The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-04
Proof Of Discovering Of Pole
Will Be Submitted to
Americans
GREAT CROWD HEARS
DR.. COOK LECTURE
Explorer Is Received Very Cordially In
Washington and After the Lecture
Ia Entertained BY the Ma
tionaI Press Club.

Washington, October 3-Dr, Frederick
A. Cook the Arctic explorer, announced
tonight shortly after his arrival from
New York to deliver his lecture, that lie
will acquiesce in the proposition that the
University of Copenhagen be asked TO
waive its claim to a prior examination of
his records. in order that American geo
graphic societies and other scientific
bodies in this country may be enabled to
review his data. He said he would be
satisfied to have the decisions of all these
tribunals announced simultaneously.
Dr. Cook reached Washington at $40
this evening, and was driven immediately
to the New Willard hotel, where he had
dinner and talked with the newspaper
men, before going to a local theatre to
deliver his lecture.
Frankness characterized DR.. Cooks an
swers to every question asked by the
newspaper men, although the explorer
added but little to what he already has
said and published since he returned to
civilization. When asked If he would in
the future fit up an expedition to go to
the south pole, DR.. Cook said he was not
yet prepared to answer that point, but he
added that the discovery of the south
pole would be rendered much easier than
the north pole, and would be attended by
far less dangerous risks. He pointed out
that a probable route to the south pole
would be along stretches of land on
which STATIONS might be established anu
that this would mean a quicker discovery.
Welcomed BY Thousands.
An enthusiastic crowd of several thou
sand people greeted DR.. Cook upon his
arrival at the Union station, and the
throngs in their eagerness to see or get
near him were kept back with difficulty
by several score of policemen and de-
tectives.
At the station there was a conspicuous
lack OF official courtesies to the explorer
None of the government or scientific
officials was present to welcome him, nor
were any civic bodies represented.
While DIR. Cook was being escorted
through the station his identity was mis-
taken by policeman, who in trying to
keep passageway clear was struck by
some one from behind. just as DR.. Cook
was approaching. The policeman wheeled
about with lifted club and was about to
strike DR.. Cook, thinking he was the
offender. when he discovered his error.
DR.. Cook was Justify cheered as he
passed through the streets and when he
arrived at the hotel he received cor
dial greeting from the crowds that had
gathered there.
Every available seat was occupied and
standing room capacity was taxed when
DIR. Cook began his lecture at the thea
ire. He was introduced to the audience
by William F. GUIDE, president of the
Washington chamber of commerce.
Lecturer Cheered.
Dr. Cooks lecture, which occupied
about an hour in delivery, was frequently
interrupted by cheers. He deviated but
slightly from his previous utterances in
describing his dash to the pole
At the close of the lecture Dr. Cook
was the guest of the National Press
club. He met the newspaper men of
Washington and scores of others prom-
nent in the official life of the capital. He
was presented by William P. Spurgeon,
president of the club, and responded
briefly to assure the writers that while
he was fully conscious of the manner in
which they had bombarded him since he
landed In Copenhagen month ago, that
he was also alive to the fact that they
were Indebted to him as the means of
filling newspaper space during dull sea-
son.
DIR. Cook entered enthusiastically into
the good fellowship of the occasion and
appeared to enjoy the programme which
had been arranged in his honor This in
cluded Heveral Eskimo songs by the
clubs talent
When DR.. Cook was introduced to DIR.
Harvey W. Wiley. the government pure
food expert, the latter at once began to
ply the explorer with questions.
Now, 1 want you to tell me what
pemmican' Isl demanded DR.. Wiley.
DR.. Cook explained that "pemmican"
consisted of strips of meat without the
fat dried in the sun and pounded to-
gether with melted fat and often dried
vegetables. DR.. Wiley shook his head
and said:
We'll If that's the case, I guess we'll
have to push prosecutions under the pure
food law to the north pole
Tomorrow morning at the New Munich
pal building Dr. Cook will be rendered
reception by the district commissioners,
and later he will go to Baltimore, where
he will lecture tomorrow night.