The Cook Fiasco.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 26 January 1910, Page 8

The Cook Fiasco.

The verdict pronounced by the Council of the Copenhagen University upon Hr. Cook's diaries must be regarded as disposing finally of that extraordinary man's pretension*. Copenhagen, having received Cook With high honours on his return to civilisation, and having thus committed itself to some sort of recognition of his claims, has naturally been much interested in the controversy that has raged round him, and the ap-

pointment of a committee of six distinguished scientists to examine Dr. Cook’s papers was intended as a concession to public feeling, which regarded the national honour and prestige as seriously involved in the dispute. When this Committee reported that it had received from Dr. Cook only a typewritten copy of the “story” that he supplied to American newspapers, and “a copy of note-books which contain no astronomical records,” the scientific world practically washed its hands of Cook; but Denmark has been waiting anxiously for the official pronouncement of Copenhagen University, which has carefully examined all the documentary evidence in secret. Cook's friends will doubtless attempt to make capital out of the fact that this last report contains no reference to the “faked” observations which Cook was recently accused of purchasing; but in such a case as this, nothing but definite and conclusive proof of the explorer's good faith and his success could have saved him. Such proof is manifestly wanting, and we are driven, however reluctantly, to accept as probably accurate the charges brought against him of falsifying his Mt. McKinley records and photographs and attempting to procure spurious observations, “the same with intent to deceive.” The facts speak for themselves, and alienists and other students of morbid ’psychology- will probably entertain themselves for some time to come with attempts to diagnose this extraordinary case and to decide whether Cook’s gigantic swindle was the outcome of vulgar dishonesty, or was due to mental derangement induced by the terrible hardships which he had suffered, and the terribly nervous strain to which he has been exposed.

Map showing the situation of the tunnel which has pierced the Andes, between Argentina and Chile. The two sections of this huge tunnel, which is 3280 yards long and about 11,000 feet above the sea, were joined recently. The railway will be at once constructed, and by next March passengers should be able to travel between Valpariso and Buenos Ayres without going round Cape Horn. The completion of the tunnel is a great triumph for the British engineers who have carried out the work.