Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1909 — ONE OF PEARY’S MEN LOST LIFE [ARTICLE]

ONE OF PEARY’S MEN LOST LIFE

Scientist ot Explorer's Party Drowned In Far North, COOK STARTS HOMETOMORROW

He Will Be Unable to Send North For His Eskimo Witnesses For Some Time as the Regions Where They Live Cannot Be Penetrated During the Winter Months Thousands Cheer When Honorary Degree Is Conferred Upon Finder of the Pole. New Glasgow. Nova Scotia. Sept 10. —Herbert L. Bridgman was shocked when he learned of the 'death by drowning of Professor Ross G. Marvin, one of the members of the Peary expedition. Bridgman understands that Professor Marvin fell through a lead in tho ice near the 88th parallel while out with a supporting party under his command. Only one other man died on any of the Peary Arctic expeditions. This was John G. Verhoweff, a scientist of Louisville, Ky., a member of the expedition of 1891. Verhoweff explored n glacier alone, a most reckless act, and was lost, no trace of him ever beinjs found. This happened near McCormick’s bay. Professor Marvin’s special work was topography and map making. He probably had no knowledge of Peary’s sue cess as he met his death only four days after the pole was discovered and before Peary could have returned to his supporting party. Probably Saw No New Land. Bridgman states that If Commander Peary had seen new land he is almost certain that he would have mentioned it. Bridgman thinks there were three white men in all at the pole. These were Commander Peary, Donald McMillan of Worcester, Mass., and George Barup of the Sheffield Scientific school. Matthew Henson, Peary’s colored companion, also was at the pole, probably. Bridgman said that the commander's very good time in the far north was strong confirmation of the details of Dr. Cook’s story, as well as of Peary's theory regarding the movement of currents. With regard to the offer of the United States coast and geodetic survey to arbitrate the Cook-Peary controversy, Bridgman said: “I know that Commander Peary will be perfectly satisfied to abide by its verdict. Peary has a commission from the survey to take certain observations and data, and will submit his results to that board. Bridgman Discusses Natives. “Cook’s two witnesses,” continued Bridgman, “are from sixteen to twenty years of age. The only six Eskimos, who declined to go, returned with Cook's letters to his wife, John R. Bradley and Rudolph Francke, dated Cape Thomas Hubbard. Commander Peary, in a series of conversations with the natives, found that the letters were not written where dated. The Eskimos told of the number of sleeps passed since they parted company with Cook, but it may be that the natives did not tell the truth to Commander Peary. It will depend largely on the natives’ testimony whether or not Cook was where he claims to have been.” In further explanation, Bridgman said he supposed Francke showed the Cook letters to Peary, which naturally aroused curiosity to question the natives who brought them south.

Cook Starts Home Tomorrow. Copenhagen. Sept. 10. —Dr. Frederick A. Cook will sail from Christiansland tomorrow on board the Scandina-vian-American liner, Oscar 11., for New York, where the vessel Is due about Sept. 20 or 21. Probably Captain Roald Amundsen will accompany him. Dr. Cook left here today for Christiansland. He has abandoned his proposed visit to Brussels on the advice of friends. Dr. Cook had asked the officials of the Danish Greenland administration to arrange for the dispatch of one of their boats to Greenland at his expense to get the two Eskimos who accompanied him to the pole. The officials stated ,that it is now too late In the season for such an attempt, and advised him that he must wait for spring, which he will do. He proposed to Gould Brokaw, who Is here with his yacht Fedora, that they make a start for Greenland immediately, but Brokaw would not agree to this. The Copenhagen papers are full of the Cook-Peary controversy. Almost all of them support Dr. Coolers claims. Captain Amundsen Is one of &ie strongest supporters of the Brooklynite, who now is backed by Dr. Edward Bay, the zoologist of the expedition under Captain Sverdrup In the Fram In 1898-1902. On that expedition Captain Sverdrup made highly Important scientific Investigations, and It was over the route mapped by Sverdrup that Cook made his Journey northward. Made a Doctor of Bcience. Dr. Bay had a long Interview with Dr. Cook at the conclusion of "which he said that while at first be had doubt ed Cook’s story, he was now certain of its truth so far as the route claimed to be taken was concerned. Dr. Cook, be said, gave him accurate descrlDtlons