Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-29
Explorer Doubts Claims of
His Rival
SAYS REPORT BY PEARY Is
MORE CREDIBLE
DEFEATED ASPIRANT MAKES A
LONG STATEMENT
Man Who Wanted to Go to the Pole
in an Airship Makes a Bitter
Attack on Conqueror of
Frozen North
ASSOCIATED Pressl

w ASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-Walter
wv Wellman, whose preparations
for a conquest of the North
Pole in an airship were abandoned up
on the announcement of the claims of
Dr. Frederick A. Cook and Commander
Robert L. Peary, tonight issued a long
statement in which he analyzes the
narratives of the two explorers, declar-
ing that of Peary precise, workman
like, consistent, credible in every par
ticular" and denouncing that of Dr.
Cook as "self-evident and even de-
liberate imposture."
Cooks story is suspicious, both in
what it does tell and what it does
not tell" Mr., Wellman declares. He
is generally vague and indefinite but,
like most men of his class-altogether
too precise at the wrong place.
Nowhere does his story ring true
1t Is always an approximation of
reality itself. This is true of his fig
ures. his descriptions of everything
Those of us who have had a share
in Arctic work and who have felt
anxiety that no blot of fraud should
stain the proud record of efforts and
sacrifice, had a first hope that Dr.
Cook would be able to demonstrate his
good faith.
1T has dissolved in an analysis of
MS ONl StOINE ~ second nope, that
he was the victim of some hallucina-
tion or mental illness and himself be-
lleved he had been to the pole, though
! or course he has not-vanishes in the
light of earlier and subsequent events.
Wellman's Opinion
There remains, though one says it
with keenest regret, only the wretched
alternative that the Journey which he
did make and the report which he
gave of it were deliberately planned
from the outset"
The gist of Mr.. Welman's findings
is that. with his meager party and
equipment DR.. Cook could not possibly
have accomplished the feat for which
he claims credit, that his astronomical
data are too minutely precise to have
been made under the claimed condi-
tions in the field, and that the ex-
plorer's dash for the lecture platform
and his acceptance of crowns of
flowers placed on his head by innocent
women and children" before submit
ting his field records to scientific ex-
animation, all conspire to his discredit
Mr.. Wellman first attacks DR.. Cooks
story of his journey. He points out
that Arctic sledging is not new VEN
ture nor an experiment, but has been
reduced almost to a science.
He proceeds to the proposition that
the thing to be done in advancing over
the ice fields is the reduction to the
minimum of food and fuel and. sec
ordly, the organizing of supporting
parties that can be sent back from the
dWindling main body until the few who
are hardest enter on the final strug-
gle TO the pole.
The longer the route, he sets fortl
necessarily the greater the weight Of
food and fuel, and, in consequence IA
much slower pace.
Compares Their Work
Basing his argument mainly on these
principles, Mr.. Wellman takes up 4
comparison of the supposed achieve
ments of Peary and Cook.
He quoted from records to show that
the former took his ship to within 460
miles of the pole, advancing his sup
plies and his party forty-seven miles
closer in the autumn and spring.
Cook, he points out, started from
Annatok, 700 geographical miles from
the pole. and went 40 geographical
miles westward before turning north
ward according to his own story.
Peary. Wellman continues. mapped out
his plans carefully for the advance
and started with fifty or sixty men,
140 dogs and twenty-one sledges.
He divided his party so that he had
four supporting parties who kept open
the back trail and, in leaving the main
body lightened the loads which men
and dogs were compelled to draw.
DIR. Cook had no supporting party.
says Wellman, except for the first thres
days. His party consisted of three
men. tWenty-siX dogs and two sledges
in the long dash he made.
THAT which he claims to have done"
declares Mr. Wellman. referring to
Cook. with his equipment and Or
ganization, was physically impossible.
1t is beyond human power"
Later in his statement he adds:
THE laws of physics and mechanical
laws can no more be defed in the Arc
tic regions than elsewhere, save in the
Imagination"
Taking in order DR.. Cooks record
of his trip northward, Mr.. Welman
points to the statement that the Cook
party made sixty-eight miles in three
days, despite bad weather, rough ice
and the necessity of going twice of a
big lead two miles wide, and this, he
adds. at a time when the sedge loads
were heaviest
Travelled Too Fast
Cook, he says. thus travelled dis
tance 81 per cent greater at a speed
40 per cent faster than Peary with his
years of experience and his superior
Mr.. Wellman is especially caustic In
his criticism of Dr. Cook for not turn
ing over records of his trip immedi-
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