The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-21
MR.. COOK AND THE kAIsER.


C00oucte0S (0Reer.
The following appeared in the London
Chronicle Immediately prior 20 the death
o. the late head Of Cook Tours"
AS we announced yesterday, John n
Cook. the head Of Messrs- Thomas Cook
& Son. has decided that as a personal
conductor" his public career is eadesi. Mr.
Cook has not yet recovered from the ill.,
ness which overlook him when he was
with tho kaiser In Palestine. and as
uatter OF fact. he has not visited the Of
Zee since his return
His life as a personal conductor COM
menced In 1si4, when. with long wand
he assisted the conveyance of 500 other
small children from Leicester TO Syston
by special train, then a two-nale walk
across fields to the Noun. Sorrei hills.
for an afternoon picnic, and back the
same route TO Leicester.
Particularly Interesting is his account
OF conducting the German emperor last
autumn. II seems that when the kaiser
visited vesuyius In March. 1855 his ma les
~ told Mr. Cook of his intention of going
to the Holy Land at the time Of the
completion OF the new church ard the
hospital In Jerusalem He did not in
tend 10 accept the hospitality OF the sui
taa or any one else. but hoped to be under
the protection and arrangements OF Mr.
Cook. Nothing more was heard OF the
ceiyed official lnfimation of the proposed
tour. His eldest son, F. II. Cook was
deputed 10 take charge OF tire business
After one or two suggestions which
were not at ali acceptable. the sultan de-
cided TO give the conduct of the Journey
over to Messrs. Cook and he would Fay
the account. Then the sultan requested
that one or two pashas should Join the i'm
per!al party. but instead of one or two
there came twentyseven, who. with their
attendants. made los In addition TO the
los members Of the imperial party
To meet the requirements Of the i'm
perial and Turkish encampments. and to
carry out the whole movement, Mr.. Cook
employed L. 40 riding horses. mules, and
pack animals; 1ls carriages and carts,
three special trains from Jerusalem to
Jana. and three from Beyroot TO Danas-
Gus and hack. The number OF servants
In the firms pay included 500 muleteers
and 30 walters and attendants. The heat
was intense. and one OF the chief Difficult
ties was supply ing the accessory water
To keep men and animals alive TIE
drinks consumed were enormous, the
total being between 1900 and l2eoO bot
ties OF various sizes and descriptions. The
imperial dinner table was daily set for
thirty to thirty-five. and 1t was fitted with
everything in solid silver. sent from Eng
land for the purpose.
When the kaiser arrived In Jerusalem
on October - he said to Mr.. Cook: "On
Vesuyius made you a promise. On We
suv.ns you made me promise. We have
both fulfilled them. and / am gratified."
The kaiser then wanted to know why so
much fuss was being made in that city.
ard WHY It was beirg spoiled with white
wash and color, adding: II wanted to
have seen the city in its natural condi-
ton and not got up like this"
TIE emperor. at the end Of the tour.
warmly congratulated the Messrs. Cook
pere ct fills. and on the elder conferred
the order OF the golden crown OF Prussia.
and on the younger the order OF the red
eagle
Il think may fairly claim. says John
Cook. ITO be satisfied with concluding
such a career with the emperor OF Ger
many In Palestine"