Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-07
COOK NOT ABLE TO
FAKE SAYS EXPERT

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-"It is not
fair to doubt DIR. Cooks word in the
absence of any evidence whatever
against him.
This statement was made today by
Capt. A. G. Winterhalter of the navy,
chief Of the hydrograph office here.
mot one time in hundred thou
sand" he said, would Mr.. Cook be
able successfully to fake astronomical
observations.
II have had much experience in max
ing observations and compilations from
them, and speak from my own knoWl-
edge in such matters. Fake obserVa-
tions from day to day could not pos
sibly be continued for any length of
time without detection, and why not
wait until~access is had to DR.. Cook S
records and books? These, in my
opinion, will clear up every question
as to his actually having reached the
pole.
IF they do not it will then be quite
time enough to cast aspersions upon
him."
Prof. Willis L. Moore, chief of the
weather bureau, acting secretary of
agriculture and president of the Ma
tional Geographic society, said;
"NeVer in the annals of Arctic eX-
ploration has there been any attempt
made to manufacture observations or
make a fictitious claim of achievement,
and 1 am satisfied that there has been
nothing of this kind in the case of DR..
Cook.
Believes His Story
From all accounts of DR.. Cooks
trip 1 feel satisfied of the authenticity
of the whole matter. I see nothing In
the narrative as told by DR.. Cook that
should cause any apprehension or doubt
about the actual performance of the
feat. A man would have TOO little to
gain and too much to lose in making
any other than an authentic claim, be-
cause his fame would be of too short
duration and his ignominy would be
everlasting"
The National Geographical society,
which has a membership of about 49,
coo, has it's headquarters here in the
Hubbard Memorial building. Henry
Gannett, the geographer, is vice presl-
dent, and Alexander Graham Bell, the
inventor, is one of its board of man
ayers.
At the next meeting of the board the
whole question of DR., Cooks discovery
Will be threshed over
II believe in holding the whole mat
ter of the claim of the discovery OF the
north pole in allegiance until adequate
proof is submitted" declared Prot'
Henry Gannett today.
IL.
geographer and author of scientific
works and is a member of the National
Geographical society, Philadelphia Geo
graphical society, American Economic
association, Washington Academy or
Sciences, Geological society of America,
American Statistical society, secretary
of the eighth international geographic
congress, and other scientific bodies.
Gannett's Opinion
Prof Gannett said: Holding the mat
ter in allegiance does not imply any
especial disbelief in the man. DIR. Cook
compares himself with Peary and
others in competition with the claim of
achievement. Now, there were others
with Shackelton and Peary, and neither
claimed anything as big as DIR. COOK
has claimed. DR.. Cook says the reason
for his success was that he made his
trip at different time of the year from
anyone else, and he added that he
found the ice very rough and that there
were several leads of open water which
bothered him. Cook and Peary went
at the same time of the year.
"Peary reached the farthest north
at almost the very day that Cook says
he reached the pole. Peary left Grant
land, and at about the same time that
Cook says he left Grantland.
"The two journeys-those of Cook and
Peary-were made at almost identical
times of the year, varying from one an
other by not over week"
"I see nothing in Cooks narrative TO
make me suspicious except this he
continued, "and the stories about his
being pursued by Polar bears and
muskox, and what he has TO say about
the floating ice. never heard OF