The San Francisco call., 1909-09-04
To Honor Discoverer

i
formulated today to secure attendance
at the annual banquet eff the National
Geographic society in this city next
December of two famous explorers of
the polar regions. Doctor Cook and
Lieutenant Shackleton.
The society purposes to present TO
Doctor Cook and to Lieutenant Shackle-
ton handsome medals in commemora-
tiOn of their achievements.
Prof Willis L. Moore, president of
the society, said ii was the purpose,
IL possible, to have President Taft pre-
sent the medals and to make the ban
quet the most notable event in the
history OF the Geographic society.
Calls Story DeIusion
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3.-That Doc
tor Cooks reported discovery of the
north pole may be a mental illusion on
the part of the explorer superinduced by
the monotony of a two years sojourn
in polar regions, was the belief eX.
pressed today by DIR. Robert NJ Keely
Of this city. Doctor Keely accompanied
Peary on his North Greenland eXpedi-
tion in 1912 and thus became init
mately acquainted with Doctor Cook,
who was a member of the party.
From what 1 know of the Peary
expedition and the conditions near the
pole" he said, Il can only conclude
that Doctor Cook is making a sincere
statement, but the veracity of it is
a question of mental illusion.
DIsCREDITs ESKIMO
L do not believe it is impossible to
reach the pole, but it seems improbable
that one man can accomplish the feat
AS for the Eskimos, their testimony
is valueless. They do not even know
what the north pole means.
"Peary and Cook We're within 200
miles of each other, and if as reported
Doctor Cook made daily observations g
comparison of the conditions of the
ice or weather would mean "a great
deal If Peary reports an unusual con-
dition of the ice alone, it will partly
confirm Doctor Cooks statement, for
while nothing short of that could the
pole have been reached
The ice drift has never been north
ward, according to the reports of any
of the explorers in any expedition.
Travelling 100 miles in seven days
as Doctor Cooks story would indicate
seems impossible. 1 confidently be-
lieye that Doctor Cook was affected by
the strain of his journey and has come
to believe that he has really reached
the pole"
Score Doubling Thomases
NEW HAVEN, Conn, Sept. 3.-The
report that Chicago professors disbe-
lieve that DR.. Frederick A. Cook dis
covered the north pole called forth
criticisms by Director Chittenden of
the Sheffield scientific school. whose
guest Doctor Cook has often been, and
by Professor Brewer, who accompanied
Doctor Cook on one of his arctic trips.
Professor Chittenden said:
II think the stand taken by these
professors is manifestly unfair and is
certainly uncalled for. ] think they
should wait at least until his return
Professor Brewer said:
Il shall believe Doctor Cook until it
is proved he did not reach the pole"
Italian Adds Praise
ROME, Sept "a correspondent of
the Tribuna interviewed Captain Um-
berto Cagni, president of the interna-
tional polar commission and himself an
explorer. of note, on his arrival TODAY
at Gaeta aboard the battleship Napoli
Captain Cagni said what Doctor
Cook had done was a marvellous
piece Of enterprise worthy of his
daring. He believed Doctor Cook
would be tJcapable or scientifically
proving, up to certain point.
that he had reached the pole.
and declared that one who has the
courage to face the polar dangers can
not be man of bad faith.
The arctic explorer" said Captafn
Cagni. either must be genuine sci
enlist or swindler Doctor Cook is not
swindler. His undertaking is aston
ishing."
Captain Cagni hoped that when full
details were at hand they would be
magnificent proof that human activity
had accomplished the task which for so
long had defeated the scientists.
Professor Emanuelli the astronomer.
points out that Doctor Cook must have
witnessed the total eclipse of the sun.
which was visible only from the pole
just at the time he is supposed TO have
reached it. This. the astronomer said.
would give him an opportunity to prove
scientifically that he had reached the