Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-24
No Reason Why PssIy
Should Submit Proofs
Of His Trip 10 North Pole 10
The Danish Experts.
Reasons Why Ne Should Mot.
Cooks Brother Fears Foul Play.

Washington. Dec. 23-Rear Admiral
Schley's demand that Commander
Peary submit his polar data to the
consistory of the University Of Copen-
hagen for verification, following that
body's Reputation of DR.. Cook, has
raised a storm among the membership
of the National Geographical Society,
which gave Peary a clean bill Of
health. -.-
The leading members claim that sci
entists of the United States would be
demeaning themselves If they ac-
knowledged that their findings needed
verification. There seems to be no dis
position to withhold from the Copen-
hagen board the data filed by Peary,
but there is a well-defined opposition
against turning it over to the Danish
scientists for official action.
The argument advanced by Admiral
Schley that such examination would
removed all questions of doubt from
the claim of Peary is accepted as rath-
er gratuitous. The records OF Peary
have been found unimpeachable by
American scientists and, therefore, the
question is not whether Peary is right
hut whether the scientists are wrong.
Nothing can be gained by submit
ting Commander Peary's data to the
University of Copenhagen, said Prof..
Gannett, who was chairman of the
committee that passed upon Peary's
proofs, land l don't see any reason
why he should. The committee which
passed upon his papers is fully quail
fed to arrive at an unbiased conclu-
sion, notwithstanding that almost ev-
ery member is acquainted with Com
mander Peary. 1 need not say that the
investigations were carried on along
scientific lines, without regard to the
personality or the standing of either
claimant"
Rear Admiral Chester, who attacked
Cooks data some time ago, denounced
Admiral Schley's proposal as absurd.
He declared he did not believe that
the University of Copenhagen would
consider a request for the proofs and
that the whole matter was mares
nest. He also drew attention to the
fact that the Royal Geographical So
ciety of England and the Geographical
Society of Berlin have already ac-
hIlONl euScu cal lIlC uioNoNSiNi VI
the pole and that the latter society
had planned to honor Peary in Berlin
next year. Also he mentioned the YER
dict of the Due D'Abruzzi, himself an
explorer of no small fame, that Peary
placed foot on the apex of the world
as additional proof why the demand
of Admiral Schley might we'll be ig-
nored.
A cablegram dated Copenhagen. to
j. Howard Gore, one of the members
of the special committee selected to
look into Dr. Cooks data, unofficially
announced that the Danish scientists
have sent their report on Cooks data
to the National Geographic Society.
The report and the field note book of
DR.. Cook will probably be reviewed by
the committee early next month. Upon
the submission of the original observa-
tons of DR.. Cook, the field note book
which he kept on his Arctic travel, as
he says, will hinge the verdict of the
The meeting of the
subcommittee will be held probably
during the first week in January.
Two elements figure in the deferment
of the meeting of the subcommittee
until the first of the year. First, the
disposition to give Dr. Cock every pos
sible opportunity to present his OBJ
servations, and second. the absence of
Rear Admira! Piilsbur!. who went to
Boston the day of the university's YER
dict. Admiral Pillsbury will return just
after the Holidays and the meeting will
then be called at once. Meantime the
conclusions Of the Copenhagen inves.
tSators will probably be here for
formal submission to the sub-commit.
tee and Some answer may have been
received from DR.. Cook as to the re-
quest for his original observations.
While it recognizes that the burden
of sentiment has been largely against
DIR. Cook as the result of the Copen-
hagen verdict, the committee proposes
to be by no means governed by that
decision.
The subcommittee, in case it fails
to receive the original data, will re-
port that DR. Cook failed to produce
any papers that proved he reached the
pole.
The society's request for his original
data was made personally to DR.. Cooks
friend, Mr.. Wake. in New York City.