Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-28
DR.. COOKS LEAVE TAXING
Charles Wake Tells How Explorer
Disappeared from New York.
CHANGED PLANS AND "sLoPED"
Finally Wrote from Europe TO Find
Whereabouts of wife who Had
Original Records in
Her Hands.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2.-Char,es Wake Of
this city, Arctic explorer, member OF tho
Explorers club. and therefore one OF the
Btaunchest supporters Of Or. Frederick a.
Cook, deserted the Cook standard last night
Although loyal for several days after the
adverse decision Of the University Of Cop
enhagen on Cooks records, Wake now says
that he was deceived by the explorer. He
adds that he does not know where DR..
Cook is, except that nc is in Europe, al
though he is aware OF Mrs. Cooks where
about, which he declines to reveal.
Cook has had ample time to express
himself since the records were examined, ."
said Mr.. Wake. but he has not done so.
So long as l live l shall never forget the
degree of nonchalance with which he waved
his hand towards the beautifully engraved
degree and the handsome gold medal that
had been conferred on him by the Copen-
hagen university and replied: There is
the best evidence
Il do not know who is caring for his
children in a New YORK boarding school,
but I presume relatives are doing it. How
much money he made on his trip and what
settlement OF It l do not know"
Mr. Wake says he does not wish his
W ~ INV IS III NAoNN NA 80
Cook, but ne feels lmpelled to let the facts
speak for themselves. lie then recltes his
experiences with the explorer, among them
the following:
Arrangements to sail.
1T was finally arranged that Mr.. Ions
dale, Or. Cooks secretary. should sail for
Copenhagen with a typewriter copy OF the
records, on the United States of the Scan
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. line, sailing on Novem-
bqr 25, and that the doctor and his wife,
carrying the original, should sail for Ge-
nda, under assumed names, on the Celtic,
leaving on November q. Lonsdale and his
companion were then to take the original
to Copenhagen and DR.. Cook was to remain
within easy distance of a call from the uni
versity. 1t was understood that the doctor
and Lonsdale should come to my office at
3 O'Clock on the afternoon of November "a
to arrange some of the details Of Lonsdale's
departure. To allay the anxiety Of the doc
tor and his wife, 1 had arranged with a
detective agency to have him constantly
Swallowed, and the detective was at my
office to pick him up.
'Dr. Cook did not appear at the hour ap-
pointed, but Lonsdale eventually connected
With me on the telephone away from my
office, and at 3 o'clock he met me and told
me the story of DR.. Cooks disappearance
hc said they came down from Bronxville
at 2:30 that afternoon, intending to so to
my office. on their arrival they found the
Lsaal array of detectives waiting to shadow
them. 1hey hurried through the crowd
and saw q south bound Madison avenue
car just getting under way. on seeing the
car the doctor suddenly exclaimed: Here
is a chance to get away from them and l
am going to take 1t. Come along
a.Ei DR.. Cook Slips Away.
They then made their way to the Penn
s~ylvania depot BY a circuitous route and
DIR, Cook took a train tor Philadelphia,
Oar the way to Jersey CITY he had his
n.oustache shaved off and exchanged mis-
oorby Tor a soft felt hat. His parting
Mulus to Lonsuaie were: Now l shall be
able to get some sleep. Tell Mr.. Wake
Mnl write him, USING the name OF Harper
but tell him 1 trust him to keep this secret
along with the rest
Il was greatly surprised and at first
highly incensed and for the first time be
gan to feel some misgivings. l concluded
however, that perhaps his mind might have
been affected and that therefore he should
nos be held too rlsiuly accountable.
'Lonsuaie sailed with the copy of the
records on the United states on Thursday
November 25, and on the following day
Mrs. Cook, who knew nothing more abouN
her husbands Whereabouts than did
moved to New York,
ION the next day, the 9th, we received
our first word from Dr, Cook. 1t came ii
the form of a letter, postmarked Toronto
ont, to Mrs. Cook,
In II he told her to meet him in Europ,
at once. If the hounds are still pursuing
YOU he said, put my original records in
aafa IapngRV. haN anl l.asy. tha lA,y ,uit,
Mr.. Wake; If they are not GLOWING you
bring the records with you. My life is o
more Importance than the polar matter
Which can wait II necessary
Mrs. Cook Takes Records.
II did not like the tone of the letter anC
said so, but Mrs. Cook begged me not {,
be hasty and l promised to stand by her
1 returned to her the original records
which had been given me for safe keepin,
with the suggestion that they be immedl
ately sent to Lonsdale. Mrs. Cook thcl
sailed for Europe. l supposed that sh
had previously mailed the records, but
discovered that she had changed her min,
and had taken them with her.
After she had sailed | received an in
quiry from DIR. Cook, who was then il
Europe. for his Wlfe's whereabouts, whicl
1 communicated to him. The nature o
this inquiry led me to believe that he wa
anxious to meet her to get his original
and hurry them to Copenhagen and thl
strengthened my waning condolences an,
prompted me to give public expression t.
It. have not heard from him since Their
directly or indirectly, and l have no ide
where he is now.
Il confidently expected that he woul
meet Mrs, Cook when she landed Il
Europe and rush the records to Copen
hagen, which he had ample time TO Dc