The San Francisco call., 1909-11-07
REAR ADMIRAL
CHESTER CALLS
DR.COOK FAKER
Member of National Geographic
Board SCOTS at Claims of
Arctic Explorer
Presents Proofs and Declares
Traveller Admitted Faking
Mt. Mckinley Pictures
Ispeeiel Dnpeteh 10 The Call

WASHINGTON, Nov. Sin a lecture
before the University club tonight Rear
Admiral Colby NJ. Chester, member OF
the board which has recently passed
upon Commander Peary's data relating
10 the north pole, and member OF the
National geographic society, declared
that he believed DR.. Frederick A. Cook
10 be faker. He said he did not be-
lieve that Doctor Cook had reached a
latitude Of more than 81 degrees north.
and that Cook had not gone more than
two sleeps from land. Admiral Ches-
Ter also asserted that Doctor Cooks
claim that he found land in the region
surrounding the pole is incorrect.
Cooks claim that he ascended Mount
Mckinley was also denied by Admiral
chester, who declared the mountain
pictures were faxed.
SHOWS MAP As proof
The admiral exhibited a map he had
prepared showing the midnight sun
during the time Doctor Cook claims 10
have been making his final dash to the
pole. He said this map proved con-
scluslvely that the alleged statement
made by the two Eskimo companions OF
Doctor Cook. namely, that Doctor
Cooks party was at no time more than
two sleeps" distant from land, was
correct.
Admiral Chester asserted that his
calculations and figures taken from
accurate nautical almsnacs and from
other reliable sources and scientific
data show that Doctor Cook was at
no time more than 81 degrees north.
Doctor Cook in his copyrighted story
TO the New York Herald gave figures
and observations as to his latitude and
longitude while on his trip north which,
Admiral Chester said, the nautical al
Easnsc proved to be false
He absolutely discredited Doctor
Cooks story and said that he believed
Cook was q faker. Chester called at
Tention to the fact that two years ago
when Doctor Cook was in Washington
he had delivered a lecture on his ascen-
sion Of Mount Mckinley and had shown
views taken from the top of the noun
tain and OF q niche wherein he had
spent the night. While Cook was being
congratulated after a brilliant speech,
the admiral claims that Doctor Cook
had turned to him and had said that.
Of course. the pictures taken from the
ton OF Mount Mckinley and the one
showing his sleeping place were both
faxed.
The admiral claimed that Doctor
Cook had said that il was impossible 10
get the pictures from that altitude, and
that, anyhow. he had left his camera
below before he began the ascent. The
admiral said Doctor Cook had &C
knowIedged taking them. and yet now
comes out with the claim that he found
the pole and that on his ascension of
Mount Mckinley he had taken the pic
lures that he had previously acknowl-
edged he had faxed.
Admiral Chester said that he wished
II understood that in calling Doctor
Cook faker he was expressing merely
his own personal opinion and not that
OF the board on which he served, nor
that OF the National geographic society
DOUBTS ABILITY OF MENTOR
He said he believed that Doctor Cook
was at present engaged in changing the
findings he said he had made before
submitting his proof TO the University
of Copenhagen
Admiral Chester added that he did
not believe the University of Copen-
hagen was able accurately TO pass upon
this subject. He expressed the opinion
shat the proofs OF Doctor Cook should
be placed before the same body that
had passed on those of Commander
Pesry. so that by checking and compar-
ing the two documents they could reach
an opinion as to which had reached the
pole II was noticeable that throughout
from making any comments on the
claims made by Commander Peary.
When questioned after he had fin
ished his address he said that he,
like the rest OF the commission. firmly
believed that Commander Peary had
reached the north pole. He said that
Peery did not claim to have actually
stood in the middle Of the ninetieth de-
gree OF latitude, but that he merely
claimed to have been so near to il that
he believed the pole to be within ac-
cess.
: Furthermore. he said. that Doctor
Cooks claim that he had been forced
to drift south on his return so as to
find game for food did not hold water.
He said that in the land and islands
surrounding the polar regions there
was game and wsIrus in abundance.
as. those who had visited the country
knew.
Admiral Chester added that there
was doubt whether the scientific
men OF the world would accept the find-
ings OF the University of Copenhagen
as accurate or final"
SCOUTS CLAIM OF LAND
The admiral said he felt certain that
Doctor Cook will never be able to place
SUFFICIENT accurate data before a scien-
tifc body to show that he reached the
pole. Aomlrai GheSter said no land had
been found around or near the north
pole that has not been charted, thereby
giving the lie 10 Doctor Cooks claim
that he found large stretches of terra
nrms in the vicinity of the eighty
fourth degree.
The last 100 miles. however. depended
upon the word OF Peary and Matt Hen
son.
Admiral Chester made only brief ref
erences 10 Peary's trip or the Peary
data examined by the geographic board.
He did say, however, that the observa-
tions taken by the Peary supporting
parties at intervals OF 100 miles
checked exactly with the tests worked
out by the board.
Admiral Chester was introduced by
Charles .. Walcott, secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution. The audience
contained many scientists of national
reputation. Some of them said to-
night they disagreed with Admiral
Chester on important points. They
said they would reserve judgment un-
til the board explained it's method of
checking up Peary's records.
Danes Bar Americans
COPENHAGEN. Nov. e-The con-
sistory OF the University of Copenhagen