The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-12-22


- polar ice not specifically indicated
but west OF the Axel Heiberg land.
The papers were not accompanied
By . private letter from Cook but
Secretary Lonsdale stated verbally to
the commission that the original notes
and books OF the explorer from which
his copies were made had been sent
TO Europe by another route as pre-
cautionary measure and would be de-
livered to the university in the course
m presenting the data, Lonsdale
stated explicitly and repeatedly that
the COPY numbered two was a COM
plete ana accurate duplication Of the
information contained In all Of Cooks
notebooks that could be of any i'm
portance to the university for the pur-
pose OF this examination.
In spite OF the explorers promise
ana his secretary's assurance that
they would be forthcoming. the COM
mission IL not yet In the possession
Of the original notebooks and diaries.
Explorers Address ynknown.
Up to this time It has been impos-
sibie for the university authorities to
rs-estabiish communicating with Dr..
Cook which was suspended some time
ago. The explorers address lis not
known here even to Secretary Ions
After the members OF the sxamin-
ing committee had made themselves
Acquainted individually with the ma
terial delivered and SO convinced
themselves OF its utter worthlessness
a. q means of determining whether
Cook reached the pole, the president
OF the committee. Professor Strom-
gren, called q general meeting OF the
committee for last Friday when the
report to the university and which Is
now made public. was drawn up.
LonsdaIe. who had been invited to
this meeting to answer some ques-
lions brought with him letter which
he had received from Cook which bore
neither the place nor the date of It's
writing. The opened envelope how
ever bore the postmark OF Marseiiles.
December IL, 1903. The same envei-
ope contained a letter addressed by
Cook to the former rector of the Uni
versity of Copenhagen. Professor Torp.
The letter to Torp was dated New
York, September 81. 1909.
In his letter to Professor Torp. Cook
stated that not only were his instru-
ments left at Etah. but most of his
astronomical observations also were
left there and he adds that without
these 1t seems unwise and impossible
TO pass final Judgment upon his ex-
pedition. The committee finds as fol-
lows:
Report sazne as Printed.
First. The report of the expedition
sent to the University by DR.. COOK is
York Herald during the months OF
September and October last.
second. The copy of Cooks n3fA
books does not contain any original
astronomical observations, whatsoever.
but only results.
Third. The documents presented are
snexcusabiy lacking In information
which would prove that the astrono'n-
scai observations therein referred TO
were really made; and also contain no
details regarding the practical work
81 the expedition and the long jour-
nav which would enabis the commit
tee to determine their reliability.
The committee therefore is OF the
s,r,uion that the material transmitted
for examination contains no PROOF
chat Or. Cook reached the pole.
The report IL signed oy al SIX ra aien y
hers of the committee who were as
sisted In their inquiry by Knud Ras-
znussen, the explorer -.
The university council issued THIS
.-rhe documents handed the univer-
sitv FOR examination do not con. am
observations and information wnien
can be regarded AZ pron< that Or. Cook
reached the North Pole on MS recent
expedition"
The committee repfea sntsng the
University Of Copenhagen In the ex-
animation was composed az follows.
Professor Ellis Stronger, director
Of The astronomical Observatory; 1T.
p. Pechuis, astronomer attached TO
-xhe observatory; Gustav Helm. expior-
ar: Professor A. B. Yonson. president
Of the school OF navigation: DR.. Koy-
fier. director OF the meteorological OF
$ice. ana DR.. r. A. Engstrom, director
OF the Lund Observatory.
widespread indignation over the de-
eention which has placed practically
the whole OF Denmark in a somewhat
Illuminating position. has taken the
nlaoe today OF the hero-worship here
tofore accorded to Explorer Cook.
The public is unable to comprehend
why Cook sent his paper when he ad
mits in the letter presented TO Presi-
dent Torp by Lonsdale that 1T seems
unwise and impossible to give final
Judgment because of the absence of the
INSTRUMENTS and observations which
left at Etah."
The members of the examining COM
rnittee are very angry over the doctors
behavior. Professor Stromgren. the
president of the committee, Is furious,
and tonight characterized Cooks treat
ment OF the university as shameless.
ROMANCE IS ENDED.
BrookIyn man Discredited and Disap'