Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-27
COOK WAS AFRAID
Driven Into Exile by Denun-
citation and Threats.
VIEW OF FORMER FRIEND
Charles Wake Declares Confidence
in Explorer Was Misplaced.
TELLS STORY OF THE FLIGHT
Cook Had Mustache Removed and
Otherwise Disguised Himself.
Under Nervous Strain.
TELLS STORY OF THE FLIGHT

NEW YORK, December 2.-Charles
Wake. the insurance man, who has been
one of the stanchest hackers of DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook. has at last concluded that
his faith in the arctic explorer was mis-
placed. He has issued a statement, in
which he tells the full story of his deal
ings with Cook. After relating that Cook
had practically been driven into seclusion
by denunciation and threats. Mr. Wake
tells of the steps he took to assist Cook
1.-THE doctor and his wife evinced an
increasing anxiety to have me with
them." says Mr.. Wake. land beginning
with November 10 I spent every night at
the Hotel Gramatan. So great was their
fear for the safety Of his original records
that from the second night consented
to have the door between their room and
mine left open. They urged me repeat
eddy to go with them to Europe to safe
consider 1t necessary, and could not see
my way clear to do 1t. During all the
time that I was with them the doctor
was unable to get any sleep, night or
day, and at the end he was practically q
nervous wreck. He became even more
uncommunicative than usual, and would
not express his thoughts.
Cook Retained Original Records.
ut was finally arranged that Mr.. Ions
dale. DR.. Cooks secretary. should sail
for Copenhagen with typewriter copy
Of the records on the United States of
the Scandinavian-America line, sailing
November %, and that the doctor and
his wife. carrying the originals, should
sail for Genoa, under assumed names, on
the Cedric, leaving November p. Ions
dale after he had deposited the copy, was
to go, accompanied by some trustworthy
person. to Stettin. Germany. to meet the
doctor and his wife. Lonsdale and his
companion were then to take the orig
inals to Copenhagen, and DR.. Cook was
to remain within easy distance of the
university.
Their passage on the Cedric was Sc
cured, but subsequently 1t was agreed
that their departure should be deferred
until 1t became more certain that they
would not be detected and followed.
When left the Hotel Gramatan at noon
Wednesday. November "a. 1t was under
stood that the doctor and Lonsdale should
come to my Office at 3 o'clock that after
noon to arrange some Of the details OF
Lonsdale's departure. To allay the anx-
iety of the doctor and his wife had ar
ranged with q detective agency to have
tective was at my Office at 3 o'clock to
pick him up.
"Dr. Cook did not appear at the hour
appointed, but about o'clock Lonsdale
telephoned my Office that everything was
all right. / was not surprised that he
did not say more. for by that time my
telephone as we'll as DR.. Cooks was leak
ing badly. I, too. was being followed by
a corps Of detectives day and night, but
1 was greatly astonished when / failed
to receive any further, word for several
hours. During that anxious period l i'm
agined all sorts of things. and reproved
myself for not having had the doctor
Swallowed earlier.
Story of Disappearance.
'Ionsdale eventually connected with
me on the telephone away from my office,
and at 0 o'clock he met me and told me
the story OF DR.. Cooks disappearance.
He said they came down from Bronxville
at 2:3O o'clock that afternoon, intending
to go to my Office. On their arrival at
the Grand Central station they found
the usual array of detectives waiting to
shadow them. They hurried through the
crowd and saw south-bound Madison
avenue car just getting under way.
''On seeing the car the doctor sud-
denly exclaimed: Here's a chance to
get away from them. and I arm going to
take 1t. Come on They caught the car
Just as it vas entering the Pa, Park a., avenue
tective had been left behind. They left
the car at 33d street and went into the
subway. where they boarded a south
bound train, after making sure that they
were not being followed. They left the
train at Blocker street. slipping out just
before the last door was closed. to make
sure that they were not being Swallowed.
From there they went to&the Pennsyl-
vania depot by a circuitous route and DR..
Cook took a train for Philadelphia. On
the way to Jersey City he had his mus
tache shaved on and exchanged his derby
to Lonsdale were: Now, l shall be able
write to him. using the name of Harper,
cret along with the rest
Doubts His Good Faith.
Il was greatly surprised and at first
highly incensed that the doctor should
leave In this fashion, and for the first
time began to feel some misgivings as to
his good faith. though 1 did not COM
municate them to his wife. for she was
already greatly perturbed by his action
concluded, however. that the severe
strain he had been under was an extern
uating circumstance; that perhaps his
mind might have been affected. and that,
therefore. he should not be held too rig
idly responsible. for in such an event he
was more than ever in need Of my friend
ship.
"Ionsdale sailed. with a copy of the