The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-16
still Pecking at Cook.

CSkAAiS, 80 SSSAs
The partizans of Peary are moving
heaven and earth to discredit DR..
Cooks claim that he discovered the
north pole, hut SO far they have
only gotten a few liars and confess,
ed bribe takers to attack his claim
that he is the first man who ever
reached the top of the earth. We
do not know whether he got there
or not. but being man of charac-
ter and veracity, according to his
neighbors. we are bound to believe
him when he says he did, unless
his statement Is disproved by more
reputable witnesses than have yet
been brought against him by his
enemies. Let us examine the men
who have been used to irnpeach the
veracity and reputation OF DR.. Cook,
and we will find scurvy set who
seemed to be willing to swear to any
thing that they were paid to swear
to.
Take Barrials, the first fellow they
,trotted> out. According. to his own
statement. he helped DR.. Cook for
a consideration, to fool the public
that he had asended to the top Of
Mount Mckinley. This fellow even
allowed himself to be taken in q
picture with DR.. Cook and printed
in Dr.. Cooks book about Mount
Mckinley with the statement that
it was taken at the top Of the noun
tain. He allowed this statement to
stand until he was hunted up by
the enemies OF DR.. Cook after he
had discovered the north pole, and
then Barrials comes out and says
DR.. Cook never ascended Mount Nc
Kinley, ,confessing of course that he
lied when he said Cook had ascend
ed the mountain. Of course he was
paid to say this. Now how much
confidence can be placed in such
man as that?
Then they trot out two more wit
nesses in the person Of one Duncan,
an insurance broker, and one Capt,
Loose, a navigator, who make af-
fidavits just about the time that DR..
Cooks records are due in Copen-
hagen, that they helped Cook in
the taking Of polar observations and
These affidavits were
bought. printed and circulated by the
New York Times. paper that has
fought Cook ever since the Brooklyn
man kicked out of the traces several
years ago and cut loose from the
Peary expedition. How much these |
two worthless were paid for their
afidavits is not stated, but that they |
got good round sum for making |
hem is the general opinion.
The mon who sold the affidavit.
,laim that Cook promised them four
thousand dollars for their work and
only paid several hundred dollars
If the sum promised, whereupon, ia
he absence Of Doctor Cook, they Of
'ered for sale the story Of their par:
n the taking. According to their
,wn confession, they were willing /
o lie, for DR.. Cook If he would lon
inue to pay them, but when he quit
paying them they lied for The Times,
yhich no doubt paid them we'll for
10 doing. What confidence can be
placed in such witnesses as Duncan
md Loose?
Following Duncan and Loose
comes the announcement from one
Tack, DR.. Cooks personal lawyer.
hat he had severed relations with
ais client. ;. This was received as
lew evidence by Cooks enemies that |
,e was a fakir, but it turns out, ac-
;ording to Wack's own statement, !
hat DR.. Cook had cut loose from aim |
oy refusing to communicate with him
'or ten days or more, and that MRS. |
Cook had virtually dismissed him
week or more, before Wack came |
,orward to testify against DR., Cook,
because he refused longer to be bled |
)y Wack. What kind Of a witness
would You call Wack? Dr.. Cook |
should thank his stars for getting |
id of such a lawyer as Wack.
The bringing forth OF such men
Is described above to discredit Dr..
Cook, increases our faith in the man
md his claims. The character Of
hesc witnesses show the desperate
.fforts the friends of Peary are max
ng to ruin the character Of the man
9ho beat him to the north pole.
t is evident to us, whose faith in
)r. Cook has something to base itself
lpon. that the doctor is something
If a strategist if not scientist. 1t
nay be that he wanted the calcula-
ions of Captain Loose to use as
heck on his own observations. It
nay be That he was laying a trap
or his enemies At all hazards,
Or. Cook has many staunch friends
md believers, and these will re-
main steadfast pending the report
rom Copenhagen.