Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-22
TREAl MENT OF UNIVERSITY
DEN0UNCEDAS SHAMELESS
Rector Thorp Says Degree Conferred
Upon Brooklyn Explorer on the
Strength Of His Assertion That He
Had Discovered the North pole May
Be Withdrawn.
fBy Associated PressD

~ h~-NiiEhNfI<-Ns DCN~~- - Ht IT,
port 0f the special committee Of
scientists which the University of
Copenhagen appointed to scrutinize
DR.. Frederick A Cooks claims that
he had discovered the north pole was
submitted tc the consistory of the
university this morning.
The report skaters completely. al
most cCEtemptuOusly. the American
explorers title to such discovery and
fills the officials and people of Den
mark with chagrin at the figure Den
lcark is made to assume sin the eyes
Of the scientific world. The public
was prepared fer a verdict of not
proven" but did net expect its recent
hero to be branded as an impOster.
Many still cling TO the belief that
Cook acted in gocd faith, but harbcred
. deiusicn
Experts Have Lost Faith.
Explorers and scientists almost
unanimously have lost faith in Cooks
honesty, while one Of his warmest
supporters. Knud Rasmussen, the ex-
plorer. helped to frame the report
The evening papers attack Cook and
severely reproach him for hiding,
which they regard as a sign Of
guilty conscience.
The rector Of the university, Dr.
Salomonsen. when questioned as 10
the possibility of the university can
ceiling the degree which it conferred
on DR.. Cook, said that no decision
had been reached. but he thought that
the degree could be withdrawn in the
same way as a government could de-
prive 4 person of an order obtained
under false pretenses.
Commodore Gustav Holm, the arctic
explorer and a member OF the commit
tee, said:
Convicted as SwindIer.
Cooks claim that he made the
observation 50 degrees 80 minutes s: 4G
seconds near the pole proved i'm
medatcly that he was bad observer.
Now his papers convict him of being a
swindler. We examined Cooks OBJ
servaticns first and agreed unani-
mously that they were worthless"
Professor Oluesen. secretary of the
Danish Geographical Society said:
1t is the saddest event in my life
AS an explorer there seems to be
70 doubt that Cook is absolutely un-
reliable
The committee appointed by the
university to examine Cooks records
recently presented its report to the
Ccnsistory CT the university. which re-
viewed the deductions with great care
and discussed the findings from every
standpoint
That both the committee and the
Consistory were disappointed was soon
known.
Written Report Adopted.
The consistcry met today and
adopted a written report to the ef-
feet that the alleged records sub
mitted for examination by DR.. Cook
failed TO prove his claim that he had
reached the ncrth pole.
After obtaining all available in
formation, the committee finds as fol-
lows:
First the report Of the expedition
sent TO the university by DIT. Cook
is the same as that printed in the
New York Herald during the months
cf September and October last.
Second. the COPY Of Cooks note
book does not contain any original
observations whatsoever.
DIT onif results.
Third. the documents presented are
inexcusabiy lacking in information
u hich would prove that the astrcno-
micai observations therein referred TO
were really made. and also contain
no details regarding the practical
work 81 the expedition and the sledge
journey which would enable the com
mittce 20 determine their reiiabu-
iiy.
The committee therefore. is Of the
opinirn that the material transmitted
sor examination contains no proof
that Dr. Geek reached the pole.
The report is signed by all the
members 81 the committee. which vas
comm scd e. the following.
Professor Ellis Stronger. director
o. tho astrc nomicai observatory. Dr.
C. r Pcchuie. astronomer attached
fc the observatory. Gustav Holm. eN-
plorcr. Professor 4 3. CCnsen. presi-
dent ~ the school 81 navigation. Dr.
Redcr. director OF the meteorological