The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-29
Newspaper Man Declares That Cooks Words and Acts
 Are Suspicious
ASTRONOMICAL DATA
 GAN BE MANUFACTURED
WeIlman Argues That Cook Travelled Too Fast According to His Rec ords and That He Had Not
 Sufficient Equipment.

Washington. November 9.-waiter Weilman, whose preparations for con quest of the north pole In an airship were abandoned upon the announcement of the claims of Dr. Cook and Commander Peary. issued here tonight long state ment in which he analyses the narratives of the two explorers, declaring that of Peary precise, workma nike, consistent, credible in every particular" and de- nouncing that of pr. Cook as self-evi- dent and even deliberate imposture.
 Cooks story is suspicious both in what it does tell and in what it does not tell" MT. wellman declared.
 His story Is vague. but like most of his class, entirely too precise at the wrong place. Nowhere does his story ring true. It is always an approximation of reality itself.i This is true of his figures, his descriptions, everything.
 Those of us who have had share in Arctice work says wellman, in conclud- ing his analysis, and who have felt anx- ietys that no blot of fraud sffouid stain the proud record of effort and sacrifice. had hope that Dr. Cook would be able to demonstrate his good faith. This has dissolved in analysis Of his own story. A second hope-that he was the victim of some ha1lucination or mental illness and believed himself that he had been at the pole. though of course he has not, van ishes in the light of earlier and subse- quent events. There remains. though one says it with keenest regret, only the wretched alternative that the journey xxrhf foh ho l. he gave of it, were deliberately planned from the outset"
 Gist of Argument.
 The gst of MT. Wellman's finding is that with his meagre party and equip ment Dr. Cook could not possibly have accomplished the feat for which he claims credit: that his astronomical data are too precise to nave been mace under the claimed conditions in the field. and that the explorers dash for the lecture plat form and his acceptasce of crowns of flowers placed upon his head by inno- cent women and children" before sub mitting his field records to scientific ex- animation, adds to his discredIt.
 MT. Wellman attacks first Cooks story of his journey. He points out that Arc tic sledding is not a new venture nor an experiment, but has been reduced almost to a science. He proceeds to the propo- sition that the first thing to be done fin advancing over the ice fields is the re- duction to the minimum of the food and fuel to be carried, and secondly. the or ganixation of supporting parties that can be sent back fro mthe dwindling mail. hn1 on the final struggle to the goal. The longer the route, MT. Weliman sets forth necessarily the greater the weight of food and fuel. and in consequence, a much slower pace.
 compa rison of Deeds.
 Easing his argument mainly on these points, MT. Wellnan takes up a compar- ison of the supposed achievements of Peary and Cook. He quotes from the records to show that the former took his ship to within 46o miles of the pole, advancing supplies and his party E miles closer during the autumn and spring. Dr. Cook, he points out started from Anna took, 700 geographical miles from the pole, and went ITO geographical miles west ward before turning northward according to his own story.
 Peary. Wellman continues, mapped out his plans carefully for the advance and
 
 21 sleds. He divided his party 10 that he had four supporting parties who kept open the back trail and in leaving the main body frightened the loads that men and dogs were compelled to draw.
 pr. Cook had no supporting party, says Wellman, except for the first three days. His party consisted of three men, 26 dogs and two sledges for the long dash he made.
 That which he claims to have done," declares Mir Weilman. referring to Cook, with his equipment and organization. was physically impossible. It is beyond human power"
 Cook's Rapid Travel.
 Taking up in order pr. Cooks record of his trip northward, MT. Wellman points to the statement that the Cook party made 6s miles in three days. despite bad weather. rough ice and the necessity Of going twice over a big lead two miles wide. and this he adds, at a time when the siedge loads were heaviest. Cook, he says, thus travelled over . distance 27 per cent greater at a speed l0 per cent faster than Peary with his years of experience and his superior organization.
 MT. wellmAn Is especially caustic in his criticism of Dr. Cook for not turning over the records of his trip immediate ly to some scientific body. especially when his story was questioned by crit ics This he declares to be indefensible.
 The records. he says. of any Arctio .~~-~>~-~~-~~~-~~>>--
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