Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-12-24


apparent now
Doctors Wife with Him.
Mr.. Wake said that Dr. Cooks wife
IS with him in Norway, but that the cou-
pies children are here. NJ Wake IS
general agent for Il large insurance COM
pany, is rated as wealthy, and has been
one Of DR.. Cooks most earnest cham
pioas from the beginning
From my personal knowledge Of Dr.
Cook and my knowledge of the work in
the Arctic. | never wavered in my be-
lief that DR.. Cook could never prove the
claims he made" said Herbert l.. Bridg-
man. secretary of the Peary Arctic club
when informed of the verdict Of the Cop
enhagen scientists i thoroughly be-
lieved in the story of Peary, and the Es-
kimos that Cook had not gone far north.
Again, DIR. Cooks story was filled with
holes 50 that any one who had knowledge
Of Arctic conditions could plainly see
that no faith could be placed i'll the
story"
Dr. Cooks claims that he made the
ascent of Mount Mckinley in Alaska
der investigation by committee of the
explorers club here. DIR. Coos promised
to appear before the committee after he
had completed his polar data but he did
not do so. HIS guide, Edward Barrill.
who Cook asserted went with him W the
few weeks ago declaring that they had
not been within several miles Of the
peak.
Documents Given to Commission.
The documents handed the commission
of the University of Copenhagen for eX-
animation are:
First \ typewriter report prepared
by Cooks secretary, Walter Lonsdaie.
and covering siXty-One pages Of foolscap.
Second. \ typewriter copy made by
LonSdale from Cooks note books. This
occupies sixteen pages of foolscap and in
cludes description of the expedition
during the period from March Is, 1908,
10 June Is, 1903, during which, accord
ing to the statement, Cook Journeyad
from Svartevog to the north pole and re-
turned to Il point on the polar ice not
specifically indicated but west Of the
AXci HeiDerg land.
The papers We're rot accompanied by
a private letter from Cook, but Secre-
tary Lonsdale stated verbally to the COM
mission that the original notes and books
of the explorer from which his copies
We're made, had been sent to Europe by
another route as precautionary meas
ure and would be delivered to the uni
verSity in the course OF a few days.
In presenting the data, Lonsdale stat
ed explicitly and repeatedly tbes copy
numbered was a complete and accurate
duplication of the information contained
in all of Cook notebooks that could be
of any Importance to the university for
the purpose OF this examination. In
spite of the explorers promise and his
Secretary's assurance that they would be
forthcoming, the commission is not yet
in the possession of the original note
books and diaries.
Cooks Address Unknown
Up to this time it has been impossible
for the university authorities to re-es-
tablSh communication with DR.. Cook
which was suspended some time ago. The
explorers address is not known here
even to Secretary Lonsdale.
After the members of the examining
committee had made themselves ac-
quainted individually with the. material
delivered and SO convinced themselves of
tie utter worthlessness as means of de-
termining whether Cook reached the pole.
the president of the committee Prof
Stromgren, called a general meeting of
the committee for last Friday, when the
report to the university and which is now
made public was drawn up.
IN his letter to Prof. Torp, Cook states
that not only were his Instruments left
at Etah as indicated in his cable to the
university of October %, but most of his
astronomical observations also were left
at that northern point, and he adds that
without these it seems unwise and i'm
possible to pass a final judgment upon
his expedition
Report Same as Printed
After obtaining all available informa-
ton the committee finds as follows:
First-The report of the expedition
sent to the university by DR.. Cook is the
same as that printed III the New York
Herald, during the months of September
and October last.
Second-The copy of Cooks notebooks
does not contain any original astronomi-
cal observations whatsoever, but only re-
suits
Tbird-The documents presented are
ineXcusably lacking in information which
would prove that the astronomical OBJ
servations therein referred to were really
made; and also contain no details re-
garding the practical work of the expedl-
ton and the sledge journey which would
enable the committee to determine their
reliability.
The committee therefore is of the
opinion that the material transmitted for
examination contains no proof that DIR.
Cook reached the pole.
The report is signed by all six mem
bers of the committee, who were assist
ed in their inquiry by Knud Rasmussen,
the explorer.
The university council issued this
statement:
The documents handed the university
for examination do not contain observa
tons and information which can be re-
garded as proof THAT DR.. Cook reached
the north pole on his recent expedition"
Expected in Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. p. =
Its time" the terse comment of one of
those officials who investigated closely
the Arctic Chains of Peary and Cook, !
was an ejaculation that aptly expressed
the feeling of practically all of the of
fcials of the National Geographic soci-
ETY..
All along, the officers of that organiza-
ton, representing the different lines of
scientific research, have believed that
the result of the deliberations of the
Copenhagen institution would be as
stated, but they were willing to be con-
WINGED. Admiral G. NJ. Chester, who is
the former head of the United States
naval observatory and was a prominent
Inquire in the inquiry into the claims of
the two explorers, attacked the alleged
attainment of DR.. Cook in more or
less public way at a lecture before the
University club in this city about a
month ago.
While the Geographic society did not
go on record, it was apparent that the
feeling of the board of officers of that
organization was very closely aligned to
the views which were then expressed and
which arraigned DR.. Cooks contentious
in a sweeping way. The society has al
ready awarded Commander Peary
medal. and so far as official expression is !
concerned, deferred definite conclusions
as to Cook pending further investiga-
ton.