The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-12-03
A PLOT TO STEAL
Or. COOKS RECORDS
Two Men and a Woman Aboard
Ship.
THE EXPLORER HAS BREAKDOWN.
Plotters Fooled BY Sending Docu-
ments) Abroad Ahead OF Time
While Supposed Custodian Carr
ries A Dummy Package - Cooks
Health Gives Way Under Long
Strain He Has Undergraduate
yer Accuses Peary.

New York Especially Absolutely
reliable information was obtained
which verified an earlier rumor re-
garding the identity of the two mys-
FERROUS men and a woman who are
now sailing the high seas, with the
avowed intention of stealing Dr.
Frederick A. Cooks North Pole re-
cords before they reach Copenhagen.
This information doubtless will come
as surprise to the explorers at
torney, Lawyer Henry w. Walk.
1t has been told before how DR..
Cooks records secretly were sent to
Copenhagen on "a fast ship" several
days ago, information being given
out at the same time that the Bush
wick explorers secretary, Walter
Lonsdale, who sailed on the steamer
United States on Thanksgiving Day,
would carry the records to Copen-
hagen.
Really, Mr.. Lonsdale departed for
Copenhagen with a portfolio of dunn
my records, and for the very good
reason that Lawyer Wack had got
1t direct from "a scientist that the
two mysterious men and the swom-
an would make the attempt at theft.
The sending out of misleading infor-
nation and the secret dispatch OF
the records on another boat natural
ly followed When the. proposed theft
was learned of.
"Dr. Cooks records" runs Law
yer Wack's statement, "are in the
safe of transatlantic liner now in
midocean. The large portfolio which
Mr.. Lonsdale carried aboard the Uni
ted States was only dummy to trap
the conspirators, who have resort
ed to every means to gain possession
of DR.. Cooks data. / am convinced
that an effort will be made to rob
him of the package which he has
in. his possession before the United
States reaches the other SIDE"
Lawyer Wack confirmed the re-
port that DR.. Cook was suffering
from nervous breakdown. He said
DR.. Cook probably would be up and
about in a few days, but would not
resume his lecture tour under any
circumstances until his records had
been examined by the University OF
Copenhagen.
"You see, the Doctor has been
simply bounded since he got back,
and he has been so worried over
the repeated charges, more especial
ly by the recent ones instituted by
Chester and drawn up, may say, on
the basis of four forged statements
alleged to be by DR.. Cook, that he
is sick and worn out.
"A man cannot live on pemmican
and blubber for two years in igloos,
you know, and not have it react on
his physical system. DR.. Cook, after
his hardships in the North, was in
no condition to undergo a strenu-
Gus mental strain. He hasn't had
a minutes rest, and up there at the
Gramatan Hotel, where he stayed
until he finally gave in. he was pes
tered continually by Peary's detec-
tives. The true story of this case
has not been written. and when it
is some surprising things will be
made public. l
"I should like to add that good
many people still believe in DR..
Cook, including myself l should
not have undertaken his defense II
l had not first made sure that he
had ground to stand on. No prac-
titioner would care to identify HIM
self with a. 'million-dollar fake
That's evident"