Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-23
BUSY DAYS AHEAD FOR COOK.
CONTINUED from E,age One.)

teTCdy 10 lHe effect tildl Ile eApeCleu
20 meet Commander Peary soon face
to face. 1t is supposed that he meant
aothing more than that Mr.. Peary
would shortly be in New York and
conditions would be right for a per-
sonal discussion and settlement of
their rival claims. When the remark
was made Commander Peary had not
vet made known his purpose to remain
for a while in con parative retirement.
Dr.. Cook was interviewed today by
a group of newspaper men IN the Ho-
tel Waldorf Astoria.
"Wby did you submit your proofs
and data to the University of COpen-
bag 90 was the first question asked.
The people of Denmark We're most
kind to me- replied Dr. Cook. 'rhey
never doubted my word, nor asked me
to furnish proofs of my, discovery inn
me lately. They were willing to give
me a chance to see civilization again
and it was for this purely that l
thought it was due the people of Den
mark and the professors of the uni
yer. ity that they should be the first
to make MY records and data pub
lie"
fore the proofs of your collection can
be made public?" was another question
which DIR. Cook answered.
My observations and the other
pr1ofs OF my discovery took two years
for me to compile" he said land it
will take at least two months before
they will be ready to give to the pub
lie. | have promised and l will keep
my word that as soon as they are in
that shape, they viii be given to the
press
Dr.. Cook refuteG purportcd inter-
view with him in which he was quoted
as laying that he noticed a peculiar
condition of the skyline while at the
North pole. He declared that the con-
dition of the skyline at the pole was
no different than at any other North
ern point.
Tie doctor was asked If he would
submit his proofs to Commander
Peary when he returned. His answer
was that he did not see why Peary
should be the person to pass judgment
on lis claims.
DR. Cook absolutely refused to say
word regarding Feary. He said that
any other Arctic expedition and did
not see signs of any previous expedi-
ton during his dash to the pole.
When asked if he had accepted any
of the hundreds of offers made since
his arrival home. for lecture tours, he
said he had not and had no intentions
to do 50 for the present at least He
also said he was through with Polar
exre ditions and did not intend to make
dash for the South pole.
When DR.. Cook was asked WHY Mr..
Whitney did not come back home to
substantiate his claims and why lie
had given the proof of his discovery
to Mr.. Whitney. he said:
II have copies OF everything I gave
to Nh. Whitney. l knew he had in
tended to go up the Hudson Bay coun-
try after big game and did not ask
him to anandon his trip for my sake.
/ have not given Mr.. Whitney a single
pit # data that l have not a copy in
my possession.
Il went to Denmark first SO that
could reach home quicker. When a
man has not seen his wife and chill
dren in two years he does not think
of the public when he is ready to come
home. He just naturally thinks of the
most direct way to get to them. He
does not care what attitude the public
is going to take toward his actions.
His one object is to get home"
"Will you submit your data and
proofs to the members of the coast
and geodetic survey?" was asked
| when the University of Copenha-
gen is ready l will submit my proofs
to any geographical society that may
want to examine them"
The doctor said that the coast and
geodetic survey had not asked him to
submit his observations.
MY expedition was not badly
equipped said DR.. Cook. eve had 10
men, II sledges and 1O3 dogs. Our
sledees were of the best possible ma
terial for such a trip, American hick-
/ Dry and the contention that only
had one sledge was a. falsehood. Why
! that contention was made is beyond
i y