The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-21

VI
 Iservations.
 Cook sought to silence his criticizers by stating that having submitted his by it's decision
 | This action followed the appointment
 by the Congressional Geographical Survey of a committee to. examine | Peary's data This committee report ed in favor of the commander.
 Cook sent his data to Copenhagen about two weeks ago. Captain A w. Loose and George H. Dunkle. an in surance agent. made affidavits to the effect that Loose had falxed many of the observations that Cook submitted to the Investigating committee Cook sent word from Lerwick. Shet- land Islands that he had reached the North Pole.' He had been absent since 1907 and for a time 1t was fear ed he had been lost in the Arctic His Iexpedition was financed by John R. fitted up for that purpose by Brad ley Last year 1t was finally admitted that he had probably perished and Dillon Wallace and other friends pre- pared to organize an expedition to search for him This work was aban- coned with the announcement that not only was Cook all right, but he had reached the objective point of ages of exploration on April 21. Cook soon reached Copenhagen and then the feel ing of unbelief began to spread throughout Europe. Scientists. espe- cially Tn England and America, voiced their disbelief but the Danes accepted his promises that he would prove all that he claimed and he was crowned the King of all explorers. made fell low of the University of Copenhagen. dined by the King and honored as no other explorer had ever been For four days Cook enjoyed the cen- ter of the stage and then came a des- patch from Commander Robert F. Peary. U. s. N. dated Battle Harbor, Labrador. saying:
 'I have nailed the stars and stripes to the North Pole"
 Following this. Captain Peary learn ed that Cook claimed to be the ori- gfnal discoverer of the Big Nail.' He, sent a despatch on September 10 say ing:
 Cook has simply handed the public a gold brick He has not been at the pole on April 21. 1908. or at any other made advisedly and at proper time will be backed by proof"
 Cook refrained from any attack on Peary with the result that in the pub lie mind he was soon regarded as a popular hero and when he sailed for the United States former associates in Brooklyn arranged an elaborate re- ception for him; he was met down the bay by tugs and steamers. escorted to Brooklyn, featured as the prominent actor in big street parade and dined by borough officials. Later he was gvien the freedom of New York city by the board Of aldermen.
 He took to the lecture platform and delivered lectures throughout the Uni- ted States until charges were brought against him by Birrill. the guide who accompanied him to the summit of Mt Mckinley. who declared Cook fax ei the records of that climb. Dr. Cook issued a statement that Birrill had "perjured himself for money" The claims against Cook became so insis- tent that he returned to New York and went into seclusion to await the result of the investigation of his data by the Danes.
 Washington. Dec. 21.-Commander Robert E. Peary. when shown the dis patch from Copenha gen regarding the report of the Cook investigating com mittee, made the following statement to the United Press:
 Three months ago. from the far Labrador coast. I sounded an explicit and deliberately worded warning to -the world based upon complete and ac- curate information in regard to the Cook claim.
 "In doing so I accepted the respon- sibility devolving upon me and fulfill world"
 The warning to which Peary referred was his cablegram from Indian Har- bor as follows:
 Cook has not been to the Pole April Fist. 1908. or any other date. He has simply handed the people a gold brick"
 Brooklyn. Dec 2L-"wen. I'm glad 1t was Dane who found the rotten ness in Denmark. anyway" was the comment of Herbert l.. Brfdgman. sec retary of the Pesry Arctic Club when first informed today by the United Press of the turning down of pr. Cooks records at Copenhagen- "T am also glad that the Danes had pre- viously evinced such friendship for pr. | Cook In view of the fact that the | decision today was made by men who | If biased at all. must have been biased in his favor. think that the public will regard the incident as closed and that there is no crowding in the niche 6iscoverer of the North Pole"
 Boston Dec. 21.-Discussing the re- port of the University of Copenhage on the polar observations of Dr. Cook l John Ritchie. former president of the Appalachian Club. said today that the | report of the consistory could not have l been otherwise and he was satisfied | that the University had taken a very proper position Mir. Ritchie main | tains that it is a very easy matter to sit in back parlor in Brooklyn | and make up observations covering a | place to which that one has never been | and that corroboratory evidences are | also necessary for the professional | world to give it credence. Mir Ritchie | said that from the beginning he had said that it was not a matter for the | newspapers or the public to decide. If