The Monte Vista journal., 1909-12-25
DR.. COOK DID NOT
REACH THE POLE
UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN
PRACTICALLY BRANDS HIM
AS AN IMPosroR.
he HAS NO DEFENDERS
KNup RASMUSSEN CALLS COOKS
PAPERS CHILDISH ATTEMPT
At CHEATING.


Copenhagen.-The report Of tho
special committee of scientists, which
the University Of Copenhagen ap-
pointed to scrutinize DR.. Frederick A.
Cooks claims that he had discovered
the North pole. was submitted to the
consistory Of the university Tuesday
morning. endorsed by that body and
given to the public.
The report skaters completely, al.
most contemporary. the American
explorers title to such discovery and
fills the officials and people Of Den.
mark with chagrin at the figure Den.
mark Is made to assume in the eyes
Of the scientific world.
The public was prepared for = YER
dict Of mot proven" but did not ex-
pect its recent hero to be branded ~
an impostor. Many stin cling to the
belief that Cook acted in good faith.
but harbored delusion.
Explorers and scientists almost
unanimously have lost faith in Cooks
honesty. while one of his warmest
supporters. Knud Rasmussen. helped
to frame the report. The evening pa
pers attack Cook and severely re-
proach him for hiding. which they re-
gard ~ = sign Of . guilty conscience.
The rector Of the university. DR..
Salomonson. when questioned ~ to
the possibility Of the university can.
ceiling the degree which It conferred
on DR.. Cook. said that NO decision had
been reached. but he thought that the
degree would be withdrawn in the
sane way. - . government could de-
prive . person Of an order obtained
under false pretenses.
Commodore Gustav Holm, the Arc
tic explorer. and . member Of the
committee. said:
Cooks claim that he made the OBJ
servation 80 degrees 50 minutes e
seconds near the pole proved immsdi.
ately that he was bad observer. but
nothing indicated that he was . swim.
der. Now his papers convict him Of
being . swindler. We examined Cooks
observations first, and agreed unani.
mously that they were worthless.
Loose's observations were not used in
the papers Cook submitted to the
university"
Professor Olufsen. secretary Of the
Danish Geographical Society. said:
1T IL the saddest event Of my life.
Az an explorer there seems to be NO
doubt that Cook 10 absolutely unrs.
liable"
The National Tidende. while deplor.
ing that the university conferred the
degree TN . moment OF enthusiasm.
finds consolation In the fact that 9th.
ers honored Cook when he returned to
civilization.
"The President OF his own country
and its envoy At Copenhagen" says
the paper. "were the guarantors for
him. Denmark did not blunder alone.
Our country must now leave this sad
affair to America and Cook
In an interview Tuesday night Knud
Rasmussen said:
first because l was one Of DR.. Cooks
strongest supporters. Later. however.
I Was invited to the investigation and
when saw the observations realized
II was Q scandal.
NY confidence In Cook had been
based on personal Impressions. ON re.
ports that I had received. and also on
the testimony OF the Eskimos. when
they all said that he had made the trip
from Cape Sparbo 10 Etah. and such
. trip during the dark Of winter would
suffice 70 make . man famous. But
the papers which Cook sent to Copsn.
hagen UniveSsity are almost impudent.
No school boy coald make such calcu.
1atioas. Il y Q most childish attempt
at cheating. Cook has killed himself
By his own foolish act"
Commodore HovgAard. the explorer,
said:
Although Il he's not been proved
that Cook diA not reach the pole, can
oaly regard Cook now - IN impostor. !"
4sisys's Army osseatsd.
Washlngtoa.-xelaya's troops were
routed BY the Nicaragua Rsvoiutioa.