New-York tribune., 1909-09-22
Or. COOK BACK HOME,
WELCOME STIRS CITY
FIFTY THOUSAND CHEER
rs HE STEPS ASHORE.
Serenity Thousand More Lined Up
Ncar old HOmc-"I Haze Come
from the Pole, Explorer Says.


that he had reached the North Pole, was taken
from the steamship Oscar II yesterday to re-
ceive the welcome home his friends and admirers
had prepared for him. II was an American well
come in the highest key, iostling. frantic and
overcrowded.
In a statement which the explorer issued in
the early morning before leaving the ship he
tried 10 cover the questions which he would
he called upon to face For the rest Of the
day he had few words for the public, and those
for the most part referred by repetition or COM
rnent TO what he had said earlier. He avoided
any direct remark upon Commander Peary's
challenge to his veracity.
Not long after sunrise. while the haze was still
heavy on the bay, the tug John r. Gilkinson
came alongside the steamship in Quarantine.
She carried Mrs. Cook and her two daughters,
her husbands two brothers. John r. Bradley.
who financed the expedition 10 the polar region.
and several members of the Arctic Club OF
America.
The iron gangway was already the ships
side. DR.. Cook stepped upon it, sprang back
the tug iung against the ship by wave.
ran down the steep ladder and dropped to the
tugs deck close TO where his wife stood with the
TWO little girls
For an hour or more the CiiIkinson sauntered
about the HarrOws, hardly under steerage way
close in her wake launch and two tugs had
followed her down from the Battery with re-
Torters and newspaper photographers. These
craft we're laid alongside her after half an hour
Of long distance parley. and a few MINUTES later
n revenue cutter left dozen more newspaper
men on her decks.
PATIENT WITH GREETEKS
ur cook took their greetings and their scru-
tiny in good part and faced the cameras with
patience To look at him he hardly seemed the
man 10 lead a daring, needless dash for any
mere prize. however splendid. Beside Bradley.
keen. smart and ready who was always at his
olhov-. his opposite traits were marked. \ pa
tent man. rather than eager one, showed
through the movement. face and speech His
heavy features were hardly other than common
place. save for the curious drawing OF the lines
At his eyes, and these might mean nothing more
than profound and exceedingly prolonged eX-
perienoe with suffering.
He smiled readily and with a suggestion OF
embarrassment His speech was even, not hur-
rfed and not undecided. r. was his speech more
thsn any other thing which gave the impression
that the man was Of low vitality, or that his
spirit had been drained TO the dregs in the Arc
tic gloom and cold
The Grand Republic bore down the small
rraft with band blaring aft and her seven hun
dred. passengers crowded on her forward deck
The GiIkinson freed herself and slipped along
side 20 meet a rattle of shouts and then roar
of cheers. Or. and Mrs Cook stood together on
the tugs upper deck ss she rubbed along the
steamboats, guardrail Mr.. Bradley produced
bundle Of typewritten papers, which he passed
about among the reporters.
I HAVE COME FROM THE POLE"
These statements signed by DR.. Cook, were in
lieu of another interview. They read:
on Board the Oscar II
After one Of the most delightful trips of my
life across the Atlantic. am indeed glad once
more 70 see the shores OF my native Iand !
have come from the pole ] have brought my
story and my data with me. The public has
alrea Dr. a tangible and d specific record OF that
trip in very short time the narrative, with
All the observations, VIII be published and
placed before the world for examination
II is as easy for you as for me TO understand
why 7 cannot on the impulse of the moment
read of . manuscript which covers the work or
two years. As saiC upon several occasions, all
he charges. accusations and expressions OF dis
pelief are based upon entire ignorance OF the
supplementary data which I possess. No one
Sho has spoken or written on the subject in op
position 10 my claim knows Of the facts with
Falch such work OF exploration Is measured.
All q the criticisms have been based upon
OBVIOUS errors in the reproductions Of my FIRST
uspatch, or upon the discussions of petty side
.5Sues presented by unfair critics.
The expedition was private. II was started
Ut without the usual public bombast. Mr..
ohm +. Bradley furnished the money, and I
mapped the destiny Of the venture. For the
me being IL concerned US only, but the results
ere so important that on returning at once
laced before the public a report containing the
lain outline Of the work. / have not come
rome to enter into arguments with one man or
nth fifty men but ! am here to present a
lear record Of piece OF work oyer which
ave q right 20 display certain amount OF
rGe
When scientists study the detailed observa-
ons and the narrative in its consecutive order,
an certain that in due course Of events all
IN be compelled to admit the truth OF my state
ent
an perfectly willing TO abide by the final
rdict Of this record by competent judges.
hEt must he the last word in the discussion,
"a that alone can satisfy and the public.
in black and white, but will also bring to
America human witnesses to prove that have
been 10 the pole.
GARLAND AROUND EXPLORERS NECK.
For an instant after DR. Cook and his family
stepped aboard the Grand Republic the militia
men OF the guard OF honor held back the crowd
50 q struggling half-crcIe. Then their line col
;apsed and they swept along with crowd
tng friends. neighbors. reporters and officials of
The day in a rush which carried them all through
Ire lower cabin 20 the open between decks for
ward
Or. Cook and his wife in the front Of
'He melee. jostled. pushed and driven. lodging
camp chairs and ventilators, until they found
shelter At a stairway, dsheyelled and almost
breathless. The two little girls just missed be-
Ing run down in the stampede. and Captain Os-
"on' tie veteran secretary OF the Arctic Club.
and commodore Of the ship for the day. called
on all Americans 70 be men with right seamanly
frankless.
in the brief space OF time before the crowd
hroke girl in white placed a garland OF white
lea roses around DR. Cooks neck and began
welcoming speech. in which she hailed him as
gentleman Of Brooklyn" The garland, which
lce he