Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-05
American is introduced to His
Majesty by Minister Egan.
FLAG AND BOX AT THE POLE
Further Details of the Trip to the
Farthest North.
BANQUET AT MUNICIPAL HALL
DIR. Cook, I'm Modest speech, Attributes
Much of His Success to Good
Work of EslSimos and
Dogs.

A Cook stepped from the steamer TIanse
Gede in Copenhagen harbor on the arm
OF the crown prince of Denmark at 10
o'clock this morning, unshorn and looking
like a sailor before the mast lie sat down
to dinner at O'Clock this evening in the
city hail, the guest Of a brilliant company
Of the capitals most distinguished men and
women, arrayed in evening dress provided
by the kings tailor.
The hours between these events were the
busiest Of his life. Polar exploration never
afforded anything half so crowded with
variety and excitement They were hours
Of speechmakiug. handshaking. bowling to
camoring crowds, and then after address,
ing the people, who almost tore him TO
pieces in their eagerness to see the dis
coverer of the pole, DIR. Cook was the
recipient Of formal welcomes at the hotel
where he is tho governments guest. There
he passed through the hands of tailors.
outfitters and BARRIERS Later he luuched
with Or. Maurice f. Egan, the American
minister, being piled necessarily for an
hour with questions. He went through
hundreds of kilograms, including congratu-
latons from geographical societies Of
several nations, explorers and friends, Of
fers Of exploitation ranging FROM books 10
music hall engagements. and then hurried
to the palace and gave the king and other
members Of the royal family a long account
of his adventure.
Talks to Correspondents.
Returning to his hotel he received a
battalion Of correspondents, who subjected
him for another hour to a merciless cross
examination, demanding explanations of
all the criticisms that have been levelled
against his claims. These questions Dr.
Cook answered frankly and fully What
ever may be thought of DR. Cook else
where, he has impressed all who talked
with him here a modest, straight
forward and able man. Danish explorers
and Denmark is the home of many--were
the first to endorse Cooks claims to the
discovery of the pole and his methods of
getting to the goal. Their opinions were
based primarily on personal knowledge OF
DR.. Cooks character and former achieve
ments. Only after consulting them con-
fidenually and receiving the fullest pro-
nouncement Of their belief in the genuine
ness of his feat did the Danish government
give it it's official seal by todays reception
to DR.. Cooks good faith.
banquet at Municipal Hall.
The banquet this evening was held in
the magnificent municipal building. Four
hundred persons, many of them women,
the streets in a drenching rain storm TO
catch sight of the explorer when he en-
tered.
There was preliminary reception in the
lofty and spacious entrance hall. The
spectators, with many of the men
wearing orders, must have impressed the
explorer by contrast with his recent ex.
periences. The company marched upstairs
to the air of the star Spangled Banner"
After all had been seated the minister OF
commerce, Johan Hansen, escorted DR..
Cook to the chair of honor amid demon
stration which caused him to color deeply
Minister Egan sat at DR.. Cooks right with
the mayor of Copenhagen and Miss Egan
beyond. Mrs. Camel a wealthy Copen-
hagen woman, who has contributed extern
sively to Arctic exploration and has been
closely identified with 1t, at the chair
mans left The menu card was an eX-
ample of enterprise with a lthograph of
the crown prince greeting DR.. Cook and
a map of the Arctic circle giving DIR.
Cooks route and a fac simile of his auto
graph, with the date which was a repro
ducton Of souvenir he gave Miss Egan.
The speeches teemed with compliments
of DIR. Cook. The mayor of Copenhagen
said that the name was once more en-
rolled among the great explorers. Min
lister Egan proposed toast to the king
of Denmark and the corporation president
in proposing toast to the president Of the
United States spoke Of the pride that must
be felt by the nation which could boast
that it was her son who first planted the
flag where no human being had ever be-
fore set foot
Toast 10 the Explorer.
The minister Of commerce, in proposing
! q
butte to his noble deed" lie thanked him
for spending a little time in Denmark and
said that the priyations Of the explorer
were appreciated most by the men Of Den
mark there tonight whose names are writ
ten with honor on the ice rocks Of Dem
marks northern colony.
When the nation was first thrilled with
the news of Cooks exploit he said he
must confess there was some skeptlcism,
/ but afterward it was confirmed and he
! hoped that Or, Cook would try for the
/ South pole with the same success.
When the minister raised his glass to
"our noble guest" there were nine hur-
rahs
Commodore Hovgaard spoke from the
standpoint Of an expert explorer and com
mended Cooks methods
Speech of DIR. Cook.
Dr. Cook replied in a few words, mod
/ estly saying;
| 4 thank you very much for the warm
\ and eloquent words, but l am unable to
/ express myself properly. It was a rather
! hard day for me, but / never enjoyed a
/ day better. The Danes have taken, not
only an active part IN polar explorations,
/ but they have been Of much Importance
/ as silent partners I'm almost all Arctic ex-
petitions in recent years. The most inn
! portant factor In my expedition was the
/ Eskimo and dog and ! cannot be too
! thankful TO the Danes for their care Of
the Eskimo, and now they also have In