The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-24
piScovERER OF POLE Is GUEST
OF HONOR At ARCTIC
CLUB BANQUET.
BRILLIANT ASstMBLAGt
Explorer Enters Hall on Arm Of Rear
Admiral Winfield S. Sehiey and Tells
Story Of His Dash to the End Of the
Earth-Gives Honor and Credit to
Those Who Assisted Him.


New York. Sept. 23-Cheered by a
thousand men and women as he en-
tered the banquet hall on the arm of
Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley.
Frederick A. Cook told his story to-
night before the most brilliant audi
encc that he has addressed since he
left the court of Denmark The ban
quet was given by the Arctic club
of America, of which DIR. Cook Is a
member. The assemblage was cosmo-
poiitan and enthusiastic. Crowded in
the great ball room of the Waldorf
Astoria. Cooks admirers listened at
tentively to his recital. in the form of
an after dinner address.
DIR. Cook detailed many of his polar
experiences and insisted that his ex-
plot furnished honor enough for all
He declared that he wanted to divide
the praise with explorers of the past
upon whose experiences he had won;
with the Eskimos. whose customs he
had adopted with victorious effect, and
with Mr.. Bradley. who had financed
his expedition.
Crowd Into Hall.
The banquet was to have been pre-
ceeded by a reception, but after a
long wait the diners crowded into the
hall without a chance of previously
shaking the hand of the explorer. The
reason for DIR. Cooks delay and the
abandonment of the reception was
characteristic of DIR. Cooks simplicity.
He landed in this country without hav-
ing conventional evening clothes in
his wardrobe. and the suit he ordered
since his arrival was late in being de-
livered to his room. For that reason
the reception followed the dinner in
stead of preceding II.
The speakers in addition to DR.. Cook
were Rear Admiral Schley. Mr.. Nc
Gowan, Bird s. Coler. Count Moltke.
Professor William Brewer, honorary
president of the Arctic club. Repre-
sentative w. S. Bennett of New York.
Job Hedges. a prominent local repub-
lican. and Charles Wake of the FIX
plorers' club.
>. Introduces Cook.
In introducing DIR. Cook Rear Ad
miral Schley said:
Like all who have achieved similar
success In other fields of activity. DIR,
Cook is challenged by envy, which
often proceeds from disappointment.
But to all fair and just minded people
there is only regret that there should
have been raised any issue over an
achievement that was full enough of
glory for both.
"Our guests splendid behavior un-
der those trying circumstances has at
tracted the commendation of his coun-
trymen and has added innumerable
hosts to his friendship. ! believe as
president of the Arctic Club of Amer
lea. upon their statements. that both
Mr.. Peary and DIR. Cook reached the
pole. I hail their chivalrous and per-
sistent courage"
When DIR. Cook came To speak The
entire assemblage stood and the cheer
ing continued for full minute. DIR.
Cook read his address.
Cooks Speech.
DR. Cook said:
This is one of the highest honors
/ ever hope to receive. You represent
most of the frigid explorers of Europe
and nearly all of the Arctic explorers
In America. Your welcome Is the ex-
plorer's guarantee to the world-eom-
ing, as 1t does. from fellow workers,
from men who know and have gone
through the same experience-it is
an appreciation and a victory the high
est which could fall to the lot OF any
returning traveller.
THE key to frigid endeayor is sub
sistenee. There In nothing in the en-
tire realm of the Arctic which Is inn
possible to man. If the animal fires
are supplied with adequate fuel. there
is no cold too severe and no obstacle
TOO great to srrmount. No important
expedition has ever returned because
of unseaiable barriers or impossible
weather. The exhausted food supply
resulting from a limited means OF
transportation has turned every aspir-
ant from his goal. In the ages of the
polar quest much has been tried and
much has been learned. The most inn
portant lesson Is that civilized man,
III he will succeed, must bend TO the
savage simplicity necessary.
Where to Begin.
The problem belongs to modern
man, but for its execution We must be-
gin with the food and the means OF
transportation of wild man. Even this
must be reduced and simplified.
.canaor eompels me to say that the
effort of getting to the pole is not a
question of physical endurance, and II
is not fair to call il bravery. but an
understanding of the needs of the
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