Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-07
BY WILLIAM T. STEAD.

i6NC1LlnB III tie udA <ASs 49,
representative of the Hearst News service
l am proud not only to report that l was
the first American newspaper correspond
ent to welcome the great American dis
coverer, but that l was able to help. him
through the enthusiastic crowd at the
landing. The procession consisted, hrst'
of one policeman; second, United States
Minister Egan, who has the muscle of
baseball player and the insight of jour
nalist; next DR.. Cook in moccasins, wear
! ing his only suit of clothess bareheaded,
bronzed and happy; and fourth, your rep
Iresentatite, whose both arms were clasp
ed around DIR. Cooks waist holding him
up as best I could to free him from the
pressure of the surgtng, enthusiastic ana
cheering crowd. g..
1t was a long, hot road from the harbor,
where the crown prince of Denmark took
J leave OF DR.. Cook, to the meteorological
office, where after a desperate struggle,
we landed breathlessly. The doctor lost
a cum in the scrimmage and, some one
made on with my hat. One person fell
and was rescued with difficulty; so eager
were the men and women who cheered
themselves hoarse and pressed closer and
closer upon Cook.
At one moment, fear was felt that he
would meet injury after his hardships In
the north.
! Dr. Cook in a few cordial words ai-
dressed the crowd from balcony telling
them how glad he was to land on Danish
soil. 1 had hurried my interview with
DR.. Cook while we staggered about,
thrust hither and thither through the
press.
IN ROBUST HEALTH
The explorer is in robust health. His
weight is It's pounds, the same as when
he began the journey. He is absolutely
confident of his ability. by the record OF
his observations which he has brought
home to convince every scientific man as
to the reality of his achievement.
He is not in the least perturbed by
the doubts thrown upon the genuine
ness OF his statements. When he met
Minister Egan he nailed him with the
| welcome natural of one American to
another when meeting after long
trip. He had a conversation with the
crown prince of Denmark. as also with
the president of the Danish Geograph-
ical society. and who is enthusiastic
over Cooks exploits.
You sent me to Copenhagen to meet
DR.. Cook. I have obeyed instructions
and met him on the doorstep. This is
my report:
Cook is all right-right physically and
right geographically. He has been 10
tho north pole and will prove 1t. Those
casting doubt upon his veracity Will
published.
Meanwhile all who know DR.. Cook
will believe him and those VINO do
not will do we'll not to bank too much
upon their ignorance. i
HOW HE WAS INTERVIEWED.
The first interview took place under Pc
culiar circumstances. have interviewed
people standing sitting and lying down.
but never until today have interviewed
anybody with arms clasped around his
waist. holding him to keep back the pres
sure of the enthusiastic crowd swaying
hither and thither with such force as to
threaten to carry us off our feet Amid
this tumult. forcing ones way through
the multitude my first interview with DR..
Cook took place. .~e .-- a-s-..
He is a man of few words who has
hardly spoken English for a year. but In
the, scrimmage I learned first that COOK
lis an inch below my own height, which
is 5 feet 1-2 inches, and that 1 could
talk into HIS ear without STOPPING, so sec
Tond, from the grip around his waist
learned he Is we'll set up, not spare but
solid. without superhuous flesh. Third.
his weight is IT'S pounds fourth. his hair
is rather coarse, straight and sandy
brown: he wears mustache but no
beard; fifth, he was self composed and
took placidly the enthusiasm of the crowd
welcoming him back to civilization.
These things I sensed as l held him i'm
a bearlike hug while we slowly ploughed
our way toward the carriage which the
Danish Royal Geographical society had in
waiting.
1 asked him about his health. He said
It was first class. He looked 1t. To Min
lister Egan he confided that he had only
one suit of clothes, that in which he
stood He was in a dark gray coat WITH
brown trousers. He wore a gray neck
tie and on his feet moccasins.
A woman thrust bunch of roses into
his hand. He kept 1t as long as he could.
His face was bronzed. He seemed happy.
but little dazed by the stormy vehemence
of his welcome.
NO SKEPTICISM IN COPENHAGEN.
Whatever doubts some may profess to
entertain there is no skepticism in CO.
penhagen. Today the best Geographical
experts Of Denmark were at the harbor
TO bid the explorer welcome. At their
mead was the Danish crown prince. easily
the tallest heir apparent in Europe, and
Hansen. the minister of commerce.
The Hans Egede lay a few hundred
yards across the water, an American flag
at her topmast. A yellow funnel, black
hull and the bright bunting with which
she was adorned, marked her for behold
ers. The only newspaper man who had
boarded her the previous night and was
able to get an interview was the repre-
sentative of the Politekin. whose editor
was naturally proud OF his scoop.
The Royal steam launch drew up to the
landing and the crown prince, Minister
Egan and members of the reception COM
mittee stepped aboard and started for the
ship. professor of the university fol.
lowed him with some friends in another
steam yacht. We remained behind await |
ing their return 1t was but a few mo-
ments OF suspense. The crown prince |
said some words OF welcome to DIR. Cook
same clothes, eat the same food, and live |
in all ways just as do the Esquimaux. He ,
said he owed his success largely to choice |
of a route where game was more plentiful |
than on the routes formerly attempted, !
and to the fact that he travelled in winter. |
SO DEGREES LOWEST.
The lowest temperature experienced was J
So degrees below Fahrenheit, but the ex-
plorer said he did not feel the cold nearly !
so much as in higher temperatures when |
the wind was blowing.
For long time the explorer lived on |
musk oxen. He wore the fur of these
animals, ate their meat and used their |
fat to burn in lamps.
DR.. Cook said, among other things, that !
Harry Whitney, of New Haven, had ia |
ken with him on a shooting expedition /
the two Esquimaux who made the trip /