The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-22
This Is the Verdict of the Com- mittes at University of
 Copenhagen
COOKS FRIENDS WONDER
 WHAT HE PLANS ID DO.
Explorer Has Made Fortune By Lee. turing and Can Remain in Re- tirement if He Wishes-Where-
 abouts, Are Still Unknown.

New York, December 21--Thus ends one of the most fascinating chapters in all of the romance of exploration. Honored by the King of Denmark, heralded by the University of Copenhagen, garlanded with wreaths of roses by young girls, accorded the freedom of the city of New York and acclaimed by thousands the length and breadth of the land as the bravest man who ever dared the silent terrors of the Arctic. pr. F. A. Cook tonight stands discredited in the opinion of his friends.
 Not word from him in defense or explanation was forthcoming, but dis avowals from his partisans In the con- troversy that has ragged about him ever since he first flashed word from Leruick in the Shetland Islands to his wife 'Suc- cessful well. address Copenhagen were conspicuous in their absence.
 Even that address is lacking tonight. Only his brother still stands stoutly by him and refuses to believe that the yer dict of the University of Copenhagen has been correctly reported.
 Interest tonight turns to three Ques- tions:
 Where Is the doctor?
 What will he have to say for himself? What will he do with himself?
 Charles Wake, a close friend, and Dr. Cooks brother in Brooklyn both say that the former milk wagon driver Is at some obscure town in Norway with his wife, but the children are in school in this country.
 A friend who has had opportunity to see a private letter from Dr. Cook, 1t is asserted, to the rector of the University
 
 then that in event of an adverse decision he would take appeal to the other scl- entific tribunals of the world.
 A man who made trip with pr. Cook to Hamilton, Ontario, where he had a business conference with the guide, Bar Till. who denied that the doctor had ever completed the ascent of Mt Mckinley, said today, it is declared:
 ''On the way back to the east the doc- tor was asked what lie would do if the University of Copenhagen found against him"
 T haven't thought of that" answered the doctor, says the man.
 The friend insisted on the thought
 "Well' replied the doctor, the friend said q think they will be satisfied with the data, and if they don't will go back among the Esquimaux of Greenland and there endeavor to carry on such scientific exploration that will eventually sustain ell of my theories.
 Henry w Wacx Dr. Cocks lawyer and the friend who is the authority for the statement above made, it is said, was asked tonight how much money had been made by pr. Cook in this country and abroad in his lectures.
 More than ss0000," said Mir Wack.
 More than s100,co0,'' said another friend.
 Both men agreed that should the doc for elect to spend the remainder of his :, ;x tbo ,o ba lately chosen he need never want for com fort.
 The board of aldermen who voted Dr. Cook the freedom of the city on his re- turn to this country have formulated resolution and will introduce it to have their grant withdrawn if Dr. Cook is found to be mammoth mendicant
 Verdict Against Cook.
 Copenhagen, December H.--The report of the special committee of scientists which the University of Copenhagen ap- Nointed to scrutinize Dr. Frederick A. dook's claims that he had discovered the north pole was submitted to the con- sstory of the university this morning, indorsed by that body and given to the public.
 The report shatters completely, almost contemptuously, the American explorers title to such discovery and fills the off, uclalS ana peOple ul DcuiuuTk Will SAio- grin at the figure Denmark is made to assume in the eyes of the scientific world. The public was prepared for verdict of mot proven" but did not expect its recent hero to be branded as an imposter. Many still cling to the be- lief that Cook acted in good faith but harbored a delusion.
 Explorers and scientists almost unan- imously have lost faith in Cooks hon. esty while one of his warnlest support CTS, Knud Rasmussen, helped to frame the report. The evening papers attack Cook and severely reproach him for hid ing which they regard as a sign of 8 guilty conscience.
 The rector of the university, Dr. Torp, when questioned as to the possibility of the university cancelling the degree which it conferred on Dr. Cook, said that no decision had been reached. but he thought that the degree could be withdrawn in the same way as a gov ernment could deprive person of an or der obtained under false pretenses.
 Commodore Gustav Holm, the Arctic explorer, and a member of the commit tee, said: Cooks claim that he made the observation SS deErees. 59 minutes 4s seconds near the pole proved imme- diately that he was bad observer. but nothing indicated that he was swindler Now his papers convict hin of being swindler. We examined Cooks observn- tions first and agreed unanimously tnat fhev were worthless. Lcose's observa- tions were not used in the papers pr. Cook submitted to the university.
 Professor Olufson, secretary of the Danish Geographical society, said:
 Tt Is the saddest event in my Ire. As an explorer there seems to be no doubt that Cook is absolutely unre- lable."
 The National Tidende, while deplor- ing that the university conferred the degree in a moment of enthusiasm. finds consolation in the fact that ofh- CTS lonored Cook when he returned to civilization.
 'The president of his own country and It's envoy to Copenhagen,' says the paper. were the guarantors for him, Denmark alone did not blunder.
 CONTINUED ON FACE 4.)