The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-09-30
DR.. Cook Cheered as He Tells
of North Pole.

New York, Sept. 23.-Cheeret
by a thousand men and women al
he entered the banquet hall on tn,
arm of Rear Admiral Winfield
Scott Schley, retired, DR.. Freder
lex A. Cook told his story tonigh
before the most brilliant audience
that he has addressed since he left
the court of Denmark.
The banquet was given by the
Arctic Club of America, of which
DR.. Cook ia a member, in recogni'
tion of his last polar venture
which eliminated in his announce
ment that he had reached the
north pole.
While there was no official rep
resentative from either state OF
nation, the assemblage was cos.
m opolitan and enthusiastic.
Crowded in the great ballroom of
the Waldorf-Astoria they toasted
the Brooklyn explorer and listened
attentively to his recital in the
form of an after dinner address.
DR.. Cook said in part.
"In the ages of the polar quest
much has been tried and much has
been learned. The most impor-
'tant lesson is that civilized man,
if he will succeed, must bend to
the savage simplicity necessary.
The problem belongs to modern
man, but for its execution we must
begin with the food and the means
of transportation of the wild man l..
Even this must be reduced and
simplified to fit the new environ
ment. With due respect to the
complimentary eloquence of the
chairman and others, candor com.
pels me to say that the effort of
getting to the pole is not one of
physical endurance, nor is it fair
to call it bravery; but proper
understanding of the needs of the
stomach and knowledge of the
limits of the brute force of the
motive power, be that man or
beast.
"Our conquest was only possible
with the accumulated lessons of
early ages of experience. The
failure of our less successful pre-
decessors were stepping stones to
ultimate success. The real path
finders of the pole were the early
Danish, the Dutch, the English
and the Morse, Italian and Ameri.
can explorers. With these worthy
forerunners we must therefore
share the good fruits which your
chairman has put into my basket.
"a similar obligation is due to
the wild man. The twin families
Of wild folk, the Eskimo and the
Indian, were important factors to
US. The use of pemmican and the
snowshoes, which makes the pene-
tration of the Arctic mystery
barely possible, has been borrowed
from the American Indian. The
method of travel, the motor force
and the native ingenuity, without
which the polar quest would be
hopeless task, have been taken
from the Eskimo. To savage man,
therefore, who has no flag, we are
bound to give part of this fruit.
"To John R. Brsdley-the man
who paid the bills-belongs at
least one-half of this fruit.
"Nothing would suit me better
than to tell you tonight the COM
plete story of our quest, but the
very first telegram gives more
specific data than l could hope to
tell you in an after dinner address.
Therefore | shall devote the allot.
led time to an elucidation of GER
Tain phases OF our adventure. One
'f the most remarkable charges
brought out is that I did not seek
geographical license to start for
,he pole. Now, gentlemen, to the
arge public that may be a mys-
cry, but you who know will ap-
'reciate that no explorer can start
md say he will reach the pole.
Many good men have tried before,
Nj have failed. All who under
tand the problem know that sue
less Is but barely possible with
very conceivable circumstance is
avorable.