The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-25
Bewails HaSty Decision
Based on incomplete
Records and Data.
CLOSEST FRIENDS
DESERT EXPLORER
No Credence Can Be Given TO His
Statements, Says the
Committee.

NEW YORK. Dec. est was re-
ported I'm Brooklyn today that a letter
had been received. from DIR. Cook stat
ing that he is not prepared to accept
the verdict Of the University Of Copen-
hagen as the final decision in the North
Pole controversy. The letter is reputed
to say that he is already preparing TO
proceed TO Etah and bring back the
records and instruments that he alleges
are still there and which he claims will
prove to the world that the character
ization Of him as the most colossal
faker Of modern times is unwarranted.
It is declared in the letter that the
rush to condemn is only what was 70
be expected and the explorer bitterly
bewaiIs the fact that he yielded TO pop
ular clamor and presented his incOm-
plete documents 10 tho Danes when he
should have waited until he had all of
his data and instruments available.
Calls It a Plot.
His brother. William L. Cook, was
seen in Brooklyn today and while he
admitted that he had recently received
a letter from the discredited explorer,
he efused to let Il be seen. He declared
that the action OF the Danes in dis
crediting his brother was simply a part
Of the general plot on the part of the
explorers who are friendly with Peary
10 secure for the latter the hOnOrs Of
the Pole discovery.
The trouble with Fred" he said,
was that he was not scientific enough
10 suit the blue-stOclIings who want 10
} bask in the reflected glory Of a great
scientist So they have turned him
down But he viii yet show the world
that ne was the first man to reach the
pole
Other friends Of Cooks in Brooklyn
EXPRESSED the belief today that by this
time he is we'll on his way to the North.
They Insist that ne Is going 20 bring his
Eskimos back and his instruments and
that then he viii be able TO demonstrate
that he did what lie claimed and that
the Pole was first discovered in 1905.
Cook Deserted By Fiala.
The big surprise IN this city is the
complete desertion OF Cook by all OF his
former friends. Chief among these is
Anthony Fiala, himself an explorer Of
note, who has defended Cook through
thick and thin and who. even after the
Danes had rejected his contentious, de-
cIared that he still believed that Cook
believed he Lad reached the Pole and
made his claim in good faith.
Today Fiala admits his defense of
Cook was wrong. AS a member )f the
committee he examined the records upon
which DR.. Cook was yesterday expelled
from the Explorers Club, and he states
that they show conclusively that Cook
has lied in many OF his most important
claims.
Fiala was placed on this committee as
a friend Of Cook and did his best to be-
IIeve in the Brooklyn doctor, but today
ne said the evidence was SO overwhelm-
ingly against him that he could do moth
ing but agree that Cook is wrong in
every claim he has made.
1T was proven TO our satisfaction, ~
ne declared today, that Cook dellber-
ately deceived his friends, and when a
man vii do that ne is not worthy or
belief, no matter what seeming proofs
he may bring later on
Grounds For Expulsion.
The action Of the board Of governors
OF the Explorers Club In rejecting DIT.
Cooks claim that he ascended to the
summit OF Mt. Mckinley In 1905 as I'M
\ worthy Of credence was not unex-
pected.
The committees recommendation that
he be expelled was based on its find
ing that "Dr. Cook had repeatedly
made statements that have not been I'm
accord with the facts. and that he
had entered into agreements which ne
has failed 10 keep, and that the broken
agreements and misstatcments deal not
only with matter appertaining 10 dis
cOvery. but to ordinary financial trans
actions, so that no credence can be
given 10 statements made by him"
Wherever the committees report was
examined today surprise was expressed
that among the signatures appended
were those Of many who have been
strong friends Of Dr. Cook. In addi-
ton 70 Fisla, other signers are Harry
Whitney, Frederick S. Dellenbaugh. OF
the American Geographic Society:
Prof. Marshall II. SavIue, OF Columbia
University; Walter G. Clark. Charles
IL Townsend, director OF the New,
York Aquarium. and Henry q. Walsh.
secretary Of the Explorers Club.
Individual reports were submitted by
Herschel G, Parker. professor OF phys
jics Of Columbia University, and Bel
more Brown. both Of whom were mem
bCTs OF the COOk-0ICKinIey expedition,
and by Charles Sheldon, who has re-
Gently returned from a years residence
on the slope Of Mt Mckinley.
Both Prof. Parker and BeImOre
Brown declare that the photographs
used by DR. Cook I'm his book do not
represent the peaks Of Mt Mckinley
they are said 10 picture. While Mr.
Sheldon denies he is the author Of thu
appendix @ in the book which DR.. Cook
credits 10 him.