The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-12-22

CONTAINED NO PROOF
So Says Committee Who Passed On
Cooks Data

90 Gays OOfUfNltlCG WIN TdSSCu vi
Cooks Data
Copenhagen, December 22,-
The committee chosen to represent
The committee chosen to represent
the University of Copenhagen in the
examination of DR.. Cooks claim was
composed rs follows.
Prof Ellis Stromgren, director of
the Astronomical Observatory; Dr.
c. F. Pechule. astronomer, attached
to the observatory; Gustav Holm, ex
plorer; Prof A. b. Yensen president
of the School of Navigation: DR.. Roy
der, director of the Meteorological
office and DR.. F. A. Ensstrom, direc-
tor of the Lund Observatory
In a letter to Professor Torp pre-
scented by Lonsdale, 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 were
left at that northern point and he
adds that without these it seems un-
wise and impossible to pass "A final
Judgment upon his expedition.
After obtaining all available infor
nation the committee finds as fol-
lows:
First, the report of the expedition
sent to the university by DR.. Cook
is the same as that printed in the
New York Herald. during the months
of September and October last.
Second, the copy of Cooks note
books does not contain any original
astronomical observations whatso
ever but only results
Third, the documents presented
are inexcusably lacking in informa-
ton which would prove that the as
Economical observations therein re-
ferred to were really made; and also
contain no details regarding the prac-
tical work of the expedition and the
sledge journey which would enable
the committee to determine their re-
liability.
The committee therefore is of the
opinion that the material transmitted
for examination contains no proof
that DR. Cook reached the pole"
The report is signed by all six
| members of the committee, who we're
| assisted in their inquiry by Knud
Rasmussen, the explorer
The university council issued this
statement: The documents handed
the university for examination do not
contain observations and information
which can be regarded as proof that
DR.. Cook reached the North Pole on
his recent expedition"
The documents handed the commits
sion of the university of Copenhagen
for examination are:
First, a typewriter report prepar-
ed by Cooks secretary, Walter Ions
dale and covering sixty-one pages of
foolscap.
Second, typewritten copy made
by Lonsdale from Cooks notebooks
This occupies sixteen pages OF fools
cap and includes description of the
expedition during the period from
March Is, 1908 to June 10, 1908 dur
| ing which, according to the statement
Cook journeyed from Svartevog to
| the North pole and returned to
point on the polar ice not specifically
| Indicated but west OF the Axel Hell
berg land.
The papers were not accompanied
by a private letter from Cook. but
Secretary Lonsdale stated verbally
to the committee that the original
notes 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 a few days.
In presenting the data Lonsdale
stated explicitly and repeatedly that
| copy numbered two was complete
and accurate duplication of the in.
formation in all of Cooks notebooks
that could be of any Importance to
the university for the purpose of this
examination.
Up to this time it has been impos-
sible for the university authorities to
re-establish 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 examin-
ing committee had made themselves
acquainted individually with the ma.
terial delivered and so convinced
themselves of its utter worthlessness
as means of determining whether
Cook reached the pole, the president
of the committee, Professor Stronger
called a general meeting of the com
mittee for last Friday when the re-
| port to the university which is now
made public, was drawn up.
TOLD you so" SAYS PEARv