Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-05
EXPLORER TELLS
OF GRIM VOYAGE
BR0NZED BUT HAPPY NOMAD
SHOWS IRON NERVE
THOUSANDS CHEERAs TRAVELLER
RETURNS TO DENMARK
Or. Cook Declares He viii Prove to
All Scientists He Reached Goal.
Has Valuable Data for
Biologists
toontlnued from Page onel

corporation president, in proposing a
toast to the president OF the United
States, spoke of the pride that must
be felt by the nation that could boast
that it was her son who first placed
the flag where no human being had
ever before set foot
Pays Cook Tribute
The minister of commerce, in pro-
posing the health of DR.. Cook, paid
warm tribute to 'his noble deed" He
thanked him for spending a little time
In Denmark and said that the priva-
tions of the explorer were appreciated
most by the men of Denmark there
tonight whose names are written with
honor on the ice rocks OF Denmark's
northern colony.
When the nations were first thrilled
by the news of Cooks exploit, he said,
he must confess there was some skep-
ticism, but. afterward it was con-
f1rmed, and he hoped that DR.. Cook
would try for the south pole with the
When the minister raised his glass
to "our noblest" there were nine
hurrahs.
Commodore Hovgaard spoke from
the standpoint of an expert explorer
and commended DR.. Cooks methods.
DR.. Cook replied briefly:
DR.. COOKS RepIy
"I thank you very much for the
warm and eloquent words, but L am
unable to express myself properly. 1t
was a rather hard day fer me, but L
never enjoyed a day better. The Danes
have taken no active part in Polar eX-
plorations, but they have been OF
much importance as silent partners in
almost all Arctic expeditions in recent
years. The most important factor in
my expedition was the Eskimo ana
dog world, and l cannot be too thank
full to the Danes for their care OF the
Eskimo and know they also have IN
stituted a mission at Cape York.
"Had I not met with the right
Fskimos and the right dogs and the
right provisions, / could never have
reached the pole. I owe much to the
Danish nation for my success"
A telegram was read conveying the
CONGRATULATIONS Of the King of Sweden,
"for a brilliant deed of which Ameri-
can people may be rightfully proud.
Toasts to DR.. Cook and to the Eski-
mos of the party were drunk. Two
hundred students in uniform marched
in when the company returned to
Grand hall and gave DR.. Cook a rous-
ing cheer.
They insisted upon speech and sang
songs. A noteworthy feature of the
banquet after DIR. Cooks acceptance in
the morning was that the applications
for seats ran into the thousands.
On his arrival today Dr. Cook was
escorted ashore by Prince Christian
The explorer was cheered by great
crowds as he came ashore. An inn
mense throng followed him through
the streets to the meteorological insti-
tute. where he made a brief speech.
Speaking to the representative of the
Associated Press, DR.. Cook said he left
at the north pole an American flag and
q box containing documents, including
a brief account of his trip and certain
observations and the data to bear out
his claim.
Capt. Larsen of the Hans Egede said
he had examined DIR. Cooks records
and believed them to be perfectly cor
rect.
In the course of the interview with
the Associated Press representative on
board the Hans Egede. Dr. Cook de-
clared with great emphasis:
81 have been to north pole and 1 have
brought back the most exact observa-
tions, absolutely proving my state
ment, I have kept a diary throughout
my entire expedition, in which 1 re-
corded the most minute details.
Continuing the conversation, DR..
Cook said:
Merely a Jaunt
'Tt was not my intention at the start
to proceed to the pole; 1 was merely
on an Arctic excursion-but as l found
conditions favorable, 1 continued on
my way and to the pole. L discovered
hitherto unknown islands.
1--WE missed the depots which
previously had been established, but
we came accidentally upon one of Mel
villes depots, where we found pro-
visions and instruments in an excel
lent state of preservation.
owing to the smallness of my ex-
pedition, our requirements were not
large. For the same reason we were
able to proceed quickly. On some days
we covered as high as twelve miles,
which is an extraordinary speed.
"As I approached the pole the Es-
kimos with me were frightened at the
meteorological conditions.
"On the return trip our provisions
became exhausted. No animal life was
visible and for three days we had moth
ing to eat. Then in a crevice of the
ice we caught sight of several wal
ruses.
"I had only a few cartridges left. 1
crept along the ice on my stomach, ap-
preaching the animals slowly so as not
to scare them. expended all my car
tridgeS. and as a result killed two of
the walruses. Our lives were saved.
Broke Up SIedge
1--WE then broke IN our only sledge
and made bows and arrows of the
wood, as do the Eskimos, and we OBJ
tanned game with these arms.
again near Cape York we were on
the point of starvation when we found
a young seal sleeping on the ice.
-"At Cape York we found traces of
muskoxen. which we tracked and
killed.
From Upernavik to Egedesminde
sailed on the same ship that carried
the MacClintock and Franklin relief
expeditions"
1t was a weather. beaten and shah
by but elated her who was welcomed
this morning by the Danish capital at
the same official pier and with the
same honors that are customarily used
in the greeting of visiting members of
royal families.
DIR. Cook when he arrived stood on
the bridge of the Hans Egede wearing
a shabby brown suit that had been
lent to him by seaman. On his head
was a disreputable old cap. and his
feet were clad in leather moccasins.
His blonde hair was long and shaggy
and his mustache rough and strag-
Cling. His complexion was sallow, but
his face was full He was a strange