The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-12-28


mort of the special committee of sci
entists which the University of Copen-
hagen appointed to scrutinize DR..
Frederick A. Cooks claims that he
had discovered the North Pole was
submitted to the Consistory of the
university, Endorsed by that body and
given to the public.
The report skaters completely, al
most contemporary, the American
explorers title to the discovery, and
fills the officials and people OF Den
mark with chagrin at the figure Den
mark is made to assume in the eyes of
the scientific world. The public was
prepared for a verdict of mot
proven, (" but did not expect its recent
hero to be branded as an impostor.
Many still cling to the belief that
Cook acted in good faith, but har-
bored delusion.
Explorers and scientists almost
unanimously have lost faith in Cook s
honesty, while one of his warmest
supporters, Knud Rasmussen, helped
to frame the report The papers at
tack Cook and severely reproach him
for hiding, which they regard as a
sign of guilty conscience.
The rector of the university, DR..
Salomonsen, when asked as to the
possibility of the university canceling
the degrees which it conferred on
DIR. Cook, said that no decision had
been reached, but he thought that
the degree could be withdrawn In the
same way as a government could de-
prive a person of an order obtained
under false pretenses.
Commodore Gustav Holm, the Arc
tic explorer and member of the
committee, said: Cooks claim that
he made the observation 80 degrees
SO minutes 46 seconds near the Pole
proved Immediately that he was bad
observer, but nothing indicated that
he was a swindler Now his papers
convict him of being a swindler. We
examined Cooks observations first
and agreed unanimously that they
were worthless. 1t Is not unlikely
that Loose made the observations.
He is clever man, just the sort
that Cook could use."
Professor Olufson, secretary of the
Danish Geographical Society, said:
cit is the saddest event in my life.
AS an explorer there seems to be no
doubt that Cook is absolutely unre-
liable"
The National Tidende, while de-
ploring that the university conferred
the degree in moment of enthusi-
asm, finds consolation in the fact that
others honored Cook when he re-
turned to civilization.
"The President of his own country
and its envoy in Copenhagen, says
the paper, were the guarantors for
him. Denmark did not blunder alone
Our. country must now leave this sad
affair to America and Cook"
In an interview Knud Rasmussen
said:
"The university would not call me
at first, because l was one of DR.
Cooks strongest supporters Later
however, / was invited eto the inves
tigation, and when saw the observa.
lions / realized it was scandal
My confidence in Cook had beer
based on personal impressions, on re
ports that had received and also or
the testimony of the Eskimos, wher
they all said that he had made the
trip from Cape Sparbo to Etah, anC
such trip during the dark of winter
would suffice to make a man famous
But the papers which Cook sent t,
Copenhagen University are more i'm
pudent. No schoolboy could max,
such calculations 1t is a most child
ish attempt at cheating. Cook ha
killed himself by his own foolish
acts"
Commodore Hovgaard, the explor
er, said: Although 1t has not beef
proved that Cook did not reach tn,
Pole, can only regard Cook now al
an impostor"
The public is unable to comprehend
why Cook sent his worthless papers
when he admits in the letter present
ed to Professor Torp by Lonsdale tina
sit seems unwise and impossible t,
give final judgment because of the alb