Milford chronicle., 1909-12-24
Danes Say Explorers Polar
Data is Worthless.
Does NOT PROVE HIS CLAIM
University Of Copenhagen Finds That
He Did Not Reach the North Pole.
Records Same as Published In News
papers.

nize DR.. Frederick A. Cook as the dis
eOVerer of the North Pole, solemnly
declared and formally announced that
the explorer had failed to establish
the claim upon which his high honors
had been based.
The committee appointed by the
university to examine Cooks records
recently presented its report to the
eOnsistory of the University, which
reviewed the deductions Of the ex-
perts with the greatest care and dis
cussed the findings from every stand
Boint. That both the committee and
the conistory were disappointed was
soon known.
The consistory adopted a written re-
port to the effect that the alleged
records submitted for examination by
Or. Cook failed to prove his claim that
he had reached the North Pole.
The report Of the committee, OF
which Professor Stromgren, the noted
astronomer. was chairman, as pre-
sented to the consistory, states that
Cooks papers are without any value;
that his report to the university is
practically the same as that published
In the New York Herald upon his re-
turn from his Arctic expedition.
The copies of his notebooks sub
mitted. says the committee. contain
no original calculations of observa-
tons but only results thereof. Accord
ingly the committee concludes that he
affords no proof of having reached the
North Pole.
Danes FuriousIy Angry
Widespread Indignation over the de-
ception which has placed practically
the whole of Denmark in a somewhat
humiliating position has taken the
place of the herO-worship heretofore
accorded to DR.. Cook. While there
have always been some who doubted
that Cook would be able to prove sat
tsfactorily that he reached the North
Pole, there was not a soul but expect
ed that he would at least supply some
plausible data and supporting material,
which. while it might not suffice to
establish his claim, would furnish
some corroboration Of his earlier
statement.
The public is unable to comprehend
why Cook sent his papers. when he
admits in a letter presented to Pro
fessor Torp by Lonsdale. his secretary
that it seems unwise and impossible
to give final judgment because of the
absence of the instruments and Obser-
vations which left at Etah."
The members of the examining COM
mittee are very angry over the doc
tors behavior. Professor Stromgren,
the president of the committee. is fu-
rious. and characterizes Cooks treat
ment of the university as shameless" Z"
Papers Examined.
The documents handed the commits
sion of the University Of Copenhagen
for examination are:
First a typewriter report prepared
by Cooks secretary, Walter Lonsdale,
and covering sixty-one pages Of fools
cap.
Second a typewriter copy made by
Lonsdale from Cooks notebooks. This
occupies sixteen pages of foolscap
and includes a description Of the ex-
pedition during the period from March
IS, 1908. to June 49, 1908, during
which. according to the statement |
Cook iourneyed from Svartevog to the
North Pole and returned to a point on
the polar ice not specifically indi- |
Gated but west of the Axel Heiberg
Land.
The papers were not accompanied |
by a private letter from Dr. Cook, but |
Secretary Lonsdale said to the com
mittee that the original notebooks of /
the explorer, from which his copies /
were made, had been sent to Europe |
by another route as a measure of safe
" and would be given to the univer-
sity in the course of few days.
In presenting the records Lonsdale
stated plainly and repeatedly that copy
numbered two was a complete and
truthful copy Of the information con-
tanned in all of DR.. Cooks notebooks
that could be of any Importance to
the university for the purposes of this
examination. In spite of the explor-
er's promise and his secretary's assur-
ance that they would be here. the COM
mission has not yet got the original
and diaries.
Could Not Find Cook.
Up to this time it has been impos-
sible for the university authorities to
get into touch with Dr. Cook The ex-
plorer's address is not known here
even to Secretary Lonsdale.
After the members OF the examin-
ing committee had each made himself
seouainted with the material deliv-
sred. and when they so convinced
Of its utter worthlessness
q means Of proving whether Cook
cached the pole. the president Of the
.omnlittee. Professor stromgren, call
q a general meetlIg Of the COMMITTEES
or last Friday VIZ the report to the
University. and teh is now msds p
,uhlic vas drs u