The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-09-24
ARCTIC CLUB
PAYS HONOR
TO COOK
Brilliant Audience Hears North
Pole Disc0verer Relate De-
tails of Frigid Dash
Explorer Says Most Remarkable
Charge Is His Lack of "Li-
cense to Hunt Big Nail"

NEW YORK, Sept. 23.-Cheered
M by thousand men and women
as he entered the banquet hall
on the arm of Rear Admiral Winfield
s. Schiey. Dr.. Frederick A. Cook told
his story tonight before the most bril-
liant 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 Is
a member. The assemblage was cos
mopolitan and enthusiastic. Crowded
in the great ballroom of the Waldorf
Astoria Cooks admirers listened at
tcntively TO his recital in the form Of
an after dinner address.
Details His Experiences
DR.. Cook detailed many OF his polar
experiences and insisted that his ex-
plot furnished honor enough Tor all.
He declared that he wanted to divide
the praise with explorers of the past,
upon whose experiences he had won;
with the Eskimos, whose customs he
had adopted with victorious results,
and with Bradley, who had financed
the expedition.
The banquet was to have been pre-
ceded by a reception, but after long
wait the diners crowded into the hall
without a chance OF previously shak-
ing the hand of the explorer. The
reason for DIR. Cooks delay and the
abandonment of the reception was char
acteristic of Doctor Cooks simplicity.
He landed in this country without hav-
ing conventional evening clothes in his
wardrobe, and the suit ordered since his
arrival here was late in being delivered
10 his room. For that reason the recep-
lion followed the dinner. instead of pre-
ceding it.
Many Prominent Speakers
The speakers in addition to Doctor
Cook were Rear Admiral Schley, Mr..
MCGOWAN. Bird S. Coler: Count Moltke
Prof. william Brewer. honorary presi-
dent of the Arctic club; Representative
". S. Bennett of New York; Job
Hedges. a prominent local republican
and Charles Wake of the Explorers
club.
Among the other prominent guests
present Were J. Clam, Danish consul
general in New York; Magnus CIarkeln
the Swedish consul, and Christopher
Ravn. the Norwegian consul.
Doctor Cook said:
This is one of the highest honors !
ever hope to receive. You represent
most of the frigid explorers of Europe
and nearly all of the arctic explorers
in America. Your welcome is the ex-
plorer's guarantee 10 the world-com-
ing as It does from fellow workers
from men who know and have gone
through the same experience-it is an
appreciation and a victory the highest
which could fall TO the lot of any re-
turning traveller.
The key 10 frigid endeavor is sub
eistence. There is nothing in the en-
tire realm Of the arctic which is I'm
possible TO man. If the animal fires
are supplied with adequate fuel there
is no cold too severe and no obstacle
too great TO surmount No important
expedition has ever returned because
OF unscslable barriers or impossible
weather. The exhausted food supply
resulting from limited means OF
transportation has turned every as
pirant from his goal.
SAVAGE SIMPLICITY NECESSARY
In the ages Of the polar quest much
has been tried and much has been
learned The most important lesson
Is that civilized man, IL he will sue
oeed, must bend tos the savage SIM
pIicity necessary.
The problem belongs TO modern man
hut for its execution we must begin
with the food and the means of trans
porfation of wild men. Even this must
be reduced and simplified.
Candor compels me to say that the
effort of getting TO the pole is not one
of phvsical endurance, nor is il fair
70 call il bravery; but a proper under
ndfng of the needs of the stomach
and a knowledge of the limits of the
brute force OF the motive power, be
THAT man or beast.
y c,ur conquest was only possible with
tte accumulated lessons of early ages
n exnerfence. The failures of our less
snecessfuI predecessors were stepping
stones TO our success. The real path
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