The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-22
Copenhagen Papers Say Their
Mistake Was in Accepting
Cooks Word
HONORARY DEGREE CONFERRED
UPON A|M IS REGRETTED
Fortunately the University Has the
Chance of Telling the World Its
Mistake-His Papers Are Schoolboy
Productions and Amateur Cheating

Copenhagen, Dec. 22-The morning
papers generally find comfort for the
Cook affair in the thought that the
only fault that may be charged against
the Danes is that they accepted the ex-
plorer's word oas that of gentleman
The Politiken says: Frankly we
regret only that an honorary degree
was bestowed upon this man by the
University Of Copenhagen. But one
member of the university council ad.
v1sed against the action taken"
The Koobonhavn says: Cooks
abasing of our university is his great
est shame. Fortunately the univer-
sity itself tells the world of it's mis-.
take"
Othe papers recall that all the Scan.
d1navian explorers who were acuuain.
ted with Cook supported him and insist
that under the circumstances any
other city would have given the ex-
plorer similar reception. They in.
innate that at the time other cities
envied Copenhagen its opportunity to
be the first to welcome and honor him
l.,
Rasmussen said:
THE university would not call me at
first because / was one of DR.. Cook
strongest supporters. Later, however
was invited to the investigation and
when saw the observations realized
1t was a scandal.
MY confidence in Cook has been
based on personal impressions, on
reports that had received and also
on the testimony of the Eskimos, when
they all said that he had made the
trip from, Cape. Sparbo to Etah and
such a trip during the dark of win.
ter would suffice to make man ia.
nous. But the papers which Cook
sent to Copenhagen university are
most impudent. No schoolboy could
make such calculations. 1t is a most
childish attempt at cheating. Cook
has killed himself by his own foolish
acts"
Commodore Hovgaard. the explorer
said:
Although it has not been proved
that Cook did not reach the pole.
can only regard him now as an impos-
tor"
In Disgrace.
New York. Dec. 22.-Thus ended
one of the most fascinating chapters
In all the romance of exploration
Honored by the king of Denmark
heralded by the University of Copen-
hagen, garlanded with wreaths ol
roses by young girls. accorded the
freedom of the city of New York and
! acclaimed by thousands for the
length and breath of the land at the
bravest man who ever dared the
silent terrors of the Arctic, DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook stands today discredit.
ed In the house of his friends. Not
word from him in defense or ex.
PLANTATION. Nothing but disavowals
from his partisans in the controversy
that has ragged about him ever since
he first flashed word from Lerwick
in the Shetland islands, to his wife:
Successful. we'll, address Copen.
hagen"
Even that address today is lacking
Only his brother still stands stub
bornly by him, refusing to believe
that the verdict of the University OF
Copenhagen has been correctly re.
ported.
Interest today turns to three ques-
tions: Where is the doctor? What
will he have to say for himself? What
will he do with himself?
] Charles Wake, close friend, and
! DR.. Cooks brother in Brooklyn, both
say he is at Christiana, Norway, with
his wife, but that the children are al
school in this country.
A friend who had opportunity tc
see private letter from Dr.. Cook to
the rector Of the University of Copen.
hagen says that the doctor then
wrote, in the event Of an adverse de.
cision he would take no appeal tc
the other scientific tribunals of the
world.
One Of the party who made the trip
with DR.. Cook to Hamilton, Mont.
where he had a, dubious meeting
with the guide. Barrill, who denied
that the doctor had ever completed
the ascent of Mount Mckinley. said
today:
"On the way back to the east ]
asked the doctor what he would dc
If the University of Copenhagen found
against him.
81 haven't thought of that an.
swered the DOCTOR"
But you must think of it," said
the friend.
WELL" answered the doctor, "ii
the university should find against
me. believe should go back amone
the Eskimos Of southern Greenland
and try to carry on there such a
medical mission as DIR. Grenfell has
made famous"
Henry Wellington Wack. DIR. Cooks
lawyer and the friend who is the AN.
I