The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-25
COOK DROPPED BY
EXPLORERS CLUB
Holds That Alleged DiscOyerer
of Pole Practiced Fraud
Upon the Public.
ACTION Is RESULT OF
CLUBS INVESTIGATION
Scientists of Note Who Are
Friends of Explorer Join in
the Verdict.

Friends of Explorer Join in
the Verdict.
NEW YORK. Dec. 24.-The board OF
governors OF the Explorers club met to-
day In executive session and. standing In
silence. voted with bowed heads. that DR..
Frederick \. Cook Will be dropped from
the rolls OF tie club for frauds practiced
on its members and on the public
Coming hard upon the heels OF the
crushing verdict lately rendered by the
University Of Copenhagen. the action of
the Explorers club today is tn" result
"t independent inNcstigst tion which in no
way touch upon the polar controversy
becomes cumulative.
Reject All the Claims,
Preliminary 10 its vote Of exn,,lsi,n
tle board met 10 pass upon the report
OF itS committee that has been invcs,!-
gjatihg j tle validity OF DR.. Cooks asser-
Iioh that he reached the summit OF MI
MchinieN. This committee. in conclud-
ing an exhaustive report. recommended
1nat Dr. Cooks claims that he ascend
1906 be rejected by the Explorers club
as not worthy OF crcdencc."
The committees recommendation was
based on its finding that "Dr. Cook had
repeatedly made statements That have
not been in accord with facts. and that
ne had entered into agreements which
he has failed 10 keep and that the mis-
statements and broken agreements deal
not only with matters appertaiuine 10
on aasc9EerN' oyer nut to ordinary transactions,
statements made b. him"
Discredited by Friends.
Among the seven signatures appended
10 This srraisnment are those OF Caspar
Whitney and Anthony Finla both per-
sonal friends OF DR. Cook The commit
tee is further explicit in it's statement
that ii undertook It's investigation only
after first spprisng Or. Cook OF its pur-
pose, whch he approved in person. and
rImony OF Edward Barrill. Or. Cooks
guide, and Of Frederick Printz. his pack
Ell. although such testimony was before
them, because il wished no cloud of
partisan contention or question OF linan-
ci9l interest TO dim the integrity OF its
verdict.
Individual Reports
In addition Ia the findings OF The COM
mittce as a wholc--which are signed by
Anthony, Ftala. polar explorer of note;
Geographic society: Prof. Marshal II. Sa-
Eiile or the chair OF archaeology In Co
lumhia university: Walter S. Clark:
Charles H. Townsend. director OF tho New
York aquarium: Henry 6. Walsh. socre-
larry OF the Explorers club. and Casper
Whitney-individuals signed reports as
sor OF physics at Columbia, and I3einlore
Brown, both OF whom are members Of
thc Cook Mckinley expedition; and h;
Charles Shadon. who has recently re-
turned from a Years residence on the
slope of Mount Mckinley, where ne went
with The express purpose of studying the
cuufiguIdtlon of the mountain with
view TO The possibility Of IT'S ascent
Professor Parker reports that he was
a partner with Dr. Cook in the Mckinley
expedition both physically and financially.
The Mckinley Expedition.
Or. Cook assumed rhe lead with Plan
escaped With their lives. thanks 10 The
local knowledge OF Belmore Brown.
IT was perfectly understood said
venture all further attempts were abau-
doned for the season. Otherwise / would
not have LETT the expedition"
Instead OF this. DR.. Cook. 1t l. charged,
tior until there remained only Cook, his
guide. Barrill. and one packer who sub
sequcnty was got rid OF also. These de-
fcctions lcn Dr Cook, says Professor
Parker. no instruments capable OF meas
uIinc tho altitude lie says he attained.
Moreover he adds, the summers expert
onCe had shown that. of All the part
DR. Cook and Barril were the least fitted
physically ler the drduous mountain
climbing.
No Definite Data,
Bclmore Brown, in the main. confirms
JEO's tlIt'fl anu StSs dl-o Nlldt III IJs b.
Cook book there is not one date given
from the time lac left the ChuIitna river.
This makes intelligent criticism impossi-
bic. he declares. lie asserts further
that hc never saw Dr. Cook make Il
single aDcrod barometer reading in the
whole trip. Confirming a charge that
| Dv. Cook was known to hc in serious
! fiua nr!al straits 9ud would have great
difficulty III getting out q! Alaska II he
IfF.I, i'I' I'.N
Brown fortincs his charges with the
| declslItion that Cook and H5rlill had
no ice creep@rs aud that: though Or.
J Cook altcrward told Prof Parker that he
! tCuok) and Barrili were rCpcd together
1 every foot OF the last stages. Prof Par =
! koI and Brown both remembered that
! thcN destroyed tho climbing rope. de-
fcctiyc. before they quit The expedition.
/ Furthermore in none OF the pictures
! published IN Dr Cooks book docs .
climbing rope appear
Conclusion Of Fraud.
! The committee. rs = whole, therefore
THAT Dr Cooks accounts OK the as
cont is not oniv such as 10 he UGconyinc-
| ing TO the experienced moUntaineeG. but
that under An analysis, II becomes in
| That hc entered into secret imam
cidl agreement with publisher which
resulted in embarrassment TO his asso-
That he broke his agreement with his
fellow club members 10 supply his orig
inal photographs and data upon which
his book was based.
Other conclusions of The committee may
l,, summarized - follows;
That the Mount Mckinney expedition
abandoned The ascent III tho mountain
in 1906. agreeing that no further attempt
should bc nadc 10 reach The SUNNI
;lat sea son; and with that understand
ing, Professor Parker set out at once TO!
tho coast.
That ~ Cook persuaded Brown tr
commence the collection ~ natural his
tory spcc linens in . locality thai Noulf
take him well out of the neiShborilooc
al tho last operations OF the party.
Deception Alleged.
That Dr. Cook. taking with him ih'
guide Barrii. proceeded further toward
The mountain with the declared object -
cxamlu(nc glaciers but apparently Il
ascend somc really accessible part Of lh'
mountain To secure photographs an'
other data. upon which TO bacc a CLAIM
of haying a.ccndcd tho highest peak, an,
to remain absent n sufficient length o
timc Tor !hc purpose .; accomplishment
! al tho accent alleged.
That hc did not have with him IN