Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-07
DECLARE DIR. COOK
CLIMBED MOUNTAIN

NEW YORK, Sept 6.-The opinions
of most of the critics who have been
inclined to doubt DR.. Frederick A.
Cooks claim to having discovered the
north pole were based on his assertion
that he had assembled Mount Mckinley,
an assertion which is now fortified if
not proved by Capt. Joseph H. Heron
Of the United States army. who is more
intimately acquainted with the facts of
the Mount Mckinley expedition than
any one not actually concerned.
Captain Heron, who is now adjutant
of the West Point military academy,
has come actively to the defense of DR..
Cook and declares that after a most
searching investigation he was able to
verify the Brooklyn explorers claim
that he had climbed the great noun
tain.
Captain Heron is the young army
engineer who at the head of a small
expedition explored the Alaskan noun
tains and discovered the most direct
overland route to the Yukon gold fields
through Simpson pass. This had the
effect of opening the gold fields to the
commerce of the world, and has been
rated as a remarkable achievement.
Captain Heron, who Is the discov-
erer of Mount Foraker, which ranks
next to Mount Mckinley in that range,
was such an acknowledged authority
that his advice was sought by DR.. Cook
when preparing for the Mckinley eX-
pedition. DIR. Cook and Captain Her
ron went over the maps together and
discussed every question connected
with the attempt.
Convinced People
After his return, when his word was
in question, Dr. Cook had the strength
of Captain Herron's confirmation and
furnished data that convinced the peo-
pie that he spoke the truth when he
said he had reached the summit.
Brooklyn is preparing a demonstra-
ton on the return of its distinguished
son from his conquest of the north,
and as DR.. Cook has shipped most of
his data to this city 1t is believed that
he proposes to honor Brooklyn by sub
mitting to the world from here his OBJ
servations.
AS it is not yet known just when the
explorer will return, the arrangements
for his reception are not definite, but
in general way it Is proposed to make
his return a triumph.
The data and instruments with which
the observations were made before and
after reaching the north pole are now
on the way to this city in the custody
of Harry Whitney, the Brooklyn friend
of DR.. Cook, to whom they were given
when the explorer returned to Green
land. From this fact 1t Is apparent
that DR.. Cook proposes to submit his
proofs to a scientific jury of Americans
familiar with polar exploration
In Copenhagen DR.. Cook was request.
ed to submit his data, as number of
scientists had declared as accurate
astronomer and geographer would re-
uuire but a half hours time to deter
mine If he really reached the pole;
In reply to this request DIR. Cook re-
vealed the fact that he had shipped all
of his data and the Instruments to
New York, and that proofs of his claim
would be submitted to the world from
here as soon as he arrived.
According to Prof. Ellis Strongrln'
professor of the Copenhagen university
and one of the leading Danish geogra-
piers, who accepts DR.. Cooks claims
imnlicitlv, it would be impossible for
any one to concoct q series of false
a astronomical observations extending
over any considerable period.