The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-12-24

HThe documents handed the uni
versity for examination do not con-
tain observations and information
which can be regarded as proof that
DR.. Cook reached the pole on his e1-
pediton.'
The public is unable to eompre-
bend why Cook sent his papers when
he admits in the letter presented to
Prof. Torp, former rector Of the
University Of Copenhagen by his
secretary, Walter Lonsdale, that ''lt
seems unwise and impossible to give
final judgment because Of the ab-
sence Of the instruments and obser-
vations which I left at Etah.'
Members of Committee Angry.
The members of the examining
committee are very angry over the
Doctors behavior. Prof. Stromgren,
the president Of the committee: IS
furious and tonight characterized
Cooks treatment Of the University
as "shameless.
Inquiry as to whether the commit
tee would undertake further exam1-
nation in the event Of Cook sendlng
for the instruments and observations
which are supposed to be at Etah,' de-
veloped that a majority Of the mem
bers we're not disposed to waste any
more time on the matter.
The documents handed the commIS-
sion. Of the University of Copenhagen
for examination are: =,
First, a typewritten report pre-
pared by Cooks secretary, Walter
Lonsdale, and covering slxty-onee
pages of foolscap.
Second, typewriter copy made by
Lonsdale from Cooks note-b books.
| This occupies sixteen pages of fools
cap and includes a description Of the
expedition during the period from
March IS, 1908, to June l3, l9Oe,
during which, according to the state
ment Cook journeyed from Svarte-
vos to the North Pole and returned
to a point on the Polar ice not spe-
cifcally indicated, but west Of the
Axelheiberg land.
The papers were not accompanied
| by a private letter from Cook, but
Secretary Lonsdale stated verbally
to the committee that the original
snotes and books of the explorer from
which his copies were made, had been
sent to Europe by another route, as
a precautionary measure and would
be delivered to the University in the
course of few days.
Diaries Still Lacking.
In presenting the data Lonsdale
stated explicitly and repeatedly that
copy numbered two was a complete
and accurate duplication of the IN
formation contained in all of Cooks
notebooks that could be of any I'M
portance to the University for the
purpose of investigation. In spite
of the.explorer promise and his sec
retary's assurance that they would
be forthcoming the commission is not
ct in possession Of the original note
cooks and diaries. Up to this time,
lit has been impossible for the au-
thorities Of the University to re-es-
tablish communication with DR..
! Cook, which was suspended some time
ago. The explorer address is not
known here even to Secretary Ions
dale.
After the members Of the examin-
ing committee have made themselves
acquainted individually with the ma
terial delivered and ;soeoDvinced them
selves Of its utter worthlessness as
means Of discriminating whether
Cook reached the Pole the president
Of the committee, Prof. Stromgren:
called a general meeting Of the com
mittee for last Friday, when the re-
port to the University and which is
now made public, was drawn up
Lonsdale,' who had been invited tc
this meeting to answer some ques-
tioas, brought with him a letter
which he had received from Cook
which bore neither the place mol
date of its writing. The opened en-
velope, however, bore the postmark
Marseilles, December IA, 1909. The
same envelope contained a letter ad-
dressed by Cook to Prof. Torp. The
Letter to Torp was dated New York
September 27, 1909.