The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-12-24
DANISH SCIENTISTS
DECLARE fRAfC0OK's
CLAIM IS WORTHLESS
ALLEGED ExPIoRER u BRANDED
AZ FAkIR bY UNIVERSITY
ExpEcTe
PROOF DOES NOT PROVE ANYTHING
Bradlsy Disguised. Peary Pleased And
Cooks Close Friends Are Dumb
founded-panes Are Mortified Be-
You'd Measure-suIndIer In Norway.

yonQ MISUNDERSTANDING IN NOfNay
COPENHAGEN. Der 21.-The re
port Of the special committee Of scien
lists which the University Of Copen
hagen appointed to scrutinize Or
Frederick A. Cooks claims that he had
discovered the North Pole. was sub
mitted to the consistory of the uni
versity this morning. Endorsed by that
body and given to the people.
The reTort shatrers completely, al
Lost coltg0Itucrslv, the American
explorers title to such discovery. and
fills the officials and people of Den
mark with chagrin at the figure Den
mark is made to assume in the eyes Of
the scientific world The public was
prepared for verdict of mot proven"
but did not expect its recent hero to
be branded as an imposter. Many
still cling to the belief that Cook acted
IN good faith, but harbored delusion.
Explorers and scientists almost
unanimously have lost faith in Cooks
honesty, while one of his warmest
supporters, Knud Rasmussen, helped
to frame the report. The evening
papers tack Dr. Cook and severely
reproach him for hiding, which they
regard as a sign of a guilty con-
science
The Rector of the university. DR..
Torp, when questioned as to the posi-
bility OF the university canceling the
degree which 1t conferred on DR.. Cook,
said that no decision had been reached,
but he though that the degree could |
be withdrawn in the same way as q |
could deprive a person Of |
an order obtained under false pre-
lenses.
Commodore Gustav Holm, the Arc
tic explorer and member of the /
said
Cooks claim that he made the OBJ
50 degrees, SO minutes 40
s. conds near the pole proved immedi-
ately that he was bad observer, but
nothing indicated that he was a swind-
Ier Now his papers convict him of
being swindler We examined
Cooks observations first and agreed
lganimously that they were worth
css. Loose observations were not
lsed in the papers Cooks submitted
20 the university"
Piof Olufson, Secretary of the Dan
81 Geographical Society, said:
1T is the saddest event in my life.
IS an explorer there seems TO be no
Oubt that Cook is absolutely unre-
liable"
The National Tidende, while deplor-
1g that the University conferred the :,
egree in a moment of enthusiasm. :
nds consolation In the fact that 9TH
RS honored Cook when he returned
} civilization.
The President of his own country
I'D it's envoy to Copenhagen says
re paper, were the guarantors for
I'M Denmark die not blunder. Our 9
,untry must now leave this sad affair
America and Cook"
The documents handed the Commits
on of the University Of Copenhagen
n examination arc.
L. A typewriter report prepared :,
7 Cooks Secretary, Walter Lonsdale,
Id covering 81 pages Of foolscap. =,
e. A typewriter copy made by :
5nsdale FROM Cooks notebook This
,cupies Is pages of foolscap and in -
udes a description Of the expedition
ring the period from March IS, 1908, :,
June IS, 1908, during which. accord -
e to the statement, Cook journeyed
ON Syartevog to the North Pole and p
turned to point on the polar Ice -
t specifically indicated, but west Of "
e Axel Heiberg land.
The papers were not accompanied
a private letter from Dr. Cook, but e
cretary Lonsdale stated verbally to -
e Commission that the original notes
d books of the explorer from which
copies were made had been sent
Europe by another route as pre-
ltionary measure, and would be de- r.
cred to the diversity in the course
a few days.
in presenting the data. Lonsdale
ted explicitly and repeatedly that
do