Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-22
Dr.. Cook Discredited.

own choosing that the data ne nat
submitted was not sufficient to prove
that he visited point 80 degree:
North of the equator. 1t is difficult t.
imagine a more sweeping destruction
of the structure Cook had reared.
| When DR.. Cook announced that ne
had discovered the North Pole, there
is every reason to believe that he
thought that he would bask in the sun
light of fame and fortune for many
weeks. if not months, before any one
would attempt to discredit his colossal
fake. Certainly he did not foresee
that Peary would brand him faker
within week. He Immediately
sought the lecture platform; but even
before that he had taken the measures
to assure himself handsome return
for his story by selling it to the New
York Herald No one knows exactly
how much Cook derived from his short
lecture tour and his newspaper artl-
cles. 1t is certain, however, that ne
procured a large sum of money in a
very short time. 1t is also certain
that he would have continued to make
money had not Barrll come forward
with his declaration that the Mt. Nc
Kinley matter was a fake. Even then
he might have continued if evidence
had not accumulated which tended to
prove that Pedry was not at fault
when he branded Cook a faker. Cook
was soon driven from the lecture plat
form.
Peary submitted his data to an
American court of experts, who passed
upon it and Immediately notified the
public that Peary had visited the North
Pole. Cook declined an invitation to
submit his data to the same or similar
court in this country on the ground
that such hostility to him existed that
it would be impossible to secure fair
decision.
Cooks first landing after returning
from the North was in Denmark. He
was received there amidst great en-
thusiasm, and was assured there that
the people had every confidence in
him. Cook naturally preferred that
such data as he had at hand should be
taken before a court made up of men
who were kindly disposed toward him.
1t was a court of his own choosing and
yet it has decided against him.
The University of Copenhagen has
reserved to itself the opportunity to
back water in case the data said to be
deposited at Etah does contain the
proof DIR. Cook claimed it contained,
but in the light of the evidence now at
hand Cook stands as the greatest
faker of the age. The general public
is not cognizant of all the facts which
would tend to discredit the man.
Peary has refrained, since his first
denunciation of Cook, from going into
details. 1t is only here and there that
one may pick up bits of evidence
which prove conclusively that Cook
did not perform the feat he claims to
have performed.
Prof Hudson B. Hastings of Bow
doin College in a lecture delivered be-
fore the Massachusetts Club of that
institution, took for his subject the
Peary- Cook controversy. Prof. Hast
ings has talked with Commander
Peary since his return from the Pole
and gave his auditors few Of the
simpler tests which tend to prove
DIR. Cooks insincerity.
Pcary knows that human being re-
quires 80 ounces Of food per day and
that a dog requires at least Is ounces
per day. DR.. Cooks story of his dash
to the Pole is to the effect that he and
his party subsisted on LOO pounds of
provisions for so long period that
DoI ''iiiH ouiSco pcI udy WcIc avail
able, not enough to sustain sufficient
strength. DIR. Cook says he used but
two sledges of very light design while
Commander Peary, by far the more
experienced explorer started for the
Pole with 80 sledges of the strongest
possible construction and was able to
bring back but II. DIR. Cook says
that on April 8 he saw the midnight
sun for the first time. that he was
then near the 87th degree, North lati-
tude. Comparatively simple reckon
ing will show that he was $50 miles
south of where he claimed to have
been-which is within 20 miles of
where the Esquimaux boys reported he
was. DR.. Cooks photographs all
show smooth ice wherever there is any
background, while Commander Peary
states that after leaving the land he
found practically no smooth ice. Per-
haps the most interesting indictment
of DR.. Cook found in his own data is
contained in a picture of his hut
"hich, he says, was made near the