes at minus
35. Dr. Cook reports finding it as
cold as minus 83 degrees.
Sixth That Professor Marvin
brought back from 88 degrees 38
minutes duplicate records of Mr.
Peary's march and of his own to
prove absolutely that Mr. Peary
reached that latitude.
Seventh That Captain Bartlett
brought back from' 87 degrees 43
minutes duplicate records of Mr.
Peary 's march and of his own to
prove absolutely that Mr. Peary
reached that latitude.
Eighth That the sledge of Dr.
Cook 's was of such a type, not built
on the lines of any Artie explorer's
sledge, that it could not possibly have
lasted for a march of a day with a
standard load of 500 or 600 pounds.
Ninth That Dr. Cook's snow shoes
were of a impracticable type for use
in the Artie and were not of the kind
that would conduce to speed.
Tenth That Dr. Cook's leaving of
his records at Etah was a scheme on
Lis part by -which he could claim they
were, lost or destroyed, and so could
escape being forced to produce them.'
Eleventh That no man who had
carried the American flag to the Pole
would leave such a slight and easily
transported article in charge of a
perfect stranger.
Twelfth That Dr. Cook did have
fresh dog teams from Etah and could
have carried his burdens to Uner
navik. Thirteenth That when Harry
Whitney went' on board the Jeanie
he did not take time to go back to
Etah and get the articles that he must
have known were valuable to Dr.
Cook.
FourteentnTJiat if Dr. Cook, did
leave such priceless articles at the
Eskimo village Mr. Whitney would
mave been anxious to have rushed
them to the United' States.
BOTH REACHED THE POLE
certain belongings to bring home on J
the vessel that was coming up for
Whitney, but as this ship had not
arrived Whitney was at a loss what
to do with this property.
Peary declined to permit Dr. Cook's
belongings to be brought aboard the j
Roosevelt, and he put Whitney on his
honor not to include anything be
longing to Dr. Cook in his own lug
gage. . Whitney thereupon went
ashore from the Roosevelt, separated
Dr. Cook 's property from his own
baggage and repacked Cook's proper
ty in boxes. After this had been done
Whitney and Bartlett cached all
Cook's property in a cave in the
rocks. They built up the cave se
curely, with stones and turf and left
it and the property in charge of one
of Dr. Cook's Eskimos.
Jt may be remarked in passing,
Mr. Whitney went on, that ten years
ago Pc-ary did with the explorer
Sverdrup, who was cruising in Smith
sound, what he has done with Cook;
he refused to bring baVk any of
Sverdrup 's letters or records.
In conclusion Mr. Whitney declared
he regretted being dragged into this ,
controversy. He said he had found !
both Dr. Cook and Commander Peary
courteous and considerate and that
he had never met any men whose .
conduct generally was more com
mendable Or whose dealing with him
had been more fair.
Dr. Cook Satisfied With Statement.
New York, Special. Dr. Cook
when shown Mr. Whitney's statement
said that he approved of all that
Mr. Whitney has said.
"Everything in the interview is
substantially correct," said Dr. Cook.
"It confirms all my declarations." j
Concerning the papers left with Mr.
Whitney Dr. Cook said:
"Mr. Whitney was in all probabil
ity unaware of the written records
being left with him. They are not
of much consequence, as I have
dupes. ' '
A STARTLING STATEMENT
were the ones used on his polar trip.
In one of the cases was a sextant, in
another an artificial horizon, while
in the third, I believe, there was a
chronometer. Dr. Cook also left me
several boxes of other personal ef
fects, clothing and specimens. It is,
of couse possible that Cook's records
may be among these, as the doctor
packed them himself, but , he said
nothing to rri of any records.
"I" promised Dr. Cook that I would
take those things south with mo on
my vessel, but when" the ship did not
come I was forced to go on board the
Roosevelt.
PRESIDENT JAFT'S TOUR
Enthusiastic Thousands Greet Sim
On His Western Trip.
During Saturday forenoon at Port
land, Oregon, the President received
from 20,000 school children a tribute
which brought tears to his eyes. The
boys and girls were banked in red,
white nad blue rows in the grandstand
on Multnomah field to form a "living
flag." . .
The President entered the field
through a gate at the crest of a hill
and the view of the children bursting
upon him all at onee called out an ex
pression of wonderment and delight.
His entrance was the signal, for an
outburst of cheering from the 'fresh,
young voices which continued until
Mr. Taft had taken the place arrang
ed for him on a stand directly facing
the "flag." Then he witnessed a
drill by the children which combined
with their cheers inspired him, he de
clared, as had no other sight in all his
travels.
Following the motions of a leader
the children stooped from view, then
sprang to their feet with a cheer which
fairly pierced the ear and waved red,
white and blue banners in a perfect
storm of fluttering colors.
Then at the command of the leader
to spell "Taft" one set of children
with a Iqud shout of "T" held up yel
low banners to form that letter. Then
.came the "A," "F" and the fianl
"T" followed by a crashing cry of
"Taft" Vhieh soomed to echo back
again from the far distant mountains.-
During the exhibition the President
stood with eyes fixed upon the child
ren. He asked that the spelling be
repated and it was then that the
tears came. ' .
The children were a mass of mov
ing colors, which caused Mr. Taft un
consciously to nod his head from side
to side in unison with the rnusjc and
the flowing picture before him. When
the drill ended and the children had
been called to attention, the President
addressed a few words to them.
The Portland tribute was one of
the most enthusiastic he has had. The
ride through the city was made the
occasion of a military display by.the
United States forces stationed at.
Vancouver barracks, the troops being
reviewed by the President at the con
clusion of their escort duty.
On Sunday he preached another
sermon, this time at the eornestone
laying of the First Universalist
church in East Portland. The Presi
dent handled the silver trowel and
worked hard to see that the stone was
properly adjusted. He referred to
his various church experiences and in
concluding said: "No church in this
country, however humble it may be,
that preaches the doctrine of true re
ligion and true morality ,will lack my
earnest support to make it more in
fluential whenevr opportunity offers."
The President's train left at 10:10
p. m. over the Southern Pacific for
Sacramento, Cal.
Mr. Taft attended the morning
services at the First Unitarian church
in Portland and listened to a sermon
by Rev. W. G. Eliot, Jr. Afterwards
he was the guest of honor at a lunch
eon tendered by Senator Bourne. Ir..
the early afternoon he visited St.
Mary's Roman Catholic school and
made a five-minute address to the
school children in which he declared
that loyalty to the Church meant fidel
ity to the country.
The line of march followed by the
presidential party to East Portland
was crowded and there was cheering
all along the way.
After making one of the longest
jumps of his trip and traveling for
twenty-five hours through Oregon and
the northern half of California, Pres
ident Taft arrived at Sacramento,
Cal., Monday night at 7:10 o'clock.
The President was entertained at din
ner, was taken for an automobile ride
through the city and made an address
in the State Capitol grounds.
He selected for the . principal
feature of his speech the conserva
tion of natural resources, in. which he
declared anew that before many of
the Roosevelt policies of conservation
can be carried into effect, confirma
tory and enabling legislation must be
secured and he pledged himself to use
all his power to induce Congress to
pass the laws necessary.
Speaking from the car and at Duns
muir, Cal., President Taft said in
part :
"Everywhere in this country I have
found evidence of prosperity, from
Boston to Portland, and if signs do
not fail we are upon an era of busi
ness enterprise and expansion that
never has been seen in this country
before. Now, with that I would not
have you forget that here are certain
responsibilities. We have. had evils
growing out of prosperity. Men have
seized power by means of accumula
tion of wealth and its usa in methods
that are not legal and-cannot be ap
proved by way of monopoly and oth
erwise. Now we are attempting by
the general law of the United tSates
to suppress that kind of abuse.
W.C.T;ij;CONVfNES
Holds Session in Salisbury,
Closing Sunday' Night.
THE ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS
Number of Declarations Along the
Lines of Reform r Tor Women on
School Boards and No Whiskey Ad
vertisements. 1 .
Salisbury, N. C, Special. The
State, convention of the W. C. T. IT.
which has been in session in the First
Methodist church here since last
Wednesday closed Sunday night, the
principal feature of the closing ses
sion being an- address by F. R. Mc
Nineh, Esq., of Charlotte. His sub
ject was "Retrospect and Prospect"
and he reviewed the work accomplish
ed in the past by temperance and pro
hibition forces in the State and na
tion, closing with a prophecy of the
final knockout of the legal sale of
whiskey, which he thinks will be done
by a supreme court decision.
The convention went on record as
favoring compulsory education, the
placing of women on school boards,
the spread of the gospel of peace
and arbitration through mission work,
a more general celebration of July
4, the abolishing of night work for
children and the cutting down of the
work day hours, and opposed among
other things the carrying through the
mail of whiskey advertisments into
dry territory.
Officers of the union for the next
year are :
Miss Elizabeth Moore, president ;
Mrs. Mary E. Cortland, vice presi
dent ; Mrs. Mary C. Woody, honorary
president; Miss Elizabeth March, cor
responding secretary; Mrs. M. E. W.
White, recording secretary; Mrs. E.
J. Y. Preyer, treasurer; Mrs. B. F.
Street, secretary Y. W. C. T. U.; Mrs.
Annie Armstrong, secretary L. T. L.
WILBUR WRIGHT'S STUNT.
Joins in the Great Celebration and
Makes Spectacular Flight.
New York, Special. An aeroplane
flashed past the white dome of
Grant's tomb Monday, then turning
gracefully in midair over the waters
of the Hudson, shot back to Gover
nor's Island, 10 miles away.
Wilbur Wright of Dayton, O., thus
placed his name in the rank 'with
Hudson and Fulton in one of the most
spectacular feats in the history of
aeronautics.
Over the masts of warships from
whose decks cheers of the sailors were
borne up to him in his elevated seat,
he flew for tAventy miles ten miles
up and ten miles back remaining in
the air for 33 minutes and 33 seconds
and alighting at the aerodrome with
out mishap.
During the flight business was prac
tically at a standstill in all that part
of Manhattan from which a view of
his remarkable performance was
available. Harbor craft shrieked
their applause, cheer after cheer
swept up from the banks of the Hud
son and the lower bay, for the Dayton
aviator had "made good," crowning
the aviator program of the Hudson
Fulton celebration with a recprd.
Odd Play of Lightning.
Salisbury, N. C, Special. Monday
night at iO o'clock during a slight
electrical display a heavy bolt of
lightning played a most remarkable
prank at the home of Mr. Will Lyerly,
near Christiana church, 6 miles from
Salisbury. Striking' the end of the
two-story house at the cone the bolt
literally tore the building to pieces,
throwing some of it a hundred feet
away and scattered and badly dam
aged the coiftents.
Donors Generous to Trinity.
Durham. N. - C, Special. Benefac
tors' day at Trinity colloge was cele
brated by a public holiday and Pres.
Kilgore's address Monday night.. The
donations amounted to fj83jt)84. Of
this amount B. N. Duke has a $50,000
gift for new buildings. The 1909 class
receives $1,000 and the current ex
pense account receives $33,000. There
are seventv-nine individual donors.
Wanted, Tor Forgery.
Salisbury, N. C.,- Special A man
giving name as S. B. Smith, whi is in
jail at Knoxville, Tenn., on a charge
of forgery, is also wanted in this city.
He was hero several days ago pre
tending to be seeking a location for a
manufacturing plant and went so far
as to select a site. lie gave worthless
notes in securing money, buncoing
Manager O. W. Spencer of the Empire
hotel "for $20 and Mr. W. 0. Maupin
endorsed a paper for "Smith" fo
$o0. The Tennesee officers will be
asked to turn the man over to the
Rowan officers when they get through
with him.
EVIDENCE AGAINST LITTLE)
Damaging Testimony of His Wife
Will Convict Him of His Wholesale
Murder.
Bluefield, W. Va., Special The
guilt of Howard Little, who was ar
rested about a week ago charged
with the murder of "Aunty Betsy"
Justice, George A. Meadows and wife
and their three children, seems now to
be established beyond a reasonable
doubt. Little's wife confessed Satur
day to having washed his bloody
clothing after the murder and in her
affidavit she says also that he left
their home about dark on the night of
the murder anct returned the next
morning with his clothes all bloody
and torn and said that he would kill
her if she told anything about . Ms
condition. He borrowed a 32-ealiber
revolver a few days before the crime
was committed and returned it on the
following Wednesday with two cham
bers empty. The body of George
Meadows was exhumed and two bul
lets taken from it by Doctors Richard
son and .White, were almost identical
in weight with the balls taken from
shells belonging to the weapon Little
had borrowed.
Little's wife also turned over he
lantern that he had brought home
with him that night when showed file
marks as if some one had tried to re
move stains. He was seen in the barn
next morning folding papers across
his knee apparently counting money
and he gave $20 to a woman with
whom he had planned to start for the
west a few days after the murder was
committed with which to buy clothing
and prepare for the train. Having
done this she returned $1.80 to Little
at which time she swears he threaten
ed her life if she revealed any part of
their secret. Requisition papers have
been applid for and as soon as they
can be secured Little will be taken to
Lebanon to await his trial. . Threats
of lynching are freely made.! ' .' ''
Fatal Mine Explosion.
Roslyn, Wash., Special. At least
eight men were killed and three per
haps fatally injured in a gas explosion
in cole mine No. 4 of the Northwest
ern Improvement Company here Sun
day. When the explosion occurred,,
column of fire was thrown hundreds
of feet into the air, lighting the shaft
plant and adjoining buildings. Under
the intense heat the 'shaft crumbled
and fell. Cinders were blown in all
directions, several buildings in parts
of the mining town taking fire. The
citizens were unable to extinguish the
fires and the Roslyn fire department
was called out. The mine in the neigh
borhood of the shaft was burning
fiercely Saturday night, flames shoot
ing up from the shaft nearly 100 feet
into the air. The electric pumps
which supply the town of Roslyn with
water were cut off and the water , in
the city was very nearly exhausted
It . was reported that the shaft was
caving in and other explosions might
occur at anv moment.
Nephews in Fatal Duel.
Moultrie, Ga., Special. At the old
homestead of the late Nathan Flow
ers in the lower part of the county,
Bert Williams is dead, Wright Flow
ers is dying and it is believed Wil
liam Flowers is fatally hurt as the re
sult of a terrific - six-handed battle
with rifles and pistols, news of which
reached here Sunday. Sheriff Boyd
and a big posse of deputies is on this
track of John Hart and his two sons
who are charged with the, shooting
8nd who are at large, fully armed.
The trouble occurred over a dispute
about the division of the estate of
Nathan Flowers. He died, leaving no
children and since his death John
Hart, who married a niece, has been
living on the home place "with Mrs.
Flowers. The Flowers boys are neph
ews while Williams married a niecet
Since Nathan Flowers' death ' there
has been a wrangle over the estate, it
is alleged, and trouble has , been
feared.
' Professor Harris Gnilty.
Warrenton, Va., Special. Follow
ing closely the verdict Saturday of
the jury sentencing Prof. J. D. Harris
to four years in the penitentiary for
voluntary manslaughter in connection
with the ki.lii:.' of W. A. Thompson.,
associate editor of The Wancnton
Virginian om April 24 last, the court
denied the motion of the defense for
a new trial.
Second Week of Celebration.
New York, Special. The .Hudson
Fulton celebration, after a week of
pomp and pageantry in New York,
has moved up the Hudson and for
another week the cities lying to the
north will vie with each other in do
ing honor to the memory of Hudson
and Fulton. The Half Moon and the
Clermont with the naval escort, now
at anchor at Poughkeepsie, will con
tinue their voyage northward, stop
ping at Kingston, Oatskill, Hudson.
Albany and Troy, where elaborate
local celebrations have been planned.
SNAPPY 1
Items Gathered ar
You Hold Yourfai.
SOME EVERY DAY HAPPElL
Lively and Crisp as They Are G
nered From the Fields of 'Action
. at Home and Abroad. .
At Jersey City, N. J., black hand
stories had : gotten the children in a
parochial school in nervous condition.
Somo fire works were put off Mon
day near the building in celebration
of some event whereupon 1,000 chil
dren stampeded for the doors and
fourteen were seriously hurt. ..
Rain seriously interfered with the
Hudson-Fulton celebration Monday at
New .York.
The Federal government will aid.
the storm stricken people on the Gulf
coasts with the loan of tents, and
"with provisions and -means of sanita
tion where decomposed . animals
threaten th health of .the survivors.
Minnesota's late Governor, John A".
Johnson, left his entire estate of $25,
000 to his widow, : ; '
President Taft seems to have ac-.
complished the feat of so adjusting
matters in the department that Mr.
Ballinger and Mr. Pinchot will both
remain in the service though still un
friendly. He emphasizes his adher
ence to the Roosevelt policy on the
conservation of resources.
A disturbance occurredlast; Satur
day morning that interfered with all
telegraph lines over the world. The
prenomenon is said to be due to the
same cause as that of the aurora.
Mr. 'and Mrs. Abrahan Gold,' of
Baltimore, celebrated their 65tlr year"
of wedded life last Saturday! j ,
President Taft, on las Mo'ndaJat '.
Helena, ntana.?-'nSlw20O eefc
down a copper" mine therein.' beating
all previous presidential reordi- va '
America. -.. ..
.A Norwegian ship was founded .
near the Winter Quarter lightship out
from New Y'ork Sunday and 12 out
of a crew of 18 were drowned.
; Canada will place no duty on wood
pulp shipped to the United States but
will charge for pulp wood shipped out.
Her principal is, "All timber to be
manufactured 'in Canada." .
Judge Campbell, in the Federal
court at McAlister, Mondatssned a
temporary order restraining ''the' State
officials from interfering with the pip
ing of gas out. of Oklahoma." .
An "explosion occurred Monday jn
Pittsburg, Pa., in the Columbian film
exchange by. which fifty or more per
sons were more or less . seriously in
jured and a loss ;if $200,000 was suf
fered. G. W. Goethals, chirman of the
Isthmian Canal Commission, says the '
work on the canal is progressing sat
sifactorily, '
A lad of seven years is to be tried
for murder at Spartanburg, S. C. -
Five white 'men and ten Negroes
expiated crimes of larceny at Wil
mington, Deleware, last Saturday at
the whipping, post. The fifteen men
received the aggregate of 190 strokes
of the lash. , f c :
Judge W. A. Poe and-Bsmker Rob
ert H. Brown, at Macon, "7GnL, Wed
nesday, were discussing the compara
tive merits of Cook and Peary as to
polar honors, till they engaged in a
fight.' '
At Montgomery, Ala., a . fire prac
tically destroyed 500 bales of cotton
Wedmsday.
Wilbur Wright flew around the
Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island,
Wednesday, as a part of, the program
for the day in the Hudson-Fulton cel
ebration. V Ex-Governor McSweeny, of South
Carolina, died Wednesday at. Mount
Hope Retreat Hospital, Baltimore.
The estimate of Gov. Johnson's
estate crows. At last Reckoning it
was $37,000: ' . . . 1v .. - J .
A boiler at a saw mill near Caney-er
ville, Ky., exploded Tuesdays ikHing"
two and seriously injuring three.
, There were flurries in the wheat
and oats pits in Chicago Thursday
by which wheat ran up $LO0 jlo 12Q'. :,
and oats from 441-2 trfJcgfs. v i
Commander Peary stopd' on- the
Roosevelt with Mrs. Peary by his side
Friday in the Hudson-Fulton parade
and was showered with honors.
Spain is rejoicing over recent vic
tories over the Moors in Africa and
the hope of an early termination of
the war. In an ambush by the enemy s
Friday Gen. Vicoria and three offlcers
and 14 men were killed.