CHAPTER XIV 



DR. COOK'S EXPEDITION (1907-9) 



[Dr. Cook's statements, both as regards Mount McKinley 

 and his discovery of the North Pole, have been seriously 

 called in question. The writer prefers to accept his state- 

 ments until his opponents prove that they are false. 



According to the latest reports, a committee of the 

 American Explorers' Club have examined Dr. Cook's data 

 regarding his ascent of Mount McKinlev, and have come 

 to the conclusion that his data do not stand the test to 

 which they were submitted. 



The Council of the Copenhagen University, to whom 

 Dr. Cook sent certain documents for examination, have 

 decided that from the material supplied no proof can be 

 adduced that he reached the North Pole. 



As Dr. Cook's instruments and most of his astronomical 

 observations were left behind at Etah, and are still there 

 in consequence of Peary's refusal to allow them on his ship, 

 it is impossible at present to pronounce a final judgment.] 



Dr. Frederick A. Cook first took part in Arctic explora- 

 tion as surgeon and ethnologist to Peary's expedition of 

 1891. He was then twenty-six years of age. Before the 

 expedition reached Greenland his services were required 

 in a critical emergency. Peary received a fracture of 

 both bones of his leg, and it was to Dr. Cook's skill 

 that he owed a rapid and successful recovery. 



Dr. Cook was one of the party on the ice-cap as far 



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