Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-30
FAITHFUL FRIEND
DESERTS DR.. COOK
Charles Wake, One of the Explor.
er's staunchest Supporters,
tho Man.

this city, Arctic explorer, member of the
Explorers club and heretofore one of the
staunchest supporters Of Or. Frederick A.
Cook. deserted the Cook standard to.nirht
Although loyal for several days after
tho adverse decision Of the University OF
Copenhagen on Cooks records Wake
now says that he was deceived by the ex-
plorer. He adds that he docs not know
where Dr. Cook is. except that he In In
Europe although he is aware of Mrs
Cooks whereabouts. which hs declines 70
reveal.
Cook has had ample time to express
himself since the records were examined"
said MI. Wake, but he has not done So"
SO long az live shall never forget
the degree OF nonchalance with which he
waved his hand toward the beautiful
degree and the handhome gold medal that
had been conferred on him by Copenhagen
and replied There Is the best evidence
I do not know who 10 caring for his
children In New York boarding school
but I presume relatives are doing Il. How
much money he made upon his trip and
what settlement he has made Of this,
do not know"
ACCOUNT OF DISAPPEARANCE.
Mr.. wake says that he does not wish
his statement TO he taken as an attack
on Or. Cool, but he feels impelled to
let the facts speak for themselves. He
then recites hir experience with the ex-
plorer. among them the following inter-
esting account Of the doctors isappear-
ance:
II was finally arranged that Mr.. Ions
dale, DR.. Cooks secretary should sail
for Copenhagen with q typewriter copy
Of the records on the United States Of
the scandina vlan- American line, sailing
on November Is and that the doctor and
his wife. carrying the originals, should
sail for Genoa, under assumed names.
on tho Celtic. leaving OH November q.
Lonsdale and his companion were then
to take the originals to Copenhagen and
Or. Cook was TO remain within easy dis
lance OF call from the university. It
was understood that the doctor and
Lonsdale should come 70 my office at
| three o'clock on the afternoon Of No
vember "a to arrange some Of the de-
tails Of Lonsdalcs departure.
ITO allay the anxiety OF the doctor
and his wife had arranged with a de-
tcctive agency 10 have hin, constantly
shndowed. and the detective was at my
| office to pick him up.
'Dr. Cook did not appear at the hour
| appointed but Lonsdale eventually con.
| nected with me on the telephone away
| from my once and at nine o'clock he
| met me and told me the story OF Dr.
Cooks disappearance. He said they
came down from Bronxville At 80 that
afternoon intending to 70 10 my ONCE
On their arrival they found the usual
array Of detectives waiting to shadow
| HHnr - -
and saw = seuthbound Madison avenue
car Just getting under way. On seeing
| tho car. the doctor suddenly exclaimed:
| Here Is a chance to get away from them
and am going to take It. Come along!
COOK ADOPTS DISGUISE
They then made their way to the
Pennsylvania depot rs circuitous route
and Or. Cook took a train for Phladel-
| phia. On the way to Jersey City ne had
his moustache shaved of and exchanged
his derby for a soft felt hat His parting
words to Lonsdale were: Now I shall be
able to get some sleep. Tell Mr.. Wake I
will write him, using the name Of Har-
per, but tell him I trust him to keep this
secret. along with the rest
| Il was greatly surprised and at frst
highly incensed that the doctor should
leave in this fashion. and for the f,rst
time began to feel some misxivings
as to his good faith, though did not
| communicate them TO his wife for she
was already greatly perturbed by his
action. I concluded. however. that
perhaps his mind might have been AZ
fected and that therefore he should
not be held too rigidly responsible.
LonsdaIe sailed with the copy Of
the records on the United States on
Thursday November :s and on the
following day Mrs Cook. who knew
nothing more about her husbands
whereabouts than aid, moved to New
York.
''on the next day, the .7th. we re-
ceived our nrst word from Dr. Cook
It came in the form Of a letter. post
NAKED Toronto. Ont. TO Mrs. Cook.
In 1t he told her to meet him in Europe
at once II the hounds are still pur-
suing YOU he said. put my original
records In . safe deposit box and leave
the key with Mr.. Wake: II they are
not following you bring the records
with you. My life Is Of more import
ance than the polar matter. which can
wait II necessary"
DID NOT LIKE LETTER.
Il did not like the tone Of the letter
and said so. but Mrs. Cook begged me-
not to DO hasty and l promised to
stand by her. returned to her the
original records, which had been given
me for safe keeping. with the sugges-
ton that they be Immediately sent to
1-onsdale. Mrs Cook then sailed for
Europe l supposed that she had prev
iously mailed the records. but dis
covered that she had changed her mind
and had taken them with her.
After she had sailed I received an
inquiry from DR.. Cook who was then
in Europe for his wife's whereabouts,
which / communicated him. The ma
ture OF this inquiry led me to believe
that he was anxious 10 meet her TO
get hts originals and hurry them to
Copenhagen and this strengthened my
waning confidence and prompted me to
give public expression to It, I have
not heard from him since then directly
or Indirectly. and I have no idea where
he 10 now.
II confidently expected that he would
meet Mn. Cook when she landed IN Eu-
rops and rush the records to copsnhas-
On which no had ample time TO DO before
the verdict was announced. ThrSugh
his failure to 90 % this ana hts further
failure to come out from his ssciusion
and defend himself sinca the announce.
ment OF the verdict. which he undoubt.