The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-12-25
Or. COOKS FINISH.
COPENHAGEN UNIVERSITY DE-
CI4ARES HE DID NOT DIS
COVER POLE.
Explorcr's Friends Begin to Believe
That as the Scentists' Findings
Assert, He Has Humbuggcd the
Public in His Statements.

Public In His Statements.
Copenhagen. Dec. 21.--The report
Of the special committee of scientists
which the University Of Copenhagen
appointed TO scrutinize DR.. Frederick
A. Cooks claims that he had discov-
cred the North Pole, was submitted
to the consistory OF the university
this morning. Endorsed by that body
and given to the public.
The report skaters completely, al
most contemptuously. the American
explorers title to such discovery and
nils the officials and people OF Dem
mark with chaErin at the figure Dem
mark 10 made to assume in the eyes
Of the scientinc world. The public
was prepared for a verdict of mot
proved" but did not expect It's recent
hero to be branded as an imposter.
Many still cling to the belief that
Cook acted in good faith. but har-
bored q deiusion.
Explorers and scientists almost
unanimously have lost faith in
Cooks honesty. while one Of the
warmest OF his supporters, Knud
Rasmussen. the explorer, helped to
frame the report. The evening pa
pers attack Cook and severely re-
proach him for hiding, which they re-
gard az sign Of guilty conscience
The rector Of the university, DR..
Salomonson, when asked as t. the
possibility Of the university cancel
ling the degree which II conferred on
DR.. Cook. said that no decision had
been reached but. he thought that
the degree could be withdrawn in the
same way az a government could de-
prive a person of an order obtained
under false pretense.
Commodore Gustav Holm. the Arc
tic explorer, q member of the COM
mittee. said:
Cooks claim that he made the
observation 80 degrees So minutes as
seconds near the pole proved imme-
&IStelx that Ae was A bad observer,
6att
swindler. Now hts papers convict
him OF being swindler. We exam
ined Cooks observations first, and
agreed unanimously that they were
worthless Loose's observations were
not used In the papers Cook submit
ted to the university"
Prof. Olensen, secretary of the
Denish Geographical Society. said:
1T Is the saddest event In my life.
AS an explorer there seems to be no
doubt that Cook is absolutely unre-
liable. ~ ~
The committee appointed by the
university to examine Cooks records
recently presented It's report to the
consistory Of the university which
reviewed the deductions Of the ex-
perts with the greatest care and dis
cussed the findings from every stand
point. That both the committee and
the consistory were disappointed was
soon known.
The consistox met today and
adopted a writ report to the ef-
feet that the alleged records submit
ted for examination by DIR. Cook fall
cd to prove his claim that he had
reached the North Pole. After OBJ
tanning all available information the
committee finds as follows:
First. the report of the expedition
sent to the university by DR.. Cook is
the same as that printed in the New
York Herald during the months of
September and October last.
Second. the copy Of Cooks note
books does not contain any original
astronomical observations whatso-
ever but only results.
Third, the documents presented
are inexecusably lacking in informa-
ton which would prove that the as
Economical observation therein refer
red to were really made; and also
contain no details regarding the
practical work Of the expedition and
the sledge journey which would en-.
able the committee to determine
their rliability.
The committee therefore is of the
opinion that the material transmit
ted for examination contains no
proof that DR.. Cook reached the
pole.
The report Is signed by all the
members OF the committee, which
was composed OF the following: Prof.
Ellis Stronrre nrofasaor d,ractor -.