Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-09
NO EVIDENCE.
DR.. Cook Has Not Proved
Ascent of Mt. Mckinley
Says Prof. H. C, Parker, His
Friend and Associate.
Might Have Taken Some Photo.
graphs But Failed to Do So.

New York, Sept. sit is with great
reluctance that I can only say that DR.
Frederick A. Cook has not made a
satisfactory explanation or submitted
corrOboratiVe evidence that he has
| made the ascent Of Mount Mckinley"
Thus spoke Prof. Herschel c. Parker
adjunct professor Of physics of Column
bia University and sealer of mountain
heights. today on his return from eX-
ploration in the Selkrll mountains in
British Columbia The attention of
Prof Parker was called to the fact that
the question of whether DR.. Cook had
found the North Pole mad again re-
vived the question Of whether Dr.
Cook had really climbed Mount Nc
kinley. DR.. Cook and Prof Parker
were the leaders of the expedition
which sought in 1906 to ascend Mount
Mckinley and it was only after the re-
turn of Prof. Parker to. the East and
the other members of the expedition
bad scattered that DR.. Cook made the
dash W the mountain.
There were in our party that made
the attempt on Mt Mckinley said
Prof. Parker today, "Belmore Browne
vi dCOIlitt, Tie artist ana Dig game
hunter; Mr.. Porter, topographer: Fred
Printz, head guide; Mr. Miller the pho
tOgrapher, and the pack men, We
first went up. the Yetna river as far
as we could in a power boat and then
proceeded rapidly toward the noun
tain. This line of march was on the
southwest side of Mt Mckinley, but it
ended in an impossible canyon. We
crossed to the south side, but there our
efforts to make the climb were frus-
trated by the towering cliffs"
DIR. Cook said that the east side was
impossible of ascent. as the cliffs rose
at least 5000 feet without break. Then
we all agreed:to give up the attempt
for the season and try next summer
on the northwestern side, which had
been advised by the government topo-
graphers /; returned East and later
was surprised TO hear that DR.. Cook
had assembled Mt. Mckinley I learned
later that DR. Cook had sent Mr.
Browne on d hunting expedition, that
Mr.. Porter was engaged in making to-
biographical observations and knew
nothing of DR.. Cooks final attempt and
that DIR. Cook dispatched his head
guide; Printz, and Photographer Miller
on another hunting expedition.
DIR. Cook told Mr.. Browne that he
vas going to make an exploration of
some glaciers eastward while at this
time, Mr. Bridgman, secretary of the
ARCTIC Club, in Brooklyn. received Il
message from DR.. Cook stating that
he was going to make the final dash
for the top of the mountain.
DIR. Cook states that he reached
the summit of the mountain by the
east side and was accompanied by
the assistant packer, Edward Burril.
Two weeks later he returned to the
coast and made his report | do not
know whether DR.. Cook climbed Mt
Mckinley or not. This ] know, that he
reports that the mountain was 22.390
feet high. but l am unable to say how
he made his observations inasmuch as
[ took back with me the hypsometres
and he had only one or two aneroid
)arometers, which would only measure
about 10000 feet. A man of science
Continued on Page Twelvc.)