The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-05
COOK CLAIMED
 | POLE DISCOVERY
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8 to grant him a full and unc0ndi- tional pardon.
 Good News Told Him
 When the good news was an- nounced to him last May 17, Dr. Cook had barely enough strength to smile, and say, in a feeble voice "thanks- Not certain he had heard, a nurse asked if he un- derstood what Won Ahiefeldt had told him. Cook replied, "yes-par- don," and lapsed back into coma.
 AS recently as 1886 pr. Cook had reasserted his claims as the true discoverer of the north pole claims disputed at the time by Ad- miral Robert E. Peary, who was given the recognition Cook sought and in a letter to the American Geographical Society insisted that they had been substantiated by the reports of such latter day explorers as Lincoln Ellsworth and Admiral Richard E. Byrd.
 Since then the belief had been growing in various quarters that Cook might have been the victim of injustice a belief that was given expression by Wilkins three weeks ago.
 Following his stroke May 3 Cook was removed to the United Hospital at Port Chester but was able to re- turn to Ahlefeldts' home latter. He stayed with his old friend when he moved to Scarsdale.
 Discussed Plans
 It was there that Wilkins called on Cook and discussed with him plans for an expedition to the North Pole in 6 final effort to es- tab]ish his claims. A Cook Arctic Club" was formed to conduct the expedition-- which the explorer op- timistically hoped to join-and plans were made to seek congressional investigation of his claims.
 In recent years Dr. Cook had lived alternately with a sister, Mrs. Lillian c. Murphy of Toms River. N. J., daughter, Mrs. Helen Cook Vetter of Snyder, N. Y, and a step- daughter, Mrs. Ruth Hamilton Of East Aurora, N. Y. He had been divorced from his wife, the, former Marie Fidele, more than 10 years. Several of his relatives were with the explorer at the time of his death. Mrs. Vetter, however, was notified at her home and was ex- pected here late tonight or tomor- row, at which time funeral plans will be made.
 Cook Claimed Successes. During his long career as ex- plorer, Dr. Frederick A. Cook ad- mitted many failures and claimed only two major successes, both of which his colleagues either refused to accept or accepted only with re- luctance.
 In 1901 Cook attempted to scale Mount Mckinley in Alaska. The attempt failed, but few years later he tried again, this time claiming success. Other explorers refused to believe him at the time but, accord ing to an associate, Ralph Won Ahlefeldt, the claim subsequently, was substantiated.
 Cooks claim that he reached the North Pole in 1908, however, was contested by Robert E. Peary, and an investigating committee found that Peary was the true discoverer. Several years ago, however, Cook started libel suits totaling $125, 900. against publications which had rid iculed his claims, and some of the suits were still pending when he was stricken with an apoplectic stroke on May 3. Cook was born June 10, 1865, at Callicoon Depot, N. Y, the son of a country doctor He went to Brooklyn, N. Y, in his teens and worked as a milkman to finance his schooling.
 Medical Diploma at 25. When he was 25, Cook received a medical diploma from New York University, and the next year was appointed ships surgeon with one of Peary's expeditions to the Arctic In 1893 Cook headed his own ex- petition along the west coast of Greenland. He tried again in 1894 but in neither instance was he able to. find negotiable route to the Pole.
 In 1897-1899 he served as ships | physician with Belgian Antarctic expedition and later made his as- saults on Mount Mckinley. In 1909, having gone again to the Arctic, Cook sent message to the United States announcing that he had discovered the North Pole on April q, 1908.
 World Acclaimed Him Instantly he was acclaimed throughout the world, and before the controversy reached it's climax he was accepted by scores of ex- plorers' clubs and geographic so- cieties.
 Shortly after the Cook message reached America, however, another and similar communication ar rived. This one was from Peary in Indian Harbor, Labrador, and like Cooks announced that the author had discovered the North Pole.
 While Cook kept lecture dates Peary denounced his claims. Final ly a committee was formed to in- vestigate and settle the issue. Ii reported that Cooks data did not justify his claims.
 Expelled from most of his clubs the doctor disappeared from public view for a while, finally emerging to resume his featuring, sometimes appearing in vaudeville circuits. Al each appearance he asserted he had been robbed of rightful recognition
 The general public, however, lost interest in Cook until 1922 when he was indicted on a federal mail fraud charge. He was accused of form ing the Petroleum Producers Asso- citation at Fort Worth, Tex, in 1920 and selling worthless stock. In 1923 he was sentenced to 12 years i'm prisonment, but was paroled ir 1930.
 Retires After Prison.