New-York tribune., 1910-12-26
COOK RAKES RASMUSSEN
Intimates That Danish Explof-
er's Statements Were Unfair.
FINDS THEM INCONSISTENT

Brooklyn's Arctic Expert Lets
Go Fusillade at Critic Once
His Supporter.
Though Santa Claus. when he made MS
annual round Of visits night before fast'
hardly NOR. than left his card on his in
innate friend and one time visitor, DR..
Frederick A. Cook, of Brooklyn, revertne-
less the doctor felt that his second CHRIST
mas since the hegira was Is merry as couio
be wished in its promise OF better tninss'
The people were treating him almost 1alf-
". he said; they really weren't as cruel as
he supposed. He was even enjoying the
season, he declared.
The doctors day was auietness itself IN
the morning some friends appeared and
carried him OF to retired nook for lunch,
but early in the afternoon he was back IN
his rooms, at the WaIdorf-Astor1a, prIng-
ing his voluminous correspondence up TO
date. The evening was spent IN the Same
locality lest a hearty Christmas dinner Dc
disturbed. Even the newspaper men were
banished from his presence.
But while the gifts OF monarchs did not
mark the return OF DR.. Cook from his
most recent explorations. the doctor pro-
vided something of a surprise by making
gift himself. It was a very large and very
forcefuI gift It went mainly TO the Danish
explorer. knud Rasmussen
About two months ago there appeared IN
the papers a statement purporting to have
Rasmussen as it's source and contributing
appreciably to the detriment of Dr. Cook
Il contained what were said to be state
nents from Cooks two Eskimo COM
panions, which Rasmussen declared had
come to his ears through two missionaries
working in the country whence Cook
started for the pole.
II regard their report as absolutely
authentic Rasmussen said
Last night DIR. Cook issued statement
saying how he regarded Rasmussen
Can't Understand Inconsistencies"
'It is difficult to understand the incon-
sistencies of knud Rasmussen on the polar
question: it began. That he doubts both
Mr.. Peary and myself is privilege granted
any one, but that he should jump to both
sides Of the fence and shout for either
camp, without authority or instruction, or
even rational consistency, Is, TO say the
least, unmanly. In his last attack he takes
cover under the verbiage of two halfbreed
missionaries, but the style and literary ar
rangement is that Of Rasmussen.
Having delivered himself of this opening
gun to oust Rasmussen from the shelter OF
the verbiage. the doctor followed with a
fusiIlade that might be warranted to riddle
the reputation OF one far more strongly
entrenched than he. In the first place, he
declared that the Danes reputation as an
Arctic sledge traveller rested upon a jour
ney from Tassuasak to Cape York, made
With Myles Erickson. This journey. though
truly wonderful one, was only a step in
the doctors return voyage. occupying the
slender space of three and a half days. &C
cordns to the statement Yet, added
the doctor. with but this step in the big
ladder of Arctic experience. Rasmussen
considers himself competent to pass expert
criticism on all matters of polar travel
One cannot help but ask the question. Why
did Rasmussen first launch out into this
polar controversy and defend me, later to
discredit me and champion Peary, and
again later to pull down Peary? What is
the point aimed at?" .-i
The doctor then examined Rasmussen S
latest charge, which starts out by saying
Already in 1898 there existed grave
doubts as to whether DR.. Cook really
reached the pole
: Thinks Rasmussen Convicts Himself.
III this is a true statement said the doc
tor. 'then Rasmussen convcts himself OF
a false position at the very start. For with
out word of instruction from me he came
out in vigorous and voluminous reports in
my defence. Why did he jump into the
band wagon and shout if he had doubts?''
The doctor then picked out with consid-
cradle ease from the alleged story of his
Eskimos five statements which he branded
utterly false and which he said would have
been found false by putting a few ques-
tions to the older men of the supporting
party. Was it right to attack a man 9
honor without even taking the trouble to
find out if they understood correctly? asked
the much aggrieved explorer. Even Mr..
Peary's statements contradicted these, he
held
In justifying a map Of his, which the
Eskmos according to Ra Smussen, had
stamped a, lie because it was long way
out to sea. where they had never been,'
the doctor explained that he had encour-
aged his companions in their belief that
they were near land in order to keep them
with him.
Esauin,aus Devoid of Intelligence.
It was rather strange. he thought. that
both Mr.. Peary and Rasmussen should use
this as a card against him, when both
must know the necessity Of encouraging
such belief Esquimaus didn't know any
thing about maps of the ridpolar basin,
any way. he said.
After proving to his own satisfaction
that the captain of the Danish ship which
brought RasmuSsen's halfbreed mission
aries among the Esquimaus could make
himself better understood to the harbaric
natives than they, the doctor delivered his
final shot by foretelling what Rasmussen
now aims to spring on Peary.
81" he declared, have preferred to be-
lieve that Mr.. Peary's eyes were better
than those of the Esquin1aus. and I believe
so still. Among explorers such brotherly
dictates are important To attack a mans
honor on the irperfectly understood say
so of wild man IS to leave the sting OF,
dishoner on ones self"
The only rational explanation which DR..
Cook could find for Rasmussen's irrational
course was to credit him with an ambition
to get into the linelight. But need an
explorer stoop to the depths of a literary
ker fo get pilhic atteotjoo,'' ne