Arizona republican., 1909-12-25
They Find That he Did Not Reach Top of NJ. M'kin|ey ALL ROUND PRtvAR|cATOR
Says the Committee Which Began Its Investigation With Doctors Knowledge Long Before Copenhagen Verdict Was Rendered

New York, Dec. 2i.-The board of governors of the Explorers club met today in legislative session. and, stand ing in silence and with bowed heads. voted that Dr. Cook be dropped from the rolls for frauds practiced on the members and the public Coming hard upon the heels of the crushing verdict lately rendered by the Uni versity Of Copenhagen, the action of the Explorers club today is the re- suit of independent investigations which in no way touch upon the polar controversy. and the weight of disapproVal thus becomes cumulative. Preliminary to the vote on expulsion, the board met to pass upon the re- port of the committee which had been Investigating the validity of Dr. Cooks report that he had reached the top of Mount Mckinley.
 This committee concluding an ex- haustive report, said: 'fDr. Cooks claims that he ascended the summit of Mount Mckinley in 1906 should be rejected by the Explorers club as not worthy of credence."
 The committees recommendation is based on the finding that Cook re- peatedly made statements that had not been in accord with facts. and had entered into agreements which he failed to keep; that his misstate- ments and broken agreements deal not only with matters appertaining to discovery, but to ordinary trans actions. SD that no credence can be given to statements made by him"
 Among the seven signatures ap- pended to this arraignment are those of Caspar Whitney and Anthony Ff- ala. both personal friends of Cook. The committee made the further ex- plicit statement that it undertook the investigation only after first appris- ing Cook of their purpose. which he approved in person: that they dis regarded entirely the testimony of Edward Barrill. Cooks guide, and Printz. the packer. although such testimony was before them. because they wished no cloud of partisan con- tention or question of financial in terest to dim the integrity of the yer dict.
 In addition to the findings of the committee as a whole. which docu- ment is signed by Anthony Fiala, polar explorer of note; Frederick Dellsbaugh. of the American Geo. graphic society; Prof. Marshal Saville. of the chair of archaeology of Colum- bia university: Walter Clark; Charles Townsend. director of the New York aquarium; Henry Walsh, secretary of the Explorers club. and Caspar Whitney. they individually signed re- ports as submitted by Herschel Par ker. professor of physics of Colum- bia university. and Belmore Brown. both of whom were members of the Cook Mckinley expedition. and by Charles Sheldon, who recently re- turned from a years residence on the slope of Mount Mckinley. where he went for the express purpose of studying the configuration of the mountain. with a view to the possi- bility Of ascent.
 Prof. Parker reports that he was a uartner with Dr. Cook in the McKin- ley expedition both physically and financially.
 Cook assumed to lead with a plan that proved unfeasible. and the party escaped with their lives. thanks to the local knowledge of Belmore Brown.
 Tt is perfectly plain said Parker. that after this misadyenture all fur ther attempts should have been aban- doned for a season. Otherwise We would not have left the expedition
 Instead. Cook. it is charged, side tracked the members of the expedi- ton. until there remained only Cook, the guide Barrill and one packer, of whom he subsequently got rid also. These defections left Cook, says Par ker no instruments capable of meas uring the altitude he says he at tained.