Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-04
05e 0SeeS&R
-LeMszRoaH
DIR. Cook seIf-Exno.ed.

Dr. Cook seIf-ExpOsed.
OMAHA. Sept 3-To the Editor OF
| The Bee. Last Monday there was a re-
port in the PAPERS Of defense of Dr.
Frederick Cook. II struck me that il
might be Of interest. to some OF your
readers, at least, IL some of the facts
were set forth briefly.
II Is not necessary to 60 beyond Dr.
Cooks own story for a proof that the
story is-well. let us say queer, to say
the least He repeatedly gives his lati-
tude in degrees, minutes and seconds"
But, as he had only a pocket sextant
how was It possible for him to make his
calculations in seconds" Manifestly
something is wrong there.
He says. that he was gone from his
base of food supply some eighty-five
days (exact number do not remember),
ana took with him Loss pounds of food.
Every one knows, who knows anything
of food values, that il takes sixteen
ounces OF dry food per day merely to
sustain life, provided no physical or
mental work is undertaken. At that, his
entire food supply was exhausted in
forty-tive days; what did he live on for
the next forty odd days, after having
been on starvation rations for the first
period, and stlll continue TO perform the
most strenuous work that a man can
do. Again there seems to be something
wrong
l quote from the members of the COM
mittee of the University of Copenhagen,
before whom Da. Cooks alleged proofs"
Of his alleged pole discovery were pre-
sented:
Prof Stromgren. president of the inves-
tigating committee: Cook has taken
disgraceful advantage of a small ma
tons kindness, using clever trick In
securing the patronage of the American
president, Minister Egan and the ex.-
down"
Commodore Gustave Holm, Danish ex-
pl0rel and member Of the committee:
Cooks claim that he made the observa-
ton. 50 degrees, so minutes. 4s seconds,
near the pole, proved Immediately that
he was bad observer, but nothing indi-
Gated that he was a swindler"
Prof. Olufson, secretary of the Danish
Geographical society: 1T is the saddest
event Of my life. As an explorer. there
seems TO be no doubt that Cook is abso-
not ask for documents. We took Cooks
word as a bond" (This refers to the de-
gree conferred upon Cook Immediately
upon his return from the north. These
honors have since been cancelled)
Prot. Solononsen, rector of the Uni
N,erslty Of Copenhagen: I'VE have acted
highest
scientific distinction upon DR.. Cook. Per
sonally. | expected a poor show OF rec
ords hut this exceeds my expectations
As small consolation, I am pleased ut
having stopped the undergraduates in
honor" 'A
Knud Rasmussen. Explorer, formerly
COOKS warmest supporter: 81 was fIab-
bergasted upon seeing the records The
unworthy would not call me first be-
cause ! was one of DR. Cooks strongest
supporters. Later, however | was in
Vlted TO the investigation. and when I
saw the observations 1 realized II was
scandal. The papers which Cook sent
TO CoDenhagen university are most i'm
pudent No schoolboy could make such
calculations Il is most childish at
Commodore Hovgastd, Danish explorer;
poster" ~ ~
Captain Ronald Amundsen: There |
was absolutely nothing in those alleged
observations of Dr. Cook. II was all |
rake and could deceive nobody DR. |
Cook knew all the time that he was not |
telling the truth"
There is a vast amount Of material.
similar TO the above. bearing upon all
of Dr. Cooks work in the exploration
field. THOMAS r. HILL.