The Detroit times., 1909-12-22
COOK IS FORMALLY
TURNED DOWN BY
SCIENTISTS
His Claims That He Discovered the
North Pole Are Flatly Re-
jected BY Committee in
Copenhagen.
II Takes Investigators Only Few
Minutes to See Observations and
So-Called Records Are Worthless.

COPENHAGEN. Dec. 2l--The north
pole discovery claims Of Dr.. Frederick
\ Cook were today fatty rejected by
the University of Copenhagen. In
report adopted ny the university con-
sistory, based on the findings or the
special Investigating committee, II Is
declared that the data presented bV
Dr. Cook furnishes absolutely no eVi-
dcnce to substantiate his claims.
The records and, observations. II
SAYS, are no more convincing from a
scientific standpoint, than were his
newspaper accounts of his expiora-
tion.
The committee which examined and
rejected the Cook records consisted OF
Prof. Ellis Stroemgren. president OF
the committee: Commander Gustav
Holm. director of the photographic
bureau; Commander Jensen, director
OF navigation. Astronomer Pechyle,
az tho Copenhagen observatory; Capt.
RYDER. director of the meteorological
institute. and Prof Engstroem. or
l.und university, Sweden, Each OF
'hese men is "A word-renowned scien'
list.
Walter I.onsddle. Cooks private Sec
retary. who brought the data to Copen'
hagen, is greatly disappointed at the
cunsistory's report and Is making an
effort to have II withhold final Jud6-
meui until all 90 the doctors data Is
placed before IT, He told the com
mlttcc that the missing data which is
part OF Cooks original documents
sent from America by different
route than that which the committee
cXamined would arrive here in few
days
He explained that this data was sent
by a different route for prudential rea-
sous and Insisted that ii WAS OF the
utmost importance that II be consid-
cred
The consistory. however. will pay
no attention 10 this latest appeal and
It's finding today Is the final chapter,
so far as II is concerned
One Of the members OF the inves-
tiaatng committee said. after the find
iugs had been approved by the con-
sistory
1T took The committee but few
minutes TO see that Cooks observa-
tions aud so-called records were
worthless We could have made a re-
port at once. but our surprise was so
a
recover from H. The so-callcd note
books submitted by the doctor. on
which he relied in a great measure
for yindication had only the results
of his observations, rather than the
observations themselves. and were
thrown aside without a moments con-
slderatlOn cannot understand how
a man Of Or Cooks reputed scientific
achievements could have attempted TO
bolster up his claim with such fimsy
evidence"
Danish pride has suffered a severe
shock in the report OF the consistory.
In September Cook arrived here from
the Arctic and was acclaimed as the
discovered of the north pole IL Is
admitted now that he submitted no
satisfactory proofs OF his discovery
but the Danish people from KING
Frederick down 10 the humblest citl-
zen accepted his story of the great
est achievement in the annals OF ex-
ploration without question and pro
ceeded 10 shower honors upon him In
Guiding university degrees and ma
tional decorations.
Many Danish Arctic explorers. who
are supposed 90 stand in the front
rank of scientists. listened TO Cooks
story and Immediately went on record
ns declaring their absolute faith in
him
No more unpleasant outcome than
the report of, today could have been
possible and could the university by
any possible means avoided repudia-
tion of the explorer II would have done
so
The public now feels that It has
been grossly imposed upon and the
most bitter> excavations of Cook are
heard on every hand. A demand will
be made that he surrender the hon
orary degree OF Doctor of Science.
which the university conferred upon
him.
Despite statements by Dr. Cooks
brother in America that the explorer
Is now i'm Christiansand, all efforts 10
find him there today failed The in
vestigating committee members say
they know where Cook is but will not
reveal his whereabouts
Or. Cooks sending of his data 70
the University Of Copenhagen, which
IN turn selected the special investigat
ing committee. came as result oi
the charges OF misrepresentation made
against him by Commander Robert r.
PcaTy whose announcement OF HIS
discovery of the north pole came four
days after Cook startled the world
with his claim OF discovery.
Cook had previously promised the
University OF Copenhagen. that in re-
turn for the many honors showered
upon him by Denmark while a guest
Of that country enroute back to the
United States he would let It he the
first 10 examine his records and OBJ
servatiOns
When the Brooklyn doctor became
involved In the controversy with
l. L.. L. L. ...aAa L..