Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-22
"a HAVE THE PROOF"

New York, sept. Ill nave come
from the pole. l have brought my
story ard my data with me. I have
not come home to enter into argu-
ments with one man or with so men,
but am here to present a clear rec
ord OF a riccc Of work which have a
right 20 display a certain amount OF
pride.
Il am perfectly willing to abide by
the final verdict on this record of COM
pelent judges. That must be the last
word and that alone can satisfy mo
and the public.
Furthermore not only will my re-
port be before you in black and white,
but l will also bring to America hui
man witnesses to prove that l have
oecn to the pole
Such is the sum and substance of
the first message DR.. Frederick A.
Cook brought home in person to Amer
lea today, answering his critics the
world over. Under seas and over land
it travelled north as fast as electricity
could carry it to where another eX-
plorer Robert E. Peary, homeward
bound from the pole, was pacing the
decks with his hand to his eyes for a
signt of his wife and children.
Throughout long and uneasy night
a hotllla of tug boats, outposts of q
continental curiosity, had tossed in the
darkness for the first glimpse of the
oscar ii bearing the man from whom
a nation waited word. At o'clock
this morning the explorer was on deck.
The Oscar ii had purposcly been held
'ack yesterday, not to disarrange the
reception plans of the Arctic Club of
\merica, but leaving Fire Island
shortly after midnight she nosed her
way into Quarantine at an hour too
arly for everybody but DR.. Cook.
There was an anxious wait at Quar-
intine while the tugs bobbed nervously
bout, the newspaper men on board
hem shouting broken queries through
negaphones at the black sides of the
oscar H., high above them. DIR. Cook
owered a signed statement in a pail
o The Associated Press and resumed
lis tense walk I'D and down inside the
awkward rail.
A speck in the distance began to
,ssume dimensions Presently it was
recognizable as the tug bearing Mrs
cook and her two daughters. Quickly
he tug came along side and while the
RS against the plates of the Oscar,
Or. Cook clambered nimbly down a
Jacobs ladder and with no concern for
he cameras trained on him, made q
'ush for his wife. For the moment
le even missed the children, who stood
| few feet away, until his wife silently
ed him to them. Then, as he lifted
,is youngest daughter to his shoulder.
80 LII
the rails of the Oscar II broke into a
storm of cheers.
1t had been arranged that the ex-
ursicn steamer Grand Republic car
ying DR.. Cooks friends and eliminates
rom Brooklyn and New York and John
;, Bradley his hacker. should keep
ar enough in the background to give
hin, a few moments of first privacy
l With his family. But soon there fol-
owed second transfer from the tug
the Grand Republic. AS Dr. Cook
ct foot aboard, Miss Ida Lehman,
laughter of an old Brooklyn friend.
l threw a wreath of roses about his
| leck, greeted him as hero and pro.
laimed him Gentleman Of Bush.
wick" Busnwick is the name of DR..
cooks home section of Brooklyn.
DIR. Cook looked 1t. Brown, positive.
patient, he endures the business of be-
ng fl hero with courtesy but no en-
.husiasm AS he stood beside Brad
ey, his hacker. the contrast was APP
,arent. Bradley looked the typical
j nan about town, barbered, polished.
immaculate and Indifferent. Cook,
title i'll at case. smiled continually
n an honest way, as a man wholly
l ure Of himself, but not 80 certain OF
he impression he was making. 1t was
good impression though. for the
,rowd liked his simplicity which SEEM
ID to carry conviction.
"Are you going to stick by DR..
>ook?" Bradley was asked.
why, of course. what do YOU
hink:" he answered with amusement.
Mrs. Cook, at her husbands elbow.
lad her first taste Of the publicity she
las hitherto Stunned and took ii
l placidly.
Because of DR.. Cooks early trans-
Ter from the Oscar ii, the Grand Re-
public found herself ahead of the
schedule mapped out by the reception
committee, SO instead of making
traight for Brooklyn as had been
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