Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Story of Explorer Is
Not SubStantiated
by Records He
Submitted
OPINION TURNED
Proofs Sent to Copenhagen
Do Not Bear Out the
Statement Cook
Reached Pole
IAssociated Pressl
HOPENHAGEN, Dec. 1s.-The Az
ISOLATED Press Is Informed by q

NOPENHAGEN, Dec. 1s.-The AZ
ISOLATED Press Is Informed by q
~ high authority that the COMMITTEES
of the University of Copenhagen In its
preliminary examination of his rec
ords failed to discover proof that DR..
Frederick A. Cook reached the north
pole.
The conslstory from the University
of Copenhagen at secret session to-
day received a preliminary report coy
ering the first stage of the work OF
the committee which is examining the
north polar records OF DR.. Cook.
An excited discussion followed. The
committee has not completed It's in
vestigation.
The report was presented by Rector
Torp, but it's nature was carefully
guarded. The members of the con
sistory reported didect to the secre-
tary. II is admitted, however. that the
work thus far accomplished provoked
an animated debate among the uni
versity officials.
To the newspaper men Rector Torp
said:
Torp's Statement
"The committees work is not yet
finished / cannot tell how long 1t will
continue, but ] hope the result can be
made public in a few days. Roth the
members of the consistory and the
examining committee have been for
hidden strictly to make public any
thing regarding what has been ac-
complished thus far by the invesu-
! gators.
A preliminary report was made by
/ the examining committee at secres
session of the consistory OF the uni
/ versity today.
The consistory listened to the report
which provoked animated discussion.
1t appears that the data so far sub
mitted is not held sufficient TO estaD-
/ lish the explorers claims.
The result of today's discussion was
a request on the conslstory that the
committee continue its work. The uni
versity body is willing that the IN
vestigators make public later the re-
suits of their work
In the meantime, it Is said oy an
official of the university, the consis-
tory will not make public any of the
results of today's Investigation.
Opinion Changes
Popular opinion here appears to have
undergone a gradual change. From
the beginning of the controversy the
populace of Copenhagen has been de-
cidedly pro-Cook Patriotism mas
strengthened this sentiment.
Recent developments. however, have
been disappointing and today the gen
erai impression prevails that DR..
Cooks papers as submitted do not
constitute proof that he discovered
the pole.
1t is learned several members OF the
university consistory are exceehlngly
angry over the rector's preliminary
report. one of them expressing regret
that the university had not waited un-
iii DR.. Cooks claim that he had
reached the pole had been proved De
fore honoring him.
The Copenhagen newspapers up 20
the present have been wholly friendly
to DR.. Cook, but it is learned some OF
the leading dailies tomorrow will print
articles throwing doubt on COOK
trustworthiness.
They will point out that the Danish
people regard Cook in the light or =
national hero and still hope that ne IS
an honest man. The sllshtest eVloellee
that this is not the case, the papers
assert, will oppress all Denmark with
grief.