Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-09
SOLD DATA TO COOK!
Made Fake Set of Polar Rec
ords, SWears Navigator.
EXPLORER DID NOT PAY
Alleged Exposure Follows Failure to
Keep Agreement.
STATEMENT BY CAPT. LOOSE
His Affidavit, Supported by Broker
Dunkle, Who Says He Brought
Men Together.

ny Tue SHplH w WV 1850
the New York Times this morning puo-
fishes the sensational charge that these
, men were hired by Or. Frederick 4. Cook
to prepare fake observations to be USED
by the explorer in bolstering his claim to
discovery of the north polo before the
University of Copenhagen and the world.
The Times says:
The New York Times presents here
with the remarkable narrative OF Two
men, made under oath. declaring mat
they were employed by DIR. Frederick \.
Cook to fabricatc astronomical and otier
observations for submission to the Uni
versity of Copenhagen, which Is ABOUT
to pass upon DR.. Cooks assertion that he
discovered the north pole on April Il,
1905. These men are George II. Dunkle
an insurance broker of 81 Nassau street
New York. and Capt. August Wedel
Loose. a sea captain, Of 437 18th street,
Brooklyn.
For their la bors they were to have re-
ceived jointly from DR.. Cook $4,000. with
ali additional bonus of 500 to Capt. Loose
upon the acceptance of the records py
the University of Copenhagen. They
say that DIR. Cook had paid them only
$50 when he disappeared on the eve of
the dispatch of his records to Copenha-
gen, two weeks ago. and his failure 70
pay the sum remaining due them they
freely acknowledge to be their motive for
coming forward with the story.
The Times holds copies of the atti-
davits of Capt Loose and Mr. Dunkie,
affirming the accuracy of their nara
tives: DR.. Cooks instructions to Capt
Loose, in Cooks handwriting. and the
affidavit of Capt Loose swearing TO the
accuracy of the same.
instructions Given by DR.. Cook.
The translation of this memorandum by
DIR. Cook is as follows:
"svartevaag-sta March 1918; strong
wind: haze.
March 30. Observations latitude and
longitude: daily observations to April %.
The Times also prints the following
list under the heading What Capt.
Loose says he supplied to DR.. Cook:
1. Twenty-four attitudes for latitude
sights.
tevaag to the pole, with all DR.. COOK
assumed positions marked upon It,
3. Complete observations for time ana
chronometer rate. they might have
Svartevaag. probably thirty In all.
f. Diagrams for compass error ana
correction at different points:
s. Calculations for longitude. about
twenty in all.
g. sixteen observations as they could
have been taken at the north pole, IN
two sets; eight with depression Of pole
considered and eight with depression ig-
nored
!. Bowditchs complete. nautical tables.
s. Anfinsen's tables for correction Of
attitudes of heavenly bodies
9. American Nautical Almanac" for
several years.
10. I.lodys' calendar for 1908.
oil, {rotty
Smith sound, and the polar regions, NOS.
go. IA and rs.
II. One bliss Almanac" for 1908
Is. One "Negus Almanac" for 1908.
Movements of Men Involved Veri-
The Times has followed the steps de-
scribed by these two men and has veri-
fled their goings and comings, their pur-
chases of books and charts, and the fact
of their intimate relations with DIR.
Cook Whether 1.-The observations CAL
culated by Capt. Loose and supplied, as
he alleges, to DIR. Cook, were adopted by
the latter and made a part of his report
to the University of Copenhagen. 1t Is,
of course impossible to say without a
comparison OF Capt. Losses narrative
with that report.
The Times has communicated to the
University of Copenhagen the main facts
Of Capt Losses story and Mr.. Dunkles
and offered to supply to the university
the corroborative documents 1t has re-
ceiyed from these two men. one OF which
purports to be DIR. Cooks memorandum
directing the preparation of observations
| from Svartevaag all the way to the pole.
Loose Holds Cook in Contempt.
Capt. Loose frankly expresses his
LOT, a his
ignorance of the simplest essentials for
accurate observations in the arctic
regions, and describes at length how,
working backward from the pole. he cal
cu,ated observations that would fit in
with Cooks narrative and coached him
on the necessary notifications of the
latter--as for example, that he must be
sure to record that he rose before 4:15
O'Clock on a certain morning, because it
was at that hour that a certain star.
mentioned in one of Losses calculations,
would be visible.
Mr. Dunkle also described the incep-
ton of the enterprise. how from the iRcep-
papers they gathered that DIR. Cook was
in deep water. and inferred that he
would be glad to pay for help; how
Dunkle got John r. Bradley. Cook s
hacker. to introduce him: how the sub
;ect was led up to delicately. and the
bargain finally struck and carried out
and how. at last, Dr. Cook disappeared
after accepting their work and paying
only 500 for 1t.
Both Capt Loose and Mr.. Dunkle tell
of visit to the shop of John Bliss 4
! Compa ny, at Us Front street. few days
| after the captains talk with the explorer
at the Waldorf and of purchasing for
| Tr. Cook various nautical and astronom
! cal works besides three charts of Smith
/ sound and the polar regions.
| Robert Flight, who sold the books and
charts, told reporter for the Times
that he recalled the visit. and that the
| purchases were made described. The
| charts he sold. Mr.. Flight said We're
numbered go. pa and 275. He knew
| Capt. Loose intimately and recalled hav-
! ing asked him when the charts were
| bought If the captain intended going to
| the north pole.
| And from what / have known of the
| captains experience as a navigator and
| his acquaintance with everything per-
| tanning to observations said Mr.. Flight.
Il would bet that If any one could find
/ his way to the pole Capt. Loose is that
| man..
Loose Put UP at Gramatan Hotel.
! Capt. Loose in his statement says he
stayed at the Gramatan Hotel from No
vember 16 to November 10, working out
/ observations for DIR. Cook. and that he
and the doctor had frequent conferences.
| Mr.. Dunkle went with him November
/ is. leaving there the next day. he and the
\ oar q N ba wing connecting