New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-22
HIS CLAIM AND LIFE
HOW NEWS CANE OUT.
Many acclaimed Cook Despite
.4ttacks on Him.

Or. Frederick A. Cooks claim was first
made known 20 the world on September
Of this year. when the cable message was
sent from Lerafek. I'm the Shetland ISL
ands. signed by the captain of the Danish
government ship Hans Egede, homeward
bound from her yearly cruise about Green
land:
We have on board the American trav-
eller DR.. Cook, who reached the North Pole
On April p. 1905. DR.. Cook arrived al Uper-
navik in May Of 1903 from Cape York The
Esquirnaus OF Cape York confirm Or.
Cooks story OF hts journey
The natural inquiry as 10 whom this Dr.
Cook might be brought forth the following
Information; Born in Callicoon. Sullivan
County. I'm 1865; he had established a ply
sician's practice IN the Bushwiek section
Of Brooklyn. He went north with Peary as
surgeon in 1891. Later ne headed two Arctic
expeditions Of his own. or the second losing
his ship. the Miranda. in the See.
lie was surgeon Of the Belgiea expedition
in the Antarctic I'm lssZ-'sa He was best
known for having climbed Mount MeKin-
sley in Alaska. in 1906. There was some
gossip among explorers AMI seogrsphers
that members OF his party had cast doubt
on his claim
~ AtA sIuN bfhQAtNs a WNGlfhN SrGTts-
man. he sailed IN the summer OF 1907 on a
hunting trip 20 Greenland. Bradley re-
turned and announced that d.. Cook had
decided 20 stay behind The Eric. Pesry's
coal ship. brought back a message from Dr.
Cook. dated early in March. Isos. from a
point on the polar sea. saying that he
meant 70 make dash for the pole.
The first cable was followed by others. In
which the explorer himself told 2 number
or friends and geographical societies that
he had reached the North Pole. Two days
later New York newspapers published a
longer dispatch
In the highly ecIored style OF Dr. Cocks
earlier writings he told OF crossing the
polar ses 70 the North Pole and wildly
told Of his sensations when he found he had
penetrated the boreal centre" He said:
What a cherries spot 20 have aroused
the ambition Of man for 50 many ages.
An endless field Of purple SHOWS. No
life; no land; no spot 20 relieve the
monetony OF frost. We were the only pull
sating creatures in a dead world Of ice"
WORLD STIRRED AT NEWS.
The sensation which stirred the whole
world ~ the report rose 20 frenzy in Copen-
hagen. where the Hans Egede made her
landing on September 1 Crown Prince
Christian boarded the ship 10 welcome the
explorer in the name Of the kingdom: the
streets we're packed with enthusiasts; the
hero was hidden TO dine with the King at
the palace on the day folloTing The
crowds forced = speech from him. which
he delivered IN front OF the Danish
Meteorological Institute. IN II he repeated
his claim that he had been to the pole
ANY full examination OF the data was
Ant of - -.
miration with which the Danish people
overwhelmed their guest Daagaard Jen-
sen. inspector Of North Greenland. Il vas
said had investigated the matter end had
approved Two days after the royal dinner
the University OF Copenhegsn bestowed a
rare honorary degree on Dr- Cook
That evening he lsctured On his Journey
before the royalty, the court and nearly
al The Intellectual leaders OF Denmark
sixty journalists submitted the explorer %
terrific cross-exsrninAtion OF Two hours
With te- exceptions. they said he had an
swered an questions satisfactorily.
On ths dsy OF the lecture g cahls mes
sage came from Cape Ray. Newfoundland.
transmitted from Indian Harbor. Labrador:
stars and stripes nailed % the North
Pole PEsRy" .
Commander Robert 7. Peary hsd reached
the pole on April 6. 1919 He learned at
oncs OF Dr.. Cooks claim. and then fol-
lowed rapid hrs % messages in which
Commander Pssry denounced his rival A
famous enc read.
Cook has not been 70 the pole April p,
1905. or any other date. lie has Simply
handed the public gold brick
COOK CONES HOME.
Commander Peary's strong language and
tie good natured tolerance Of Cook in
fuenced public feeling in favor OF the
earlier claimant Dr.. Cooks career reached
re crest on September l. when he landed
IN Brooklyn with garland or white roses
around his neck. stepping from q steam
boat which two thousand friends had char
tered 10 take him from his ship. Ashore
lis reception was mere crowded. II = trifis
less splendid. than that az Copenhagen.
The same day the Roosevelt with Com
msnder Pesry on board. entered the har-
Dor OF sydney. y :
DR.. Cook declared again ana again tha,
he had with him records which he felt
sure would substantsts hts claim 10 have
discovered The North Pole. He demanded
70 le allowed 20 submit his records 70 any
recognized scientific body. Certain OF his
records and instruments. however, lie said
he had left az Etah. In Greenland. with
Harry Whitney, a young sportsman who
had gone north with Pesry Whitney had
also talked With his two Esquimaus be-
fore they had met Commander Peary.
br. Cooks friends expected Whitney
/ practically 10 substsntiats Dr. Cooks story
! When he reached civilization, however. he
said little more than THAI DR. Cook had
told him he had gone 20 the pole. The in
struments and records. he said, he had
left al Etah ~ the direction OF Com
mander Peary. who brought him part way
/ home IN the Roosevelt.
EARNINGS NIT slo9.oe
With barely the delay necessary, for
Z signing the contracts. DR. Cook took 10 the
/ lecture platform. His lectures contained
no details or descriptions beyond those
which had been contained in his newsna-
/ per story. His friends estimate that his
/ earnings. with the money he received for
/ his published story. amount 10 about
/ 100000.
Public challenges 20 Or Cooks claims
grew gradually in weight and nunber
First the Explorers Club. Of which he had
been president, started an investigation
into his Mount Mckinley story. Com
mander Peary published a statement
signed BY all his aids. detailing the story
OF Dr. Cooks two Esquimaus. who sais
he had gone only two days from land.
On October II, tie day before the explorer
was 10 receive The freedom Of the CITY Of
Z