Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-04
INVITATION SENT BY CABLE
Event 20 he Made Principal Incident
OF INSTRUMENTATION Celebration
MANY Explorers 20
Attend.

cred when the explorer lands there tomor-
row from the Hans Edge. II a favorable
reply is received steps viii be taken at
once to make September 30 Cook day at
the Hudson-Fulton celebration, and a sub
s%tantial fund will be raised to make his
welcome home an event corresponding to
the unparalleled character of his achieve
ment.
The cablegram sent tonight, signed by
Henry C. Walsh, secretary Of the Explor-
ers' club, is as follows;
"Heartiest congratulations on your
splendid achievement by board Of directors
OF Explorers club. We urge you to be
guest of honor at Explorers club dinner
September 80. walsh"
An international Event.
If the plans Of the Explorers club meet
with DR.. Cooks approval, and the date
tentatively selected tonight is appointed for
the official welcome, an international char
acter will be lent to the celebration by the
presence in New York at that time Of sew
eral of the most prominent explorers Of
other countries, who will add their tribute
to the official and unofficial ovations Of
city, state and nation. Among those who
have already made plans TO be In Amer
lea at the time Of the Hudson-Fulton cele-
bration are DR.. Fridtjof hansen, whose
memorable North Pole expedition of 1893
reached the highest latitude until then at
tanned; DIR. Otto D.. Nordenskjold the
Swedish Antarctic explorer and geologist;
Captain ROAD Amunden, hero Of the North
western passage, who is now fitting out a
polar expedition to start early next year;
Or. Stephenson, the Norwegian explorer;
and Lieutenant Shackleton, the English
naval officer whose explorations in the
Antarctic led him to reach the farthest
southern point ever reached by man.
The committee Of the Explorers club, in
charge of the welcome to DR.. Cook, is as
follows: Prof. Marshall II. Saville, acting
president. chairman; Anthony Fialia,
author Of Fighting the Polar Ice;' Cas-
par Whitney, the sporting authority; Henry
c. Walsh, secretary of the Explorers club
Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, an explorer of
note; Stansburg Hager, the ethnologist,
and Walter G. Clark.
Arctic Club Invited.
The Explorers club tonight voted to in
vite the Arctic club, of which DR.. Cook
was former president, to participate in the
celebration. The two clubs number among
their members practically every American
exploreS of note and their greeting to DR..
Cook will constitute about the highest
professional" tribute that he could re-
ceive.
In recognition of Dr.. Cooks achievement
It is planned to have present at the dinner
official representatives from explorers
clubs from every country which has taken
part in polar exploration. Those who were
present at tonight's meeting in the Elk
plorers' club rooms were almost unanimous
in their belief that DIR. Cook would be
able to produce ample proof to convince
all doubters. There are those, however. in
the membership of the clubs, It was said,
who frankly question DIR. Cooks account
Of his achievement and who have declared
} to the directors that the most unassallable
scientific proof should be demanded before
the club officially recognizes DR.. Cook as
the discoverer of the pole.
One of the directors of the club, who
declined to be at tonight's meeting, be-
l cause he frankly said, he was mot in sym,
pathy with the project" was quoted as de.
claring that the society should demant
proof. This director is a close persona
friend of Lieutenant Peary, and it wa.
said tonight that many of Pary's friend
in the club are supporting this point o.
view.
NAAH VI CoVAs
Rudolph Francke, the last white man VIII,
saw DR., Cook before his final dash for tn,
pole, added his word Of tribute to hi
friends achievement today.
"Dr. Cook never made a statement h.
could not prove" said Francke. From tn,
J day 1 first met DR.. Cook l was impresse,
with his perseverance. He does not know
what It means to quit. His strength o
...--.. l. UTA-. "a. -
Cook 500 miles from the pole he was abou
ready to make his final dash northward
With hickory sledges of his own design
with some OF the best trained dogs in tn
polar region and with a supply Of care
fully dried meats and provisions, he wa
confident of success.
Dr.. Cook thought 1t best that I should
return. He was the mman Of the Elk
petition and I obeyed without hesitation.
Francke,' he said to me, as we parteC
on the morning OF March 8 I am coins
to take desperate chances and I have de
cided that it would be asking too much L
expect you to go with me. l am willing t
risk my life for this idea and I hope tC
win. I have reason to believe that / shall
succeed, but II l go down l shall go alone.
From that day I have never doubted tina.
he would succeed"
Mrs. Cook Coming to New York.
Word was received in New York tonigh'
from Mrs. Cook, who has been spending
a couple of weeks at South Harpswell, Me
The message was sent from Portland, and
said that while Mrs. Cook was on her wa,
to her home In Brooklyn, she would
travel by easy stages and would not ar
rive in New York before tomorrow or Sun
day.
Attorney General Wickersham issued
formal, statement tonight effectu8lly put
ting a damper on some OF the interview
credited TO him concerning the Stars an,
Stripes floating over newly acquired ter
Tltory in the polar regions. Said the at
torney general; "A reporter came to SCI
me at my house last night and asked 70
my opinion as to the raising Of the Ameri
can flag over the North pole. I declined L
! consider the matter seriously and, afte
some jocular remarks In reply to his ques
lions as to what he could quote me a
\ saying. l stated that ne could say that
had not given the matter any serious con
sheraton"
Mental Illusion Is Suggested.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 8-That u