The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-30

facture Records and POINTS TO SIM
ilarity of Peary's Statements.
San Jose. Cal, Nov. 30.-Maurice
Connell. observer at the y. s. weather
bureau and a survivor of the Greedy
North Pole expedition defends Cook
from the recent attack of Walter Well
man, who made two disastrous at
tempts to reach the pole in an airship
and denounced Cook as an imposter.
Connell finds much advantage In
Cooks plan of having the fewest men
possible in an expedition and ridicules
Wellman's point that latitude observa-
ton could be manufactured at any
time. and says Cook could not manu-
facture time observation, longitude
observation nor magnetic observations.
nor could he state whether the pole
was on land or sea unless he had been
there. Connell cites the similarity or
many statements of both Peary and
Cook, and declares Peary in every de-
tail confirms Cook.
Says Cook is a Fakir.
washington, Nov. 30.-Walter Well
man, whose preparations for the con-
quest of the North pole in an airship
were abandoned upon the announce
ment of the claims of DR.. Frederick
A. Cook and Commander Robert e.
Peary has issued here tonight a state
ment in which he analyses the narra-
tives of the two explorers, declaring
that of Peary precise workmanlike
consistent and credible in every par
ticular," and denouncing that of DR..
Cook as a lf-evident and even delib-
crate imposture.
Cooks story is suspicious both In
what It does and what It, 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. No
where does his story ring true. It's
always an approximation of reality
itself. This is true of his figures, his
descriptions and everything.
"Those of us who have had a share
in the Arctic work." says Mr.. Well
man. concluding his analysis, "and
who have felt anxiety that no blot OF
fraud should stain the proud record of
effort and sacrifice. had hoped that
DIR. Cook would be able to demonstrate
his good faith. This hope has been
dissolved in the analysis of his own
story. A second hope-that he was
the victim of some hallucination or
mental Illness. and himself believed he
I, a 20 thnnRh
he has not-vanishes in the light OF
earlier and subsequent events. There
remains, though one says 1t with the
keenest regret. only the wretched al
tentative that the journey he ala
make, and the report which he gave
it. were deliberately planned from the
outset"
The gist OF Mr.. wellman's finding
is that with his meagre party ana
equipment DR.. Cook could not POSSIBLY
have accomplished the feat for when
he claims credit, that his az ronomlcai
data are too minutely preci to nave
been made. under the claimed condl-
tions in the field. and that the eXpior--
er's dash for the lecture platform and
flowers placed upon his head by inno-
cent women and children" before sub
mitting his field records to scientific
examination all conspire to his dis
credit.
DR.. Cook is Located.
New York, Nov 30-They have found
DIR. Frederick A. Cook-that is. an
authoritative statement has been is
sued by his brother, w. l.. Cook, saying
that the explorer. who mysteriousiy
dropped from public view Saturday
was still in the vicinity of New York,
recuperatipg. He was on the verge OF
a nervous breakdown and his retire
ment was absolutely necessary.
The statement as issued by Mr.. Cook,
follows:
DR. Cook is in the vicinity of New
York, trying to get a much needed
rest. If he decides to go to Europe
there will be no secrecy concerning his
departure. think that his friends and
critics alike should be charitable enough
to allow him to rest until his health Is
restored. He has not been reading the
newspapers for the last few days and
Is not responsible for the statements
issued by those who were acting as his
spokesmen.
'In sending his data to Copenhagen,
DIR. Cook has fulfilled his obligations
to the public"