Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-12-21
COOK DID NOT
REACH POLE
At Least He Failed to
Present Proof to
University
SOLEMN VERDICT RENDERED
Committee and Consistory at
Copenhagen Much
Disappointed.

| Copenhagen, Dec. 2l-The Univep
! sity of Copenhagen, the first institu-
tion OF learning to recognize DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook. as discoyerer of the
North Pole. today solemnly declared
/ that the explorer had failed to estab-
/ lish the claim on which his high hon
Ors had been based. The committee
appointed by the University TO ex-
anime Cooks records presented its re-
port to the cOnsistory of the univer-
sity which reviews the deduction of
experts With the greatest care That
both the committee and the con
sistory were disappointed was soon
known here The consistory met to-
Gay and adopted written report to
the effect that the alleged records sub
milted fer examination by DR.. Cook
failed to prove his claim. The report
of the committee. of which Professor
Stromgren was chairman. as present
ed to the consistory, states that Cooks
papers are without any value, that his
report to the University of Copen-
hagen is practically the same as that
published in the New York Herald on
his return from the Arctic expedition.
The copies of his notebook submitted,
says the committee. contains no origi-
nal calculations of observations, but
only the results thereof According
ly the committee concludes that he af-
fords no proof of having reached the
pole
The documents handed the commits
sion of the University for examination
are first, a type written report pre-
pared by Cooks secretary, Walter
Lonsdale. and covering sxty-one
pages foolscap; second, typewriter
copy made by Lonsdale from Cooks
notes books, This occupies sixteen
pages of foolscap and includes the
4 description OF period from March
! IS, 1908, to June IL, 1908. during
which, according to the statement of
Cook he journeyed from Svartevog to
the north pole and returned to point
on the polar ice specially indicated,
but west of AXelherderg land
The papers were not accompanied
by private letter from Cook, but Sec
retary Lonsdale stated verbally to the
commission that the original notes
and books of the explorer from which
copies were made had been sent to
Europe by another route as a precau-
tiOnary measure and would be deliver
ed to the university in the course of
a few days.
! In presenting the data, Lonsdale
stated explicitly and repeatedly that
the copy number two, was a complete
and accurate duplicate of the infor
nation contained in all of Cooks note
books that could be of any import
ance to the university In spite of the
explorers promises and his secre-
tary's assurance that they would be
forthcoming, the commission is not
yet in possession of the original note
books and diaries
Up to this time, it has been impos-
sible for the university authorities to
reestablish communication with DR..
Cook. The explorers address is not
even known to Lonsdale. After the
members of the examining committee
had made themselves acquainted in
dividually with material delivered and
; SO convinced themselves of its worth
lessness as the means of determining
whether Cook reached the pole, the
president of the committee, Prof.
Stromgren called general meeting
of the committee for last Friday,
when the report to the university and
which now is made pubic, was drawn
, up.
Lonrsdale Presents Letter
Lonsdale, who had been invited to
attend this melting to answer some of
: the questions, brought with him let.
ter addressed by Cook to Prof Torp
, of the university. The letter bore the
post mark, Marseilles. December IA,
but is dated New York, September 27.
In the letter, Cook stated that not
only were his instruments left at Etah
as indicated in his cable to the univer-
sity on October 20, but most of his as
tropomical observations also were
i, left there. and he adds. that without
these, it seems unwise and impossible
to pass final judgment on the expedi-
ton.
9 Friends Lose Faith in Cook.
Z New York, Dec. 21.-Dr. Cook is
$ now in Christiansand, Norway, ac-
; cording to William L. Cook, his BROTH
+ er. Mr.. Cook said that the doctor al
J. ready has greatly recovered from the
t nervous break down and was ready to
t. go to Copenhagen to give the univer-
d sity further information. HE has
b fooled us all, from King down. was
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