New-York tribune., 1909-09-05

sat down TO dinner at o'clock this evening in
the City Hall, the guest of a brilliant company
of the capitals most distinguished men and
women. arrayed in evening dress provided by the
Kings tailor.
The hours between these events we're the
busiest of his life. Polar exploration never af-
forded anything half so crowded with variety
and excitement. They were hours of speech
making. handshaking. bowling to clamortnS
crowds. and then. after addressing the people,
who almost tore him TO pieces in their eagerness
TO see the discoverer of the pole. DR.. Cook was
the recipient OF formal welcomes at the hotel,
where he is the governments guest There he
passed through the hands of tailors, outhtters
and BARRIERS Later he lunched with Dr. Maurice
F. Egan. the American Minister, being piled in
cessantly for an hour with fire of questions.
The doctor went through hundreds of tele-
grams. including congratulations from geo
graphical societies OF several nations. explorers
and friends, offers of exploitation ranging from
books to music hall engagements. and then hur-
red to the palace and gave the King and other
members of the royal family long account Of
his adventures. Returning to his hotel he re-
ceived a battalion of correspondents. who sub
jected him for another hour to z nlerclless cross
examination. demanding explanations Of all the
criticisms that have been levelled against his
claims.
These questions DR.. Cook answered with the
best of temper frankly and fully. Whatever
may be thought of DR.. Cook elsewhere. he has
impressed all who talked with him here as
modest frank and able man. Danish explorers
and Denmark is the home of Arctic pioneers
were the first TO ndorse Cooks claims 10 the
discovery of the pole and his methods of getting
to the goal. Their opinions were based prt-
marily personal knowledge Of DR.. Cooks
character and former achievements. Only after
consulting them confidentiallv and receiving the
fullest pronouncement of their belief in the
genuineness of his feat. did the Danish govern
ment give its official seal by to-dsy's reception.
to Or. Cooks good faith.
DR. COOK EMBARRASSED.
The dinnar this evening vas held in the splsn-
dfd municfpsT building -Four hundred persons,
many of them women. attended. while thou
sands congregated in the streets in drenching
rainstorm 10 catch sight of this explorer when he
entered.
There was a preliminary reception in the lofty
and spacious entrance hall. The spectacle, with
so many OF the men wearing orders, must have
Impressed the explorer by constrast with his re
cent experiences. The company marched up
stairs TO the music of The star Spanglsd Ban
ner.'
After all had been seated. the Minister Of
Commerce. Johan Hansen, escorted DR. Cook to
the chair of honor amid demonstration which
caused him 70 color deeply Minister Egan sat
at Dr. Cooks right. with the mayor of Copen-
hagen and Miss Egan beyond Mrs. Camel. q
wealthy Copenhagen lady who has contributed
extensively 10 Arctic exploration and has been
closely Identified with II. was at the chairman's :
left.
The menu was example of enterprise. with
a Hthograph of the Crown Prince greeting Dr.
Cook and map of the Arctic Circle. giving
Or Cooks route and fac-simile of his auto
graph with the date which reproduction
OF souvenir he gave Miss Esan-
The speeches teemed with compliments 70
Dr. Cook. The Mayor of Copenhagen said that
the name was once more enrolled among the
great explorers.
Minister Egan briefly proposed a toast to the
King OF Denmark. and the Corporation President
I'm proposing toast TO the President OF the
United States spoke of the pride that must be
felt by the nation which could boast that it was
her son who first planted the flag where no
human being had ever before set foot.
DIR. COOKS NOBLE DEED"
The Minister of Commerce. in proposing the
health of Dr. Cook paid warm tribute TO his
noble deed" He thanked him for spending
little time in Denmark and said that the priva
tions of the explorer were appreciated most by
the men OF Denmark present tonight. whose
names are written with honor the ice rocks
OF Denmark's northern colony.
When the nation was first thrilled by the
news OF Cooks exploit he said he must confess
there was some skepticism but afterward it was
confirmed and he hoped that DR.. Cook would
trv for the South Pole with the same success.
When the minister raised his glass TO Our
Noble Guest" there were nine hurrahs Com
n,odore Ffovgaard spoke from the point of view
of an expert explorer. and commended Cooks
methods
DR. Cook replied in a few words, nlodestly
saving that II had been hard day, but he had
never enjoyed Il day better. He praised the
V-snish explorers work. and said that he owed
much to Denmark for his
II thank you very much for the warm and
eloquent Words said the explorer. but am
unable to express myself properly. 1t was ii
rather hard day for me. but | never enjoyed a
day better The Danes have taken no active
part in polar explorations. but they have been
of much Importance silent partners in almost
ali arctic expeditions in recent years. The most
important factor in my expedition was the Es-
quimau and dog world and I cannot be too
thankful to the Danes for their care of the Es-
quimaus and now they also have instituted a
mission at Cape York. Had not met with
the right Esquimaus and the right dogs and the
right provisions ! could never have reached the
pole I owe much 10 the Danish nation for my
success
A telegram was read conveying the congratu-
lations of the King of Sweden for "a brilliant
deed of which the American people may rightly
be proud" Toasts to Mrs Cook and to the
Esquimaus of the party We're drunk
Two hundred students in uniform marched in
when the company returned to the grand hall
and gave DR.. Cook a rousing cheer. They In