The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-26
COOK DENOUNC1S
DANISH EXPLORER

NEW YORK. Dec. 25.-By accusing
Knud Rasmussen. the Danish explorer,
of STOPPING to the depths of a liter
ary muckraker TO get public atten-
tion," Dr. Frederick a. Cook, the
Brooklyn explorer, gave out a reply
tonight to Rasmussen's recent attack
on Cook which was published on Nov.
., last
Incidental 10 his defense Of his own
narrative Of Arctic exploration, DR..
Cook says that by Rasmussen's meth
DDS of investigating. Robert e. Peary
could, with equal ease, be discredited,
but declares that he will take Mr.
Peary's word In preference 10 either
that OF Rasmussen OF the Eskimos
| In the matter of his own accomplish
ments.'
Rasmussen's attack on Cook was
sent by him TO his wife in Copenhag-
en- and by her made public. 1t con-
| tanned what purported to be state
ments from Cooks two Eskimo COM
panlons Ia his North polar quest.
Itukushuk and Apllak. Rasmussen
said he did not personally talk with
| the Bskimos, but their statements
were taken by two missionaries who
were working In the country from
which DR.. Cook said he started for
the Pole.
The stories were In brief:
The Esklmos left Annatok with Cook
with eight sledges in February. slept
once on the Ice on the way to Ellis
mere Land and took four days To cross
the land Eighteen days out all but
the two Eskimo boys left The nine
tcenth day they changed their course
westward. Later Apilak came upon
Cook drawing map. He asked him
whose route he was drawing.
"My own" said the explorer, "but
that" the statements makes the Dane
! say, was a lie" because he made
the route a long way out at sea where
he had never been
Cook Winters at Cape Seddo0.
The Eskimos' statement continued
that the party eventually reached
Cape Seddon and wintercd there, that
Cook spent most OF the time writing
and at first sight of the sun they
started home; that the explorer prom
ised them good reward. hut we did
not get the guns he promised us He
and a useless boat"
Commenting on this report, RaS-
mussen said:
Il regard the report as absolutely
authentic"
In his statement given out tonight.
Cook answers categorically the state
ments imputed to the Eskimo boys.
denying each in turn and giving rea-
sons why he thinks they should be
considered false, declares that RRs-
mussen has reason to dislike him.
says no effort was made TO get at the
truth in the alleged examination of
the two boys. but that on the con-
trary they We're piled with leading
questions designed to evolve the ans
wers desired and points out what he
| terms the well-known tendency of
all Indians to give answers which they
believe VIII please their questioners.
Cook says Rasmussen's reputation
as an Arctic sledge traveller rests up
on journey from Tassuasak to Cape
York
This trip" he saws. was but step
In my return voyage. occupying only
three and one-half days, and il is COW
cred By one sentence In my nara
| tive"
Rusmussen's reason to be hostile TO
him Cook finds in i snub which he
was compelled to administer 10 the
Dane in 1907, when Bradley arrived in
| North Star bay. Rasmussen came
aboard. he says, dressed In old.
greasy furs, and eXuding a strong
stencil OF oil He and the Dane be-
came "chummy" at once, and he said
to Mr. Bradley
we must invite Rasmussen TO din
ner"
Bradley. he says. replied: "No. for
Gods sake, no; ] will get seascl,
from that odor."
Cook Explains Snub.
The result was, Cook says, he asked
the CAPTAIN TO take the Dane 10 his
mess and Rasmussen has good reason
TO take this treatment as a Snub
I'm 1909. says the statement. "Ras-
mussen saw relatives and friends of
the Eskimo boys who had been with
me and from them gathered informn
ton which convinced him that / had
been 10 the pole, He has no other
information now but for reasons best
known TO himself he comes TO AN op
posite opinion.
Now. let us examine Rasmussen IS
latest charges. He starts out by say
Ing: Already in 1909 there existed
SraYe doubts as TO whether DR., Cook
really had reached the pole II this
is a true statement then Rasmussen
conyicts himself OF a false opinion
at the very start For without a word
of instruction from me he came out
in vigorous and voluminous reports
In my defense. Why did he jump into
the Cook band wagon and shout If be
had doubts7
In the story which Is alleged came
through the two missionaries Ras
mussen puts the following phrases
into the mouths OF my Eskimo bows,
We Travelled from Annatok with elgh
sledgeS In company with DR.. Cook
CThere wore eleven sledges-fals,
statement No, IL From there to Ella
mereland. we slept only once. w,