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

Copenhagen, Dec. 21.--The report of
the special committee of scientists
which the University of Copenhagen
appointed to scrutinize Dr. Frederick
A. Cooks claims that he had discov-
cred the North pole, was submitted to
the consistory of the university this
morning, endorsed by that body and
given to the public.
Tho report skaters completely, al
most contemptuously, the Brooklyn eX-
plorer's title to such discovery and fills
the officials and people of Denmark
with chagrin at the figure Denmark
is made to assume in the eyes of the
scientific world. The public was pre-
pared for a verdict of mot proven
but did not expect it's recent hero to
be branded as an imposter. Many still
cling to the belief that Cook acted in
good faith, but harbored a deluson.
Explorers and scientists almost
unanimously have lost faith in Cook S
honesty, while one of his warmest
supporters, Knud Rasmussen, helped
to frame the report. The evening pa
pers attack Cook and severely re-
proach him for hiding, which they re-
gard as sign of a guilty conscience.
The committee appointed by the
university to to examine Cooks records
recently presented its report to the con-
sistory of the university which re-
viewed the deductions of the expert
with the greatest care and discussed
the findings from every standpoint.
That both the committee and the con-
i,tn
known.
This morning the consistory met and
adopted a written renort to the effect
that the alleged records submitted for
examination by DR.. Cook failed to
prove his claim that he had reached
the North pole The report of the COM
mittee of which Prof. Stromgren was
chairman, as presented to the consls-
tory states that Cooks papers are
without value; that his report to the
university is practically the same as
that published in the New York Her
aid upon his return from his Arctic
expedition. The copies of his notebooks
submitted, says the committee contain
no original calculations of observations.
but only results thereof. Accordingly
the cOuCluuSo liietl ny ''iioi S'''
no proof of having reached the pole.
The committee chosen to represent
he University of Copenhagen in the
Examination of DR.. Cooks claim was
composed as follows: Prof. Ellis Strom-
rren. director of the astronomical OBJ
.ervatory. DR.. c. F. Pechule, astron-
omer, attached to the observatory
Gustave Helm, explorer; Prof. A. g.
Yensen, president of the School OF Nav
igation; Dr. Royder, director OF the
meteorological office, and DR.. r. A.
Fncstrom. director of the Lund obserV-
atory.
The rector of the University, DE-.
Salor1onsen, when questioned as to the
possibility of the university canceling
the degree which it conferred on DR..
Cook, said that no decision had been
reached. but he thought that the &c,
gree could be withdrawn in the same
way as a government could deprive a
person of an order obtained under 1alse
pretences.
Commodore Gustav Helm, the Arc
tic explorer and a member of the com
mittee, said:
"ro,k's claim that he made the oo.
seryation so degrees, SO minutes 46 sec
onds near the pole proved Immediately
that he was a bad observer but moth
ing indicated that he was a swindler.
Now his papers convict him of being q
svindler We examined Cooks obser-
vations first and agreed unanimously
that they were worthless. 1t IS not un-
likely that Loose made the observe
lions. He is clever man, just the sort
that Cook could use"
prof. Olufson, secretary of the Danish
Geographical Society, said:
of is the saddest event in my life
As an explorer there seems to be no
Doubt that Cook is absolutely unre-
LIABLE
The National Tidende, while deplor-
ing that the university conferred the
degree in a moment of enthusiasm.
finds consolation in the fact that others
honored Cook when ne returned to civ
iliZation.
"The President of his own country
and its envoy at Copenhagen" says
the paper were the guarantors Tor
him. Denmark did not blunder alone.
Our country must now leave TINS SAD
affair to America and Cook
General indignation over the decep-
ton which has placed practically the
whole of Denmark in somewhat hu-
initiating position has taken the place
TODAY of the hero worship heretofore
accorded to Cook.
The members of the examining, COM
mittee are very angry over the doctors
behavior. Professor Stromgren, the
president of the committee tonight
characterized Cooks treatment of the
university as shameless"
The documents handed the committee