The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-28
MIR. COOK AND THE KAISER,
Triumphant End of a EePersOnaIIy
Conducted" Career.

conducted" career.
From the London Daily Chronicle.
AS we announced yesterday, Mr. John NJ
Cook the head of Messrs. Thomas Cook &
Son, has decided that as a personal con-
duetor" his public career is ended Mr..
Cook has not yet recovered from the ILL
ness which overlook him when he was with
the Kaiser in Palestine, and, as a matter
of fact, he has not visited the office since
his return.
His life as personal conductor COM
menced in 1874, when, with long wand
he assisted the conveyance of 500 other
small children from Leicester TO Syston
by special train, then a two-mile walk
across fields to the Mount Sorrel Hills, for
an afternoon picnic, and back the same
route to Leicester.
Particularly interesting is his account of
conducting the German Emperor last Au-
tumn. 1t seems that when the Kaiser Wis
tied Vesuvius in March, 1896, his Majesty
told Mr.. Cook of his intention of going to
the Holy Land at the time of the compile
ton Of the new church and the hospital in
Jerusalem. He did not intend to accept the
hospitality of the Sultan or any one else
but hoped to be under the protection and
arrangements of Mr.. Cook. Nothing more
was heard of the matter until May last
when the firm received official intimation
of the proposed tour. His eldest son, Mr.. P.
H. Cook, was deputed to take charge of the
business
After one or two suggestions, which were
not all acceptable, the Sultan decided to
give the conduct of the Journey over to
Messrs. Cook, and he would pay the ac-
count. Then the Sultan requested that one
or two Pashas should join the imperial
party, but instead of one or two there came
twenty-seven, who, with their attendants,
made 1OS, in addition to the los members
of the imperial party.
To meet the requirements of the imper-
ial and Turkish encampments and to car
ry out the whole movement Mr. Cook en-
ployed 430 riding horses, mules, and pack
animals; 116 carriages and carts, three
special trains from Jerusalem to Jaffa
and three from Beyrout to Damascus and
back The number of servants in the firm
pay included 800 muleteers and 200 walters
and attendants. The heat was intense
and one of the chief difficulties was sup
plying the necessary water TO keep men
and animals alive. The drinks" consum-
ed were enormous, the total being be-
tween 1900 and 1900 bottles of various
sizes and descriptions. The imperial Gin
ner table was daily set for thirty to
thirty-five, and it was fitted with every
thing in solid silver, sent from England
for the purpose.
When the Kaiser arrived in Jerusalem
on Oct 20 he said to Mr. Cook: ION We
suvius 1 made you a promise. On Vesu-
vius you made me a promise. We have
both fulfilled them, and 1 am gratifed
The Kaiser then wanted to know why so
much fuss was being made in that city,
and why it was being spoiled with white
wash and color, adding Il wanted to have
seen the city in its natural condition, and
not got up like this
The Emperor, at he end of the tour
warmly congratulated the Messrs. Cook,
pere ct fills, and on the elder conferred
the Order of the Golden Crown of Prus-
STA, and on the younger the Order of the
Red Eagle
II think I may fairly claim" says Mr.
John Cook, ito be satisfied with concldd-
ing such a career with the Emperor of
Germany in Palestine"