Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-21
The Cook Claim Disproved.

When DIR. Cook came out of the frozen
eeas and announced that he had reached
the north pole he was acclaimed with
practically universal agreement as the
discoverer of that lang sought point Inc
first whisperings of jealousy and sus-
picion were cried down as unworthy OF
honest men and undeserved by one VINO
had unquestionably braved the Ice ana
In whose favor rested every PRESUMPTION
of good faith. For generations the polar
search had been In progress Huhoreos
of lives had been sacrificed In 1t, mil
lions of money expended The wofio
had come to regard the men engaged In
it as in class apart zeaiots In the
cause of science. crusaders for the sake
of knowledge. 1t was impossible to con-
ceiye of charlatanry in such a quest.
in surprisingly short time another man
came down from the north and announced
that he, too. had reached the pole. one
year later than Cook He had Deeh
working In the polar field for years.
Upon learning of Cooks claim he de-
nounced him a fraud. unfortunately
IN language that so seriously Jared upon
the public sense of fair play that his own
case was for time seriously pre1udiceo.
Now, after many weeks of bitter con-
evidence tending to cast cumulative doubt
upon DR.. Cooks performance and 10
lessen public confidence in him as man
and an explorer. the case has been de-
cided, SO far as his claim goes. by the
tribunal of his own selection, the Uni
yersity of Copenhagen, of the highest
standing in the scientific world. and Ger
tainly free from prejudice against Dr.
Cook The university declares. after an
examination of the records. notes,
observations and narrative submitted to
it. that DIR. Cook has failed to prove
that he reached the north pole. Its
verdict is of the Scotch variety. but so
inclusive IN its negation as to amount
to a sweeping denial of the Cook claim. 1t
seems no longer possible to believe that
DR. Cook penetrated to the polar point. He
mus. it appears. be rejected by the world
as a fraud whose like has never before
beon known. as one who has deliberately
played upon the credulity and the good
faith of men. for the sake of a few weeks
of praise and honor and few thousand
dollars
In this hour Of humiliation, of shaken
faith and of bitter reflection upon the
depravity of mind that plays for gain
upon the generous impulses of mankind.
there is one comforting thought. Through
out the controversy those who believed
In DR.. Cook-and they were in a large
majority-held firmly to the theory that
however base man might be in the
ordinary walks of life. one would
trife with the public confidence in a
matter like the quest for the pole, which
in the nature of things must remain
largely an enterprise of honor. 1t is in
fnitey to the credit of men that they
preferred to believe DR.. Cook rather than
to disbelieve, that they cast aside skepti-
cism and held to their standard of good
faith. The Cook episode has at least
had one good effect. 1t has demonstrated
And conversely this table exhibit
ton of deceit has had its bad effect in
rendering more difficult the task Of
scrupuIously honest men who may here
after venture into the dark corners of
the world and return with tales Of
wonder finds.
AS for DIR. Cook. now rejected by his
own chosen jury. 1t il to be hoped that
he will never reappear In the sight Of
man. There il no place for him in the
realm of civilization. He has had his
brief hour of glory and has taken the
need of his mepdacity-a pitifully small
sum for a mans honor and the worlds
faith.