Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-23


 A Cook, seeking rest and seclusior with his family after the boisterou. welcome of yesterday, denied himself to interviewers and remained in his suite at the Waldorf Astoria until late thil evening, when he submitted cheerfullA to one of the seyerest ,,,oss -exdmina. tions since he announced his discov- cry Of the north pole. The ordeal ol the interview, which was conducted by forty newspaper representatives, in- ciuding several from foreign newspa- pers, proved atleast that he was not afraid to meet the public,
 Achievement Officially Recognized.
 Incidentally, the city of New York oficially recognized his achievement today when the. board of aldermen adopted a resolution commemoratine public welcome at the City hall. The date of the reception will be announce ed later.
 Questions Put by Laymen.
 The material points of Dr. Cooks answers today did not differ in great degree from his original recital. Some slight details were cleared up, however, which thow light on tue way in which tic polar dash was effected. As the questions asked. were put by laymen, they did not go deeply into the scien- . Cook was ready. to answer anything pertinent to the issue.
 Explorer Produced His Diary.
 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- scented. and after retiring to his room, returned with a small note book which he Showed freely to all. It was a thin book containing 176 pages, each of which was filled with fifty or sixty lines of pencllled writing in the most minute characters. The book. he said, contained considerably more than one hundred thousand words, while he has besides other books embracing his ob- servati )nS and o'her data He did not show them, however, today.
 oyestIops Answered Without Hesitan-
 As question after question was ask cd whether it was of a trivial nature or of a more serious trend, Dr. Cook answered In a low voice without hesi- tancy as though in full possession of all his facts.
 in regarJ to details, but nothing indf- cAted that the polar travellers memory was at fault, even in the most minute particulars Sometimes when a pet ty question showed ignorance he smfl- ed with good humored sympathy at the want of technical knowledge dis played. Occasionally when a question was long and complicated, he asked for its repetition.
 Showed Utmost Patience.
 Not once did he refuse to reply ex- ecpt when the name of Commander Peary was preached. Even then he said that he had always considered Peary hts friend but controversial sub 5ects in connection with his rival he avoided, saying that they could wait. Throughout the interview he exhibited the utmost patience.
 Why Secrecy Was Imposed on Whit
 ney and Others.
 When requested to say what occur red at his meeting with Harry Whit ney the New Haven sportsman, he said he preferred to let Whitney tell his owr story, because Whitney was quite unbiased. His reasons in imposing se- crecy on Whitney, on Pritchard, Com mander Peary's cabin boy, and the Es- kirnos were prompted by his desire to be the first to tell the world of his discovery. He did the work, he said, and was entitled to relate how it had been carried out.
 Some of the More Important Questions. Some of the more important ques- tions put to Dr. Cook during the inter- view, and his replies thereto, follow
 Q. Did anything ever occur in the life of yourself and> Mr. Peary that would create an enmity or bitterness between you? A. No, nothing whatever that know of @s s Q. Do you look upon Commander Peary as a friend or as an enemy? A. I must say do not. know. II have treated MT. Peary as a friend, and until know more about the situation shall continue ro do the same.
 Q. Did you ever say anything in | Etah that indicated that you feared for your life if he got there?-
 Q-would you be willing to meet | Peary in a debate when he gets. here As far as I am concerned the | Peary incident is. closed Mir. Peary | iI not the dictator of my affairs, and | I do not care to say. anything further | about him tst F.
 o-Did you know MT. Whitney when Etah? A-No; he introduced himself, but 1 l did not catch his name and did not know it until the following day.
 Q-Did you know. that Peary was going to start up at that time?
 
 Q-What caused you to have such confidence in MT. Whitney that you entrusted your instruments to him? Al knew him by name and cir cumstances that arose while was with | him justified my confidence. I gave him the instruments to bring back be- cause I thought they would be less liable to injuryn on board his vessel | than if I took them across glaciers and rough ice covered country
 Q-What Is your opinion of the story | told by the negro Hanson of the in formation he obtained from your two Eskimos? @
 A-Well, the Esklmos were bound down by me not to tell an~one where they had been. l should like you to have Hanson here and cross question him yourself. Hanson's testimony is entirely founded on hearsay.
 @ Knowing that a ship was com Ing north this summer, why did yon not wait for that ship and come direct to New York instead~ef going to South Greenland and sailing from there to Copenhagen?
 Al knew that the Danish govern ment ship would get me home before ship.
 Q--What .instruments did you have with you from Cape Thomas Hubbard and back? F. A--sextant, artifcial horizon, three |. cesneassAs. thraa ehrcnnraater watches.