Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-02
EXPEDITION TO MT. MKINLEY
INVESTIGATORS MAY GO TO
SCENE OF COOK EXPLOIT.
Explorers Club Determined to
Probe to- Bottom Climbing
Claim Of Traveller.

NEW YORK. October TT the evil
dence that the Explorers Club will re-
ceive pertaining to DR.. Frederick Cook 8
ascent of Mount Mckinley does not prove
to our satisfaction that he made the climb
the club will send an expedition to Mount
Mckinley next summer to ascertain
whether Cook did or did not reach the
top
Acting President Marshall Saville of
the Explorers Club, of which Commander
Peary is preslden. and DR.. Cook was
president at the time he went on the
Mount Mckinley trip, makes that asser-
ton.
To-day I expect to appoint the COM
mittee to make he inquiry" added Prof.
Saville. 1T will consist Of five men,
bers.
Il think DR.. Cook would welcome the
investigation. II we prove that he actu-
ally made the ascent 1t should be Of i'm
mense advantage to him.
Il tn nix is mighty bad taste for the
Explorers Club to take up this Mount
Mckinley business at this time said
DR.. r. o. Stebbins. chairman Of the ex-
ecutive committee Of the Arctic Club of
America.
Members Afraid Of Peary.
ut would be unsportsmanlike for the
Explorers Club to take any action
against Dr. Cook. What right has the
club to set itself up as a determining
body?
why wasn't this done long ago? The
last trip Of DR.. Cook to Mount Mckinley
was taken in 1906, I believe.
''It seems to me that most of the men,
bers of the Explorers Club are afraid of
Peary They don't want to do anything
that will offend him.
1.-The only person who, 1t seems to me,
can give any important evidence is Ed
ward Burrill, the guide who went with
DR.. Cook.
prof. Herschel c. Parker and others
who were in the party may shrug their
physical imposshility for DIR. Cook to
make the climb at the time he did. but
they have no facts to prove that he didn't.
All that they give is matter Of personal
opinion.
LAS regards the discovery of the north
pole by DR.. Cook. 1 wish to say that he
is not the plaintiff In the case and he
should not be expected to give out all his
evidence at this time After all the
charges against him are made 1t will be
time enough tar him to enter a defense.
The fact that the Danish geographers
accepted him as the discoverer satisfied
me of the truth of his claims"
Dinner to Peary Next Week.
The Peary Arctic Club is completing ar
rangements to give banquet in honor Of
Peary. 1t will be held at the University
Club, probably some time next week. aft
er the charges that Peary has formu-
lated against DR.. Cook have been made
public by the club.
Cyrus c. Adams of the American Geo
graphical Society. says that DR.. Cook
never made formal report of his Mount
Mckinley. trip to that organizat on. Prof
Saville says that fact Is not especially
significant. as DR.. Cook is not member
of the society and is under no obligations
to file such a report.
"No investigation Of DR.. Cooks report
ed ascension Of Mount Mckinley was ever
made by the society" said Mr. Adams
although 1t was within the province OF
the society to have done So.
BurrilI, Cooks guide, will be here next
week, says Prof Saville. DIR. Cook is con-
fident that Burrill will support his claims
Some of the Peary supporters say that
Burrill has a claim for wages against Dr.
Cook.
Cook Will Aid Club in Probe.
HARTFORD, Conn, October 2.-Dr
Frederick A. Cook. while passing through
this city yesterday, en- route to Boston,
said that he had preserved the records of
his climb to the apex of Mount Mckinley
and that he is willing to turn them over
to the investigating committee of the EN-
plorers' Club. which is now investigating
his claim of having made the ascent. He
said:
II think the investigation Of the Ex
plorers' Club will be a good thing for
me- 1t will Gear up the whole matter and
will set at rest any doubt as to the truth
of my climb. I am glad the club has
taken up the investigation and I VIII give
it every assistance possible If 1t desires