The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-19
EXPLORER WisHES TO GET TO
AMERICA AND is uNcoN
cERNEp AS TO PEARy.
he STILL AWAITS PROOF
when | Land VIII Examine the
Charges and Reply When Proper
Time Comes" Is Statement Made on
Board Oscar iI-North Pole Hero
Submits to Be Photographed.

On Board the Oscar III. via Halifax.
Sept. 1s.-Dr. Frederick A. Cook,
cvinces The strongest desire to arrive
In New York as quickly as possible
He Is anxious to prove his claims. al
though the charges brought against
him by Commander Peary and others
do not cause him the slightest con-
Germ. He has complete answer. he
says, for everything
In reply to a question as to what
answer he would make to these
charges, DIR. Cook said this after
noon:
I VIII not enter into any contro-
versy until know definitely what has
been brought against me and whence
1t emanates. Commander Peary's
general and articulate charges do not
call for any responses from me until
he gives to the public as much as I
have. He has given few details of his
journey. claiming that he reached the
pole on a certain date, without much
else.
Awaits Proof.
His accusations arc founded purely
on statements given him by an igno-
rant man. whom I purposeiy kept
from learning the facts. When land
| VIII examine the charges and reply
when the proper time comes. Peary's
declaration. that he Is the only man
who has been to the pole and VIII
prove IT, still awaits proof As to
the affirmation that Peary has EVIL
dence to refute my story, that evil
lie hu0 0aI rp
the boatswain. who is unable to read
or write.
I have already expressed my readi-
ness to place my observations before
committee of scientific bodies and
the decision of the committee win
Justify my story
pr. Cook has received dozens OF dis
patches daily inviting him. to oan-
quets and other functions. He is
ready TO accept some of these insi-
tations. Many offers have also been
made for lectures and magazine .arti-
cies and on other propositions. which
DIR. Cook has declined without excen-
ton.
"ciutehins 1t 4 Straw"
Director General Cold of the steam
ship company. who has been his con-
slant companion on board the Oscar
III when he heard OF Commander
Peary's charges said:
"Peary is acting like a drowning
man ciutching at straw"
The vessels progress has been con-
siderably delayed by dense fog
which lasted for several hours off
Cape Race yesterday. This was fol-
lowed by a high wind. which sprang
up with remarkable suddenness and
died down this morning
DIR. Cook was visibly moved by the
strains of familiar melodies which ha
had not heard for more than two
years. After the concert he remained
for about an hour In tha smoking
room clatting about the incidents OF
his journey to the pole.
The skin suit In which the explorer
returned from TpernagIk. was ex-
hibited on the upper deck today and
aroused great interest. Dozens of
cameras were turned upon IL. and
afterwards upon DR. Cook who de-
eiined all requests to put the suit on.
He has submitted to being photo
graphed in company with virtually
every passenger aboard at various
times.
DIR, Cook says he would like TO
avoid any demonstration at landing.
He desires first of all 10 see his wife
and family
The Oscar ii was off Sable island
at s:so this evening. When the re
port was received in the afternoon that
Commander Peary was stin al Battle
Harbor DIR. Cook said:
I regret greatly that Commander
Peary Is not returning at the same
time as l am, I should have liked ta
meet him face to face on reaching
New York
Referring To the final examination
Of his records and Instruments, DR..
Cook said:
Within two months at the outside,
probably earlier. my records and in
struments will all be ready for the
official tests, shall send them tn
university. which has the
first claim. as il was the first Off
cialiy to recognize my work In the
discovery of the pole. After that they
will &c at the disposal OF ans expert
which the scientific and
societies care 10 FORM
DIR. Cook says that he does nor in
tend TO resume practice as a physl-