New-York tribune., 1909-11-29
NEW FOE OF COOK
Il DENUNCIATION BY
MR.. WELLM4N.
Comments of Explorer Who
attempted to Reach Pole
IN Balloon.

Pole, and who abandoned mis- plans on the
announcement OF the claims of DIR. Fred
eriek A. Cook and Commander Robert h
Ptary. tonight issued long statement. In
which he analyses the narratives cf the
two explorers. saying that OF Peary IS
precise. workmanlike, consistent, credible
in every particular" and denouncing that
OF DR.. Cook a self-evident and even de-
nberate imposture.
Cooks story Is suspicious both In what
IL does tell and what IL does not tell. Mr.
wellman declares He is generally vague
and indefinite but like most men of his
class. altogether too precise at the wrong
place. Nowhere does his story ring true
II is always an approximation Of reaiity
itself. This is true Of mis- figures his de-
criptions-eyerything
Those o: US who have had a share In
Arctic work" says Wellman. I'm concluding
his analysis. "and have felt anxiety that
no blot Of fraud should stain the proud
record OF effort and sacrifice. had at first
hoped that DR.. Cook would be able 10
demonstrate his good faith. This has dis
solved I'm analysis OF his own story.
second hOpe-that he was the victim OF
some hallucination or mental Illness ana
himself believed he had been TO the pole.
though Of course, he has nOt-vanishes in
the light Of earlier and subsequent events.
There remains, though one says II with
keenest regret, only the wretched alterna-
tive that the journey which he did make
and the report which he gave of II were
deliberately planned from the outset"
The gist OF Mr.. Welman's finding Is that.
with his meagre party and equipment DR..
Cook could not possibly have accomplished
the feat for which he claims credit, that
l.ar, tai.
else 10 have been made under the cOndi-
tions in the field and that the explorers
dash for the lecture platform and his ac-
ceptance of crowns of flowers placed upon
his head by innocent women and children
before submitting his ield records TO scien-
tihc examination all conspire TO his dis
credit
THE BASIS OF THE ATTACK.
Mr.. WelIman first attacks Cooks story
OF his journey. He points out that arctic
sledging is not a new venture or an expert
ment. but has been reduced almost 10 a SCI
ence. He proceeds to the proposition that
almost the first thing to be done In advanc-
ing over the ice fields is the reduction to the
minimum OF the food and fuel TO be car
Tied. and that the second is the Organiza-
tiOn OF supporting parties which can be
sent back from the dwindling main body,
until the few who are hardest enter on
the final struggle to the goal. The longer
the route, he sets forth. necessarily the
greater weight of food and fuel, and in con-
sequence a much slower pace.
Basing his argument mainly on these
principles, Mr.. Wellman takes up COM
parison OF the supposed achievements OF
Peary and Cook. He quotes from the rec
ords TO show that the former took his ship
10 within go miles of the pole. advancing
supplies and his party forty-seven miles
closer during the autumn and spring. Cook.
he points out, started from Annotok, 200
geographical miles from the pole and went
10 geographical miles westward before
turning northward. according TO his own
story.
Pesry. Wellman continues. mapped out
mis- plaus carefully for the advance, and
started with fifty or sixty men. lao doss
and twenty-one sledges. He divided his
party SO that he had four supporting par
ties who kept open the back trail and in
leaving the main body lightened the loads
that men and dogs were compelled 10 draw.
DR.. Cook had no supporting party, says
Wellman. except for the first three days.
His party consisted of three men, twenty
six dogs and two sledges.
That which he claims TO have done"
declares Mr.. Wellman. referring TO Cook.
with his equipment and organization, was
physically impossible. II is beyond human
power" Later I'm his statement he adds:
THE laws of physics and mechanical
forces can no more be defied and ignored
IN the Arctic regions than elsewhere. save
in the Imagination
Taking up in order DR.. Cooks record OF
his trip nOrthward. Mr. wellman points to
the statement that the Cook party made
sixty-eight miles in three days. despite bad
weather rough ice and the necessity OF go
ing twice over a big lead two miles wide
and this, he adds, at time when the siedge
loads were heaviest Cook. he says, thus
travelled over a distance % per cent greater
az a speed 40 per cent faster than Peary
with his years OF experience and his su-
peFior organization.
Mr. welman is especially caustic in his
criticism OF DR. Cook for not turning ever
the records Of his trip Immediately 10 some
scientific body especially when his story
was questioned by critics. This. he says,
Is indefensible
REVISION OF THE RECORDS.
The records he says. u any Arctic trav-
eller need no revision. for. if they are hon
estly inscribed. they cannot be subject 10
7
kepI in dirty. greasy. Grimy rOteoooks,"
the inscriptions in which have been
''penned with frOstbitten fingers ~ a weary
man lying in the half darkness Of a rein
deer skin bag WITHIN snow hut or a tent. ="
Let IL be understood says Mr. Well
man. that such records are oiways ready.
They are complete and perfect tie moment
they are written. They can be turned o,er
10 a scientific committee In two minutes as
well as In two months-and pluch better"
Mr.. Wellman SCOTS al Cooks astronomi-
cal data, especially the observation which
the latter says he took within 4ls feet of
the pole. He is indeed a marvellous t.tv-
eller." says Wellman, who can average
l5.5 miles a day for more than a month
over sea ice. with heavy sledges, and a
marvellous astronomical observer who can
locate his position yithIn 400 feet-four
minutes walk-and tnen advance for the
purpose OF locating il more closely still
like the story OF the amateur noun
tain climber who ascendeI a peak AMI re-
turned with a report that Re measured iis
altitude by barometer and found II 10 be
s miles 25 rods feet 3ss inches
Mr.. Wellman fatty says that such ohser-
vations could be manufactured anywhere
by anybody. and 20 support this assertion
he includes an observation" such as
might have been made at the North Pole
on April p. 1905. which ! made to-day in
Washington with a pencil and a nautical
almanac. Any one who knows nautical