The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-24
New York Aldermen Vote to
Give Public Welcome.
EXPLORER TO GO TO CITY HALL
he Submits to Severe Cross Exami-
nation on Alleged Doubtful
Points In His Report of
Discovery of the Pole.

New York. Sept. 23.-The board of
aldermen has passed a resolution
formally indorsing DR.. Frederick A.
Cooks claim to be the discoverer of
the north pole and providing for pub
lie welcome to him at the city hall,
the date of which has yet to be fixed.
After a period Of rest and seclusion
following his bOisterous welcome DR..
Cook submitted cheerfully to one of
the severest cross examinations since
he announced his discovery of the
north pole. The interview was con-
Quoted by forty newspaper representa-
tives, including several from foreign
newspapers.
The most interesting phase Of the in
terview was reached when DR.. Cook
was asked If he would object to show
ing his diary. He Immediately con-
sented and after retiring to his room
returned with q small octnvo note
book, which he showed freely to all
1t was a thin book containing 176
pages, each of which was filled with
fifty or sixty lines Of penciled writing
In the most minute characters. The
book, he said, contained considerably
more than 100000 words, while he has
besides other books embracing his OBJ
servatiOns and other data. He did not
show them. however.
Some of the more important uues-
tions put to Dr. Cook during the inter.
view and his replies thereto follow:
of yourself and Mr.. Peary that would
create enmity or bitterness between
you?'
''No, nothing whatever that 1 know
Of"
"Do you look upon Commander Pea
ry as friend or as an enemyr'
II must say 90 not know. I have
treated MP. Peary as friend, and un-
til I know more about the situation 1
shall continue to do the same'
Would you be willing to meet Peary
in debate when he gets hereT
"As far as 1 am concerned the Peary
incident is closed. Mr.. Peary is not
the dictator of my affairs, and 1 do
not care to say anything further about
him"
Did you know Mr.. Whitney when
you had met him on your return to
Etah?"
mo; he introduced himself, but
did not catch his name and did not
know it until the following day"
What caused you to have such con-
fdence in Mr.. Whitney that you en-
trusted your instruments to him?"
Il knew him by name, and circum-
stances that arose while l was with
him justified my confidence. gave
him the instruments to bring back be-
cause I thought they would be less liza
BILE to injury on board his vessel than
if l took them across glaciers and
rough ice covered country"
"Why was it necessary to intrust
your records to Mr.. Whitney under a
pledge of secrecy?"
Il do not think I am bound to di-
vulge to Mr.. Peary the news of our
work. l am perfectly willing to give,
it to the world and have given it to the
world. There is no reason why /
should give any news to Peary. I was
perfectly willing to give it to the
world, and L have done So"
knowing that ship was coming
north this summer for Whitney, why
did you not wait for that ship and
come direct to New York instead of
going to South Greenland and sailiSg
from there to Copenhagen"
Il knew that the Danish government
ship would get me home before Whit
ney's ship"
"What is your opinion of the story
told by the negro Henson of the in
formation he obtained from your two
Eskimos"
"Well, the Eskimos were bound down
by me not to tell any one where they
had been. l should like you to have
Henson here and cross question him
yourself"
what instruments did you have
with you from Cape Thomas Hubbard
and backT
"Sextant, artificial horizon, three
compasses, three chorometers, watch
es, thermometers, barometers and a
pedometer."
"What observations did you make at
the pole and how many and what was
the altitude Of the sum-"
"The altitude Of the sun gave us our
positions. That is all there is to say
about that. We made regular astro-
nomical observations such as would
be made by the compass and other in
struments. We merely made the nau.