Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-23

private letter from Cook, but Secretary
I>oa.dalc stated verbally to the commit
tee that the original notes and books Of
the explorer from which his copies were
made, Md been rent to Europe by an
other route as a precautionary measure
and would be delivered to the university
in the course Of few davs.
Mr. Lonsdale produced before the COM
mittec a letter from Or. Cook postmark
ed Marseilles. December IA. This lends
color TO earlier reports that DIR. Cook.
sailed from New York for a Medterran
mean port
In presenting the data Mr.. Lonsdalc
stated explicitly that the copy numbered
two was a complete and accurate dupli-
cation Of the Information contained In all
Of Cooks note books that could be OF
any importance to the university for pur-
pose Of this examination.
NO ORIGINALS SUBMITTED.
II spite OF the explorers promise
and his secretary's assurance that a
brief would he forthcoming. the COM
mission is not yet in possession Of the
original notebooks and diaries Up to
this time It has been impossible for
the university authorities to re-estah-
.ish con nunic.tion with DR.. Cook
which was suspended some time ago.
The explorers address is not known
here even to Mr.. Lonsdale.
After the members OF the examining
committee had made themselves nc
quainted individually with the ma
tcrial delivered and so convinced
themselves Of its utter worthlessness
as means of determining whether
Cook reached the Pole, the president
Of tho committee. Professor strom-
gren 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.
Mr.. Lonsdale. who had been invited
to this meeting to answer some dues-
tions. brought with him letter
which no had received from Mr.. Cook
which bore neither the place nor date
of its writing. The opened envelope,
however, bore the postmark Marseil-
les. December Il. 1909. The same on
VeIcpc contained letter addressed
by Cook to the former rector OF the
University Of Copenhagen. Professor
Torp. Tho letter 10 the latter was
dated New York September p. 1902
In his letter to Prof. Torp. Cook state'
that not only were his instruments LEFT
Etah. but most OF his astronomical OBJ
scrvations wore also left at that northern
point, and h. add. that without these
seems ,mwise and impossible to pa.s ma
Judgment upon his expedition.
FINDINGS Of COMMITTEE.
/ After obtaining all available information
the committee fuds IS follows:
~. ~
to the university by DR.. Cook, is the ssrn
rs that priced in the New York Herald
during The months OF September an
! October last.
Second. the copy Of Cooks note book
docs not contain any original Astronomical
observations whatsoever, but only re
suits.
Third the documents thus presente
are inexcusably lacking in informa1io
which would prove that the astrononic'
observations therein referred TO We'
really made, and also contain no detail
regarding the practical work OF IN
expedition and sledRe Journey which woul
enable the committee to determine the
relia bility.
The committee therefore is OF opinio
that the material transmitted for e'
| aInlnntlOn tonAdlnS no pIopi 'llaN -
Cook reached the Pole.
The report is signed BY all six men
hers of the committee. who were assiste
in their inquiry by Knud Rasmussen, IT
explorer.
Tho university council ISSUED this stat
ment:
The documents handed the universtt
for examination do not contain observi
| LOU, . p
rardeG as proof that DR.. Cook reached tt
North Pole on his recent expedition
on November Is. 1905. DR.. Frederick
Cook, physician and explorer, arrived
New York city with the story OF havin
assembled Mount Mckinley, an unpr'
cedented feat. on July Of the followin
year he touched at North sydney. c. p
aboard the schooner John r. Bradley an
made known that he was bound upon
scientific trip to the Arctic regions, Tw
months later word came from Etal
Greenland that the conqueror OF Mour
Mckinley was about to make dash f'
the North Pole. His hacker, John !
Tradley. later stated that his expedite
had been fitted out quietly and that
tine following spring the dash for the to
OF the earth would be begun.
The announcement of these promisin
plans. was followed by protrarted perlo
during which little was heard OF the COO
outfit. Finally becoming alarmed FOR n
safety carly In the present year rene
expedition was fitted out to 20 north
the summer and search for the explorer
The rescue party left New York late
the summer.
FIRST MESSAGE OF SUCCESS,
ON September l last the world We
startled by a message from DR. Cook
tho effect that he had reached the Mort
Pole. He attained his ambition and n
dream OF Commander Peary and numbe
less other explorers he said on April
5 1905. This message was received at II
colonial office In Copenhagen and ha
, been sent from Lerwick. Shetland island
. DR. cook WAS then on board the Dani'
0 Government steamship. Hans Egede, white
\ had passed Lerwick at noon September
: on route for Denmark. The telegram Al
I nouncing Cooks alleged achievement WI
e .ont by Greenland official on board Il
steamship and read as follows:
= I'VE have on board the Amsrics