The Detroit times., 1909-12-22

COPENHAGEN. Dec. 22-Denmark
Is today divided into three camps re-
garding the exploded North Pole dis
covery claim OF DR.. Fred. A. Cook. A
handful OF people. including the in
spector OF North Greenland, who still
believe he reached the pole: a large
number who think Cook believed he
reached the pole. and an overwhelm-
ing majority who declared that the
Brooklyn man is the greatest imposter
OF modern times
The generally accepted view is that
Cook wandered around in the Arctic
region in search OF the pole. but with
out sufficient scientific knowledge 10
know where he went. When he
emerged from the Polar wilds ne de-
termined, according TO the Danish
opinion, to make a bold claim 10 the
discovery of the pole, stalking every
thing on the forlorn possibility that
the meager and unscientific observa-
tions that he had made might posi-
bly, substantiate his claim.
The mere taking OF such a gamble
thoroughly discredits Cook as a scien-
tist and Arctic explorer. the Danes as
sert, but when he attempted 10 bolster
up his claim by observations that OBJ
viously could never have been made
and with other alleged evidence that
the veriest novice would have known
TO be insufficient, he quilted the role
OF gambler and entered the ranks
OF monumental swindlers. in the opin-
ION of Danish people.
A determined effort was made today
by members OF the committee that
threw out Cooks claim TO find the ex-
plo-er, but no trace OF him could be
found The. committee was under the
impression that IL knew where Cook
was but IL is now convinced that
Cooks statements as 10 his where
abouts were false and made with the
hope that they would lead the COM
raittee to believe that he was honest
In his expressed desire TO appear be-
fore the committee. If II so desired.
Even Walter Lonsdale, Cooks private
secretary. said today he did not know
where Cook was.
The fasco has forever discre6ited
the scientific standing of all those who
at first accepted Cooks story. The
University OF Copenhagen is coming
IN for general condemnation for its
haste in championing the explorer andl
thereby aiding him to pose before the
worlG for three months as the greatest
discoverer OF the day.
In view OF the fact that Cook pre-
sented absolutely no satisfactory evi-
dence 20 the university the public can
not understand how the university and
Danish scientists generally were
duped by his first story.
Director Steen. Of the meteorologi-
cal observatory. expressed regret to-
day that all of Cooks data and his
Instruments could not have been ex-
amincd ny the committee Cook
records were found insufficient" tho
director said. "out am not yet ready
to conclude that he is a fakir" +"
Another one OF Cooks former
friends who has not altogether de-
serted him l. Captain Roald Amund-
sen. lie thinks Cook in his desire
not 10 appear dilatory, greatly handi-
capped himself before the committee
by submitting incomplete data He
says Cook should have waited until the
material lef: at Etah could have been
presented 10 the committee Il have
known Cook for ten years" Amundsen
said. u still believe he acted in good
faith. I don't believe he reached the
pole. hut believe he thought he did
The attempted defense of Cook meets
with no response from the press