Arizona republican., 1909-09-22
Preceded byan Anxious Night
For AeWspapefmeR
STATEMENT TO THE PRESS
Declares That He Will En-
gage in No Controversy,
But Will Submit Proofs,
Documentary apd Human,
of His Presence at Pole

from the pole. l have brought my
mot come home to enter into argu-
ments with one man or many men,
but 1 am here to present a clear
record of a piece of work over which
1 have a right to display a certain
amount of pride.
Il am perfectly willing to abide by
the final verdict, on this record, of
competent judges. That must be the
last word, and that alone can satisfy
me and the public.
Furthermore, not only will my re-
port be before you in black and
white. but | will also bring to Amer
lea human witnesses to prove t,,at
have been to the pole"
Such is the substance of the first
message DR.. Cook brought home in
person today, answering the critics
the world over.
Throughout an uneasy night fleet
of tug boats, outposts of continental
curiosity, had tossed in the darkness
for a glimpse of the Oscar ii. At 5
o'clock this morning the explorer was
on deck. The Oscar III had purposely
been held back so as not to disturb
the reception plans of the Arctic
Club of America, but she nosed her
way into Quarantine at an hour too
early for everybody but Cook.
There was an anxious wait at
Quarantine while the tugs bobbed
nervously about, the newspaper men
on board them shouting broken que
ries through megaphones to the
black sides of the Oscar ii, high
above them. DIR. Cook lowered a
signed statement in a pail to the
Associated Press.
Soon afterward came the tug bear
ing Mrs. Cook and her two daughters
Cook clambered nimbly down the lad
der and made a rush for his wife.
children. who stood a few feet away,
until his wife silently led him to
them. Then, as he lifted his young
est daughter TO his shoulder, the
crowd that lined the rails of the
Oscar III cheered loudly.
1t had been arranged that the ex-
cursion steamer. the Grand Republic,
Cooks friends and John r.
his hacker, should keep far
enough in the background to give him
a few minutes of privacy with his
family. But soon there followed a |
second transfer from the tug to the |
Grand Republic.
AS DIR. Cook set foot aboard. Miss |
of al
Brooklyn friend, threw a wreath of |
roses about his neck. greeted him as
a hero and proclaimed him the |
Gentleman of Bushwick." Bushwick |
IS the name of Cooks home section |
of Brooklyn. DIR. Cook looked at it.
Brown, patient, taciturn. he endures |
he business of being a hero with /
but not enthusiasm.
Are you going to stick by DR.
Cook?" Mr.. Bradley was asked.
why. of course; what do you
hink?" he answered.
Mrs. Cook, at her husbands ell
DOW, had her first taste of the pub
icity she has hithertoo sffunned and
ook it placidly. On shore, the really
formidable part of the day for DR.
-OOh dN dibCu
After the first rush of welcome |
aboard the Grand Republic he had
,een able to find comparative Sc
,lusion in the pilot house. From that [
'antage point he could see the streets
# Brooklyn. black with thousands,
ong files of automobiles ready, and
lie knew reception had been planned
or him this afternoon at the Bush
wick club, and that that ordeal await /
d him. AS he stepped ashore il |
vas noticeable that no representative
# the nation, state or city was there |,
o greet him. Bird S. Coler. presi- /
lent of the Borough of Brooklyn, had 1
welcomed him on the Grand Republic.
or that borough. but the city sent
10 official representative. But sin
ere and enthusiastic to a point of
his welcome may be
,est described as a neighborly affair,
ievoid of official significance
John r. Bradley, DR.. Cooks backer,
said that Cook would grant the re-
porters just three minutes.
What reply have you to make to
Peary's assertion that you didn't
reach the pole?' was the first ques-
ton.
'NHpa whatever: 1 will have nothing