The Sentinel=record., 1909-11-28
NONE BUT ONE OF HIS PERSON. AL FRIENDS KNOW OF HIS
 WHEREABOUTS.
Has Been on the Verge of Physical and Mental Breakdown for the Past Several Weeks--Left
 Wednesday Night.

NV 1Ork, NOV. Zf.~-'Df ffcueflCk A. Cook dropped completely from pub lie view today. Not even John R. Bradley, whose money was. behind Cooks polar explorations. knows where he is tonight
 Confiding his secret to one man and perhaps his wife, the Brooklyn explor- CT slipped quietly and mysteriously away, leaving behind him string of puzzled and exasperated friends and 6 debate more acriminous than that which followed his announcement that he had discovered the pole.
 Charles Wake. an insurance man 5 of this city, appears to be the only one who knows the mystery of pr. Cook $ whereabouts. MT. Wake is firm in his resolve to keep his lips sealed until Cook himself sees fit to take the public into his confidence In the meantime concern Is express cd over the condition of pr. Cooks health.
 Although some of his friends main tain that he has borne up well under the continued strain of lecturing and preparing his data, an intimate asso- ciate of the doctor said tonight the explorer appeared to be on the verge of nervous collapse last Monday night.
 This friend. who is newspaper man. issued statement tonight in which he quoted Dr. Cook as saying:
 If this thing keeps up few months longer, I will be In the insane asylum"
 This is the statement in part:
 Last Monday night Dr. Cook was in an extremely nervous condition and was convinced that unless he took long needed rest, he might suffer a nervous breakdown. He told me that he had been advised to go abroad in order to be In easy reach of the University of Copenhagen If his pres ence was require dthere and at the same time to get a rest He then said 10 me: If this thing keeps up few months longer I will be in the ] insane asylum.
 "Dr. Cook has taken me into his confidence and have been permitted to examine his original data, and de- spite all the charges that have been made. have absolute confidence in his integrity. feel confident. as does Dr. Cook himself that the decision of the Universit yof Copenhagen will be favorable.
 "All this talk of a conspiracy 10 rob pr. Cook Of his records is silly. although l regret to say that some of tiose who have been his advisers have succeeded in convincing him that such plot existed
 Personally do not know the pres. ont whereabouts of Dr. Cook
 The puzzle of Dr. Cooks disappear ance from public view began about 3 o'clock this afternoon. At noon Hen " Wellington Wack, his counsel, Is sued formal statement explaining that Dr. Cook had sailed this morning on the Cunard steamer Caronia Three hours later he issued second state ment withdrawing the first one and explaining that he had been informed by John R. Bradley that the doctor had not sailed on the Caronia. Co., incident with this, reports were cir. culated that Dr Cook had sailed on the steamer Havana for Havana. Neither. so .ar as can be learned to- night vas correct.
 Captain Knight Of the Havana re- sponded to wireless after his vessel hal left port as follows:
 No one on board resembling Dr. Cook Name not on the passenger list
 T. A. Mccabhln. he purser on the