Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1909-12-23
THE VERDICT WENT
AGAINST DR.. COOK
COMMITTEE HANDS IN ADVERSE REPORT
WHICH UPSETS COOKS CLAIM
TO NORTH POLE FAME

sity of Copenhagen, the first institu.
tion of learning to recognize Dr. Fred
erick A. Cook as discoverer of the
north pole, declared solemnly today
that the explorer had failed to estab-
lish the claim upon which his high
honors had been based.
The committee appointed by the
university to examine Cooks records
recently presented it's report to the
consistory of the university, which
reviewed the documents of the ex-
perts with the greatest care, and dis
cussed the findings from every stand
point. That the committee and the
consistory were disappointed was soon
known. .,~
Failed to Prove Claim.
The consistOry met today and
adopted written report to the effect
that the alleged records submitted for
examination by DR.. Cook failed to
prove his claim that he had reach
ed the north pole. "s."
The report of the committee, of
which Professor Stromgren was the
chairman, declared that Cooks papers
as presented to the consistory are
without any value. that his report to
the university is practically the same
as that published in the New York
Herald upon his return from his arc
tic expedition. The copies of his note
books submitted, the committee says,
contains no original calculations or
observations but only the results
thereof. Accordingly the committee
concludes that they afford no proof
of his having reached the pole.
No Surprise in New York
New York, Dec. 21.-News that the
university of Copenhagen had declin-
ed to accept DR.. Cooks claim that he
had reached the north pale came az
no surprise to-, scientific circles here
and to many of mis- friends, who had
been prepared for the result by early
indications that DR.. Cooks claims
would not be favorably passed upon.
DR.. Cook is now in Christiansand,
Norway, according to his brother,
VIM. L. Cook, who said that the doc
tor had greatly recovered from the
nervous breakdown from which he
was suffering when leaving here.
Mr.. Cook declared that the explor-
er was ready to go to Copenhagen to
give the university further informa-
tion concerning his claims. DR.. Cook
mysteriously left the Hotel Gramma-
tan in the Bronx, Nov. "a. where he
had gone to prepare his records sup
porting his claim that he had reached
the north pole. 1t now appears that
he sailed Nov. 27 on the steamship
Caronia for Naples where he remain
ed for several days. ... ..s.a ,-.-
This information was contained in a
letter the explorer sent to his broth
er, who said: do. Cook has authoriz-
ed me to announce that he is in Eu-
rope trying to get much needed rest
and that is all that can say.
AT the proper time my brother
will give out statement for publica-
lion and until he see fit to do so there
will be nothing for his friends to do
but to respect his wishes and allow
him to remain in seclusion."
Fooled Us All, Says Bradley.
"He has fooled us all from the king
If Denmark down." was the exclama-
ion of John r. Bradley, DR.. Cooks
packer in his arctic trip, when appris-
ID of the news from Copenhagen:
And he fooled me with the rest" Mr.. |
Bradley added. AS matter of
act, continued the sportsman, II long
lgo lost all interest in DR.. Cook, the |
forth pole and everything connected
With it. Poral bears and the wild life
# the arctic in general is the only
hing that has ever interested me
much in that connection, anyway"
DR.. Cooks claim that ne made the
scent Of Mt. Mckinley in Alaska, the
ighest peak in America, is now under
Investigation by committee of the
xplorers club here. DR.. Cook prom
sed to appear before the committee
fter he had completed his polar data,
ut he did not do so. His guide, Ed
'ard Barrill, who, Cook asserted, went
18th him up the mountain, came out
18th an affidavit few weeks ago de-
laring that they had not been within
everal miles of the peak.
e. r. Brownson makes First and
ec0nd mort1a1e loans. Graphic