Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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DR. COOK FAILS TO ESTABLISH HIS CLAIM UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN RENDERS DECISION. The Record Inkufficient.- Another Chapter in .Polar Controversy Written. Copenhagen, Dec. 21.-The report Df the special committee of scien ists, whih the University of Copen hagen appointed to scrutinize Dr. Frederick A. Cook's elaims that he had discovered the North Pole, was submitted to the consistorv of the U-iversity this morning, endorsed by that ,body and given to the public. The report shatters completely, al most contemptuously, the American explorer's title to such discovery, and fills the officials and people of Denmark with chagrin at the figure Denmark is made to assume in the eyes of the scientific world. The pub lie was prepared for a verdict of "not proven," but did not expect its rece-at hero to be branded as an imQostor. Many still cling to the be lief that Cook acted in good faith, but harbored a delusion. Explorers and scientists almost unanimously have lost faiti'in Cook's honesty, while one of his warm'est supporters, Knud Rasmussen, the ex plorer, helped to frame the report. The evening pap!es attack Cook and severely reproach him for hiding, which they regard as a sign of a guilty conscience. The rector of the University, Dr. Salomonsen, when questioned as to the possibility of the University. can eelling the degree which it conferred ou Dr. Cook, said that no deeision ldd been reached, but he thought that th degree could be withdrawn in the same' way as /a Government could depriv.e a person of an order obtained under false pretenses. Coimodore Gustav Holm, the Are tic explorer, and a member of the committee, said: Calls Cook -Swinder. "Cook's claim that 'he made the observation 89 degrees, 59 minutes, 46 seconds, ,near the -Pole, proved 4mmediately that he was a bad ob server, but nothing indicated that he w~as a 'swin.dler. Now his papers conviet him of being a swindler. We * Leixamined Cooks observations f!rst, and agreed 'im-animously that they. were worthless, Loose 's observations were not contained i'n the papers Dr.. Cook submitted to-pie University. He is a clever man, just the sort that Cook cohld use.' Prof. Oluensen, secretary of the Danish Geographical Soeiety, said: "It is the saddest event in my life. As an explorer there seems -to be no doubt that Cook is absolutely unre liable." The commitee appointed by the University to examine Cook's rec .rds recently,\presented its report to ihs co'nsistoy of the University, 'which reviewed- the deductions of the experts with 'the greatest ,eare and discuss>d the findings from every ~standpoAit. That both the commit tee and the consistory were disap pointed was soon known. The consistory met to-day and adopted a written report to the effect that the alleged re.cords submitted for examination by 'Dr. Cook tailed to prove his claim that he had reached the North Pole. After ob :taini-ng all available information, the .?ommittee finds 'as follows: Committees Findings. First, the report of the expedition sent. to the University by Dr. Cook, * is the same as that printed in the New York Herald during the months of September and October last. Second, the copy of Cook's note book does not contain any original astronomical observati-ons whatsoever but only results. Third, the documents presented are -inexcusably lacking inu information which would prove that the astro nlomical observations therein refer red to were- really made; and also contaiii no details regarding the practicat work of the expedition and The sledge journey whieh would en able the committee to determine their reliability. The committee, therefore, is of trhe opinion that the matetial trans mitted for examination .contains ac nroof that Dr. Cook reached th4 Pole. The report is signed by all th< maembers of the committee, whici was composed of the following: Prof Ellis Stromgren, director of the As :ronomical Observatory; Dr. C. F Pechu:le, astronomer, attached to th< -observatory; Gustav Holm, explorer Prof. A. B. Yonson, president of t.h< 'School of Navigation;~ Dr. Reyder director of the meteorological offie' and Dr. F. A. Engstrom, director o: Lund Observatory. The TUniversity council 13sued this statement: "The documents handed the Uni versity for examination do not con tain observations and information - which can be regarded as proof that Dr. Cook reached the pole on his ex pediton.'" The public is unable to compre hend why Cook sent'his papers when he admits in the letter presented to Prof. Torp, former rector of the University of Copenhagen by his secretary, Walter Lonsdale, that "it seems unwise and impossible to give final judgment because of the ab sence of the instruments -and obser vations which I left at Etah." Members of Committee Angry. The members of the examining committee are very angry over the Doctor's behavior. Prof. Stromgren, the' president of 'the committee, is' furioAs and to-night characterized Cook's treatment of the University as "shameless." Inquiry as to whether the commit tee would undertake a further exami nation in the event of Cook\ending for the instruments and observations which are supposed to be at Etah,, de veloped that a majority of the mem bers were not disposed to waste any more Lime on the matter. The documents handed the commis sion of the University of Copenhagen for examination are: First, a typewritten report pre pared by Cook's secretary, Walter Lonsdale, and covering, sixty-one pages of foolscap. Second, a typewritten copy "made by Lonsdale from Cook's note-books. This occupies sixteen pages of ools cap and includes a description of tie expedition during the period from March 18, 1908, to June 13, 1908,1 during which, according to the state ment Cook journeyed from Svarte vog to the North Pole and returned to a point on the Polar ice not spe cifically -iadicated, but west of the Axelheiberg land. The papers were not accompanied by a private letter from Cook, but Secretary Lonsdale stated verbally to the committee that the original -otes and books of the explorer from which his copies were made, had been sent to Europe by another route, as a precautionary measure and would be delivered to the Ur#versity in the course of a few days. * Diaries Still Lacking. In presenting the data Lonsdale stated explicitly and rebbatedly that copy numbered two was a -completa and accurate duplication of the in formation conta.ined in all of Cook's note-books that could be 'of any im portance to- the Univertity for the purpose of investigation. In spite of the aexplorer 's promise and his see retary 's assurance that they would be forthcoming the commission is not et. in possession of the originial note Took.s and aiaries. Up to this time, it has been impossible for the au ~horities of the University to re-es tablish communication with Dr. Cook, which was suspended some time ago. The explorer's address is not known here even to Secretary Lons dale. After the members of the examin ing committee have made themselves acquainted individually with~ the ma terial delivered and'so:eon,vinced tihem selves of its utter worthlessness as a means of determinating whether Cook reached the Pole the president of the committee, Prof. Stromgren, called a general meeting of the com mittee for last Friday, when the re port to the University and which is now made public, was drawn up. Lonsdale;' who had been invited to this meeting to answer some ques tios, brought with him a letter which he had received from Cooky, which hore neither the plaee nor date of its writing. The opened en velope, however, bore the postmark Marseilles, December 14, 1909. The same envelope contained a letter ad dressed by Cook to Prof. Torp. The leter to Torp was dated New York, September 27, 1909.' "JUST AS I SAID."-PEARY. Man Who First Disputed Qook's' Claim Appears Satisfied. Washington, Dec. 21.--"Three months ago from the Labrador coast, I sounded an explicit and deliberate ly worded warning to the world, bad upon complete and accurate in formation in regard to the Cook caims, In doing so, I accepted the rponsibility devolving upon me a;nd fulfilled my duty to myself and to the world.'' Commander Robert E. Peary to day thus pointedly expressed his sen timents regarding the fa.ilure of the University of Copenhagen to find any proof of the discovery of the North Pole by Dr. Cook. Far from showing any delight ov er the news from Copenhagen, it was evident, however. that the explorer received the news with much satis ". have known the outome of this ince weeks before I reached this' ,ountry on my return from the Pole. t was not a matter of belief witb ne, but .of absolute knowledge. "However, I shall not discuss this natter i., detail for publication. It s not necessary. "The warning, which I sent to the -ountry is still sufficient. You re nember my cablegram from Battle Earbor. Here is the exact wording >f it: '' 'Cook has not been to the Pole, April 21, 1908, or any other date. '' 'He has simply handed the pub ie a gold brick.' ' COCHRAN SUCCEEDS HIMSELF. District Attorney's Name Sent to Senate for- Confirmation. Washington, Dec. 20.-President Taft to-day sent the name of Ernest L. Cochran, of Anderson, to the Sen ate for confirmation to succeed him self as district attorney for South Carolina. Mr. Cochran has held the position about four years, having suoceeded John G. Capers ,and, ac cQrding to the interpretation given his re-appointment to-day, has per formed his duties satisfactorily to the Administration. , It is impossible to learn whether or not there will be a fight on Mr. Cochran, both Sana tors Tillman and Smith having gone home some time -go, and no one here being authoAzed to speak for them. It is b'elieved, however, that unless there a<e charges against Mr. .ochran which have -not yet come to light a fight will not,be attempted. As the Senate stands adjourned to morrow until January 4, nothing of public nature 'can be done in the meantime. EXCURSION RATES Account of the Christmas Holi days, the Southern Railway will sell excursion tickets at very low rates to all points South of the Po tmac and East of the Mississippi river. Tickets will be on sale De cember 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31 and January 1st, with .final limit re turning January 6th, -1910. 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Ham. laChristmas Holiday Rates.le The Charleston aind Weastern Caro- U liaRailway will sell excursion tick ets a:ecount of the Holidays at very low raties for the round trip. Tick-' ln th ets oni sale December 17, 18, 21, 22,pic 23. 24. 25 and 31. 1909 and Jan. L. 1910. Final limit r'eturning Jan. Tabb 6. 1910. For further i::format'on apply tomy icket agents. or and i Ernest Williams, General Passengar Agent, S29 Broadway, Augusta, Ga. B. B.I ,RT OF rry avin RRY, S. C. iness.November 16,1909. rt to State Bank Exa'miner LIABILITIES. - Capital 1 50 Undivided Profits 27,0 Deposits 250,632'. _,Notes and Bills_Rediscount .ed - $333 6 ings Depos its 1 Em NORW 1 osited m3i his'B you would be the most success you should make your money k foo. It is a common saying "money not earning interes i,< ig money. 't aside what money you will not~ in your business at this tirn dep6sit it with-this Bank, in our (VINGS DEPARTMENT ill be here when you do need it, wokingfor you in.the meantirme.' 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