The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-09-25
DR. COOK CROSS-EXAMINED
THE POLE FINDER SUBMITS TO
GRUELLING INTERVIEW.
Forty Newspaper Men Fire All Kinds
of Questions at the Explorer, but
Can Answer Them All.
Of Questions

OF questions ut the EApioFeE, Du'
Can Answer Them All.
Dr.. Frederick A. Cook, seeking
rest and seclusion with his family
after the boisterous welcome OF
Tuesday, denied himself to inter
views Wednesday and remained in
his suit at the Wol6brf-Astoria.
in New York, until late wednesday
afternoon, when he submitted cheer
fully to one cf the seVerest cross
examinations since he announced his
discovery Of the North Pole. The
ordealsof the interview, which was
conducted by forty newspaper repre-
sentatives, including several from
foreign newspapers. proved at least
that he was not afraid to meet the
public. Incidentally the city of New
York officially recognized his achieve
ment Wednesday when the board OF
aldermen passed resolution, COM
memorating his discovery and pro-
viding for a public welcome at the
City Hall. The date of the recep-
ton will be announced later.
AS the questions asked were put
by laymen they did not go deeply
into the scientific aspect of the ex-
pedition. But DR.. Cook was ready
to answer anything pertinent to the
issue.
The most interesting phase of the
interview was reached when DR..
Cook was asked If he would object
to showing his diary. He imnedi-
ately consented, and after retiring
to his room, returned with small
octave note book, which he showed
freely to all. 1t was thin book
containing 176 pages, each Of which
was filled with fifty or sixty lines
of penailled writing of the most
minute character.
The book. he said, contained con-
siderably more than one hundred
thousand words, while he has be-
sides other books embracing his OBJ
servations and other data.
Interviews Severe.
The interviews were rather severe
in regard to details. but nothing in
dicated that the Polar travellers
memory was at fault even in the
most minute particulars. Some
times when a petty question indi.
Gated ignorance, he smiled with good
humored sympathy at the lack OF
technical knowledge displayed.
Not once did he refuse to reply
except wnen the name of Commander
Peary was broached. Even then
/ he said that he had always and did
!! now consider Peary as, his friend
but controversial subjects in connec-
ton with his rival he avoided en-.
! tirely. saying that they could wait.
When requested to say what had
occurred at his meeting with Harry
Whitney, the New Haven sports
man, he said he preferred to LEI
Whitney tell his own story, as Whit
ney was quite unbiased. His rea.
sons in imposing secrecy on Whitney
on Pritchard, Commander Peary's
cabin boy, and the Eskimos. were
prompted by his desire to he the
first to tell the world his discovery
He had done the work. he said, and
was entitle to relate how it had
been carried out.
Some Of the Questions Asked.
Some of the more important ques.
tions put to DR.. Cook during the
interview, and his replies thereto
follows:
@. Did anything ever occur in
the life of yourself and Mr.. Peary
that would create an enmity or bit.
terness between you?
A. Nothing that I know of.
@. Would you he willing to meet
Peary in debate when he gets
here?
A. AS far as I am concerned the
Peary incident Is closed. Mr.. Peary
Is not the dictator of my affairs, and
7 do not care to say anything fur
ther about him.
@. Did you know Mr. Whitney
when you met him on your return
to Etah?
A. No; he introduced himself.
@. What caused you to have such
confidence in Mr.. Whitney that you
entrusted your instruments to him.
A. knew him by name. and
circumstances that arose while
was with him justified my conf
dence. I gave him the instrument.
to bring back because thought thev
would be less liable to injury on
board his vessel than if / took them
across glaciers and rough ice.coTer-
ed country.
@. What is your opinion Of tho
story told by the negro Hcnsnr Of
lie information he obtained fr.:m
! your two E. limos?
a. Wei, the EskimOs were hoIn.l
down by me not to tol. anyone where
they had beer. should like you IL
have Henson ne., and cross l.estio1
him Yourself Henson testimony
is entirely founded Gil hearsay
@. Knowing that ship was com
ing North this summer for Whitney,