Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-04
WANT TO PROBE
POLAR WRANGLE
COOK AGREES TO AID AMER
ICAN GE0GRAPHISTS
WILL ASK DANES TO GIVE UP
PRIOR CLAIMS
Policeman in New York, Mistaking
Explorer for Man Who Hit
Him, 3tarts to Strike
the Scientist
By Associated Press.l


WASHINGTON, oct. 3.-Dr. Fred
erick A. Cook, the Arctic explorer an
nounced tonight shortly after his ar
rival from New York to deliver his
lecture that he would acquiesce in the
proposition that the University of Co
penhagen be asked to waive its claim
to a prior examination of his records,
in order that the American geographic
societies and other scientific societies
in this country may be enabled 10 re-
view his data.
He said he would be satisfied to have
the decisions of all these tribunals an
nounced simultaneously.
Frankness characterized DR.. Cook s
answers, although the explorer added
but little to what he already had said.
When asked if he would in the tu-
ture fit up an expedition to go to the
south pole DIR. Cook said he was not
prepared to answer on that point, but
he added that the discovery Of the
south pole would be much easier than
that of the north pole.
Probable Route
He pointed out that a probable route
to the south pole would be along
stretches of land on which stations
could be established and this would
mean a quicker discovery.
An enthusiastic crowd of several
thousand greeted DR.. Cook on his ar
rival and the throngs in their eagerness
to see or get near him, with difficulty
were kept in check by scores Of police
men and detectives.
At the station there was conspicu-
GUS lack of official courtesies to the
explorer.
None of the government scientific
officials were present to welcome him,
nor were any civic bodies represented.
While Dr. Cook was being escorted
through the station his identity was
mistaken by a policeman. who in try
ing TO keep a passage clear, was struck
by someone from behind just as DR..
Cook was approaching.
The policeman wheeled about with
uplifted club and was about to strike
DR.. Cook, thinking he was the Offend
er, when he discovered his error.
DR.. Cook in lecture tonight deviated
but slightly from his previous utter
ances in describing his dash to the
pole. and sought to contine himself
more to his travels and experiences
than to a discussion of criticism aimed
at him.
He asserted that while he was glad to
have reached the pole and was glad
to have returned to tell the world
about it, he had endeavored to make it
plain that his was private expedition
and not one backed by the government
or by a polar trust"
After the lecture Dr. Cook was the
guest of the National Press club. He
met personally the newspaper men Of
Washington. He made brief address.
Among the guests of the evening was
DIR. Harvey w. Wiley, the govern
ment's pure food expert. After DR..
Cook was introduced to DR.. Wiley the
latter began to ply the explorer with
questions.
Now, [ want you to tell me what
pemmican is demanded DR.. Wiley,
who appeared more interested in what
the explorer had to eat on his polar
dash than in the discovery of the pole.
DR.. Cook explained that pemmican
consisted of strips of meat without the
fat, dried in the sun and pounded to-
gether with melted fat and often dried
vegetables.
DIR. Wiley shook his head and said:
"Well if that's the case, I guess We'll
have to push the prosecutions under the
pure food law to the north pole"