Richmond planet., 1909-12-18

Before Paying the Amount He Had
Promised.
August Wedel Loose. a sea captain.
has made an affidavit in New York
city that Or. Frederick A. Cook had
hired him 20 fake observations for
submission to the Danish scientists
who are about to pass on DR.. Cooks
claim that he discovered the North
Pole on April 21. 1908 Cooks where
Rbouts at present IS unknown to his
most Intimate friends.
Captain Loose is backed up by
George II. Dunkle, an insurance broker
Of this city, who has made a sworn
statement that he brought Captain
Loose and DIR. Cook together and that
he arranged the deal BY which he and
Loose were TO get $4,000 from DIR.
Cook. with an additional bonus OF $500
II the University of Copenhagen ac-
cepted Cooks records. Dunkle says
In his aflldavit that Or. Cook disap-
peared after paying only $500. and
that the doctors failure TO make good
is the reason that he and Captain
Loose have shown up the fake.
were suspicious OF Cook.
Captain Loose aud MI. DunRie say
that they became suspicious OF Cook
when they read his story IN the New
York Herald. and that they believed
Cook was getting too nearly 70 the
end OF his rope that he would be will
ing 10 pay big money 20 anybody who
would supply him with Astronomical
and other data that would stand the
acid test
Dunkle arranged en- interview with
Cook through the doctors backer. John
r. Bradley. The doctor said he would
be glad OF Captain Loose's help on a
few points
Captain Loose says he pointed out
TO the doctor that there were some
tremendous mistakes in the observa-
tions that were printed In Cooks story
In the Herald. and that the doctor ad-
mitted that there were mistakes. and
said he was anxious TO have them cor
rected.
when left DR.. Cook" Loose
makes affidavit. "lt was with the un-
derstanding that was 10 get for him
the charts he wanted, together with a
number of books on polar exploration.
and that / was TO work out from the
narrative In the Herald all his sights
for latitude and longitude based upon
the latitudes as published The lati.
tudes carried Dr. Cook from Svarte-
vaag to the pole. The doctor handed
me slip Of paper on which he had
written the observations he wanted
from Svartevaag north"
Worked Out Observations.
The doctor. according TO Loose. sub
mitted other data, explaining what fig-
ures OF latitude and longitude he want
ed. Captain Loose hustled out and
got for the doctor an admiralty chart.
Bowditch's complete nautical tables,
Anfinsen's tables for correction of alti-
tudes OF heavenly bodies. the Ameri-
can nautical almanac for several years.
Lloyd's calendar OF 1908 three ad-
miralty charts covering Smith sound
and the polar regions. Nos. 26O. 274
and 2T5; Bliss almanac for 1908 and
a Negus almanac for 1907 Before the
captain saw Or. Cook again ne had
worked out some observations OF stars
which be might have sec. at Ano-
ratok."
II was on Nov. that Captain Loose
met DIR. Cook at the Hotel Gramatan.
The doctor took the Anoratok obser-
vations and stuck them into his
pocket
Loose and DunlIle nad adjoining
rooms at the Gramatan on the same
Roor as DIR. Cooks room. and the doc
tor, according TO their statements.
came to Loose's room and watched the
navigator or talked with him while he
was sweating over the fake figures.
Dunkle says that Cook handed him
260 at the Gramatan and promised to
call at Dunkle's Office the Monday fol-
lowing the completion OF the fraudu-
lent observations and have $40.
'That win make $1,000, with the 9TH
er money j have given you" DuniSle
swears Cook said. "The rest OF the
$2500 promised you will pay by the
time that the records leave on the
steamer"
DIR. Cook failed to show up at Dun
kle's Office on Monday. Dunkle nailed
him at the Gramatan the next day, but
Dr. Cook lodged. DunlIle SAYS. Then
DR.. Cook disappeared completely and
the partners got tired OF waiting.