Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-16
Copenhagen May Not Yield
First RiqhtS to Cooks Data

timent may be summed up as averSe TO
granting the request Of the National Ge-
ographic Society Of the United States that
the University of Copenhagen waive its
claim to the first examinatiin Of DIR.
Cooks north pole data.
Prof. Tort, rector of the University Of
Copenhagen. received the request only
this morning and personally appears dis
inclined to the American view. A con-
sistory of the university to discuss the
matter has been summoned to meet next
Wednesday,
University Unlikely to Yield.
The university authorities and others
here are rather jealous of the attempts
to deprive them of the privilege of first
reviewing DR.. Cooks records. They con-
slider that there are no more competent
judges than the professors of the Copen-
hagen University and members of the
Danish Royal Geographical Society.
Unless DR.. Cook personally requests it
they are likely to refuse the request.
Rector Torp said today that it was not
within his province to decide the matter.
tory. The consistory will be composed OF
twenty-five professors.
Meanwhile efforts will be made to OBJ
tain further information concerning the
In certain university circles the pro-
posal of the National Geographic Society
is viewed aSkance as possibly the Sug-
gestion of Cooks enemies.
Rasmussen's Coming Awaited.
The Danish Explorer Knud Rasmussen
is expected here in the course of the next
few days by the steamer Godthaab. and
his evidence regarding DIR. Cooks claim
that he discovered the north pole is
awaited with keen interest.
1t is not known for certain that Ras-
mussen is aboard the GOdthaab, but If the
explorer is not on this steamer he GER
tainly will ocme on the Hans Egede,
which brought DR.. Cook to Copenhagen,
and which is due here again at the end
of October or early in November.
The affidavit of Edward n. Barrill. de-
nying that Cook reached the summit Of
Mount Mckinley. and what is considered
here as vague reply to the affidavit by
Cook. are believed to have weakened
somewhat the American explorers posi-
ton that he ascended the mountain to its
apex.
Public opinion, however, still favors his
claim that he reached the north pole.
The newspapers are ret1cent on the sub
ject. The authorities and the explorers
continue in their belief in DR.. Cook.
Prof. Torp's Views.
TFOI. IOTp, rector OIL tne university OF
Copenhagen. in an interview said:
II cannot give the particulars regard
ing the Mount Mckinley story. but it is
clear that Dr. Cook is being pursued by
| enemies.
There is no reason for me to change
my mind because the stories are printed.
| 1t is impossible to check them.
Nevertheless. we cannot understand
why DR.. Cook cannot send us the OBJ
servations he made at the north pole be-
fore two months"
Capt Otto Sverdrup, the arctic explorer,
also thought that the denial of DR..
Cooks conquest of Mount Mckinley was
due to his enemies.
The mpatience over DR.. Cooks submis-
sion of his polar records, Capt. Sverdrup
said. was unreasonable. He thought DR..
Cook was too busy lecturing in the
United States to make arrangements to
send his observations.
Hovgaard Still a Believer.
Commander Hovgaard, also an arctic
explorer of note, said:
Il have not changed my mind about
DIR. Cook. 1 know nothing about Mount
NICK .nley, but I think he can prove that
he reached the POLE
Prof. Torp informed the Associated
Press that the University of Copenhagen
would not appoint a committee to inves.
tigate DR.. Cooks north pole data until
the records arrived in Copenhagen 1t is
cons dered likely. however. that Prof
StrOmeren, the Scandinavian astronomer
Will head the committee, which also will
include several explorers and representa-
tiveS of he meteorological offices.