Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-12-28
ARCTIC EXPLORER WAKE RE.
CALLS WITH SUSPICION
DOCTORS ACTIONS.
LOSES ALL FAITH IN EXPLORER
Tells Of Latter's Mysterious Disappear
ance and His European Plans-In-
tended to Go to Copenhagen
With Records.

Frederick A. Cook, has deserted the
Cook standard.
Although loyal for several days after
the adverse decision of the University
of Copenhagen, 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 he is in Europe, although he is
aware of Mrs. Cooks whereabouts,
which he declines to reveal.
Mr.. Wake says that he does not wish
his statement to be taken as an attack
on Dr. Cook, but he feels impelled to
let the facts speak for themselves. He
recites his experiences with the ex.
plorer, among them the following in
teresting account of the doctors dis
appearance:
ut was finally arranged that Mr.
Lonsdale, DIR. Cooks secretary, should
sail for Copenhagen with typewriter
copy of the records on the United
States, of the Scandinavian-America
line, sailing on Nov. 25, and that the
doctor and his wife, carrying the
originals, should sail for Genoa under
assumed names on the Celtic, leaving
on Nov. Z.
'Lonsdale and his companion were
then to take the originals to Copen,
hagen and Dr. Cook was to remain
within easy distance of call from
the university. DIR. Cook took train
for Philadelphia. On the way to Jer-
sey City he had his mustache shaved
off and exchanged his derby for soft
felt hat His parting words to Lons7
dale were: Now | shall be able to
get some sleep. Tell Mr.. Wake will
write him using the name of Harper,
but tell him l trust him to keep this
secret along with the rest
II was greatly surprised and at first
highly incensed and for the first time
cluded, however, that perhaps his mind
might have been affected and that
therefore he should not be held too
rigidly responsible.
"Lonsdale sailed with the copy of
the records on the United States on
Thursday, Nov. 25, and on the follow.
ing day Mrs. Cook, who knew nothing
more about her husbands whereabouts
than did, moved to New York.
ION the next day, the 9th, we re-
ceived our first word from DIR. Cook
1t came in the form of letter post
, marked Toronto, Ont, to Mrs. Cook.
In it he told her to meet him in Europe
t at once. If the hounds are still pur-
' suing you,' he said, put my original
: records in safe deposit box and leave
. theh key with Mr.. Wake; if they are
with you. My life is of more import
ance than the polar matter which car
J. wait if necessary
81 did not like the tone of the letter
t and said so, but Mrs. Cook begged me
\ not to be hasty and / promised tt
|, stand by her. l returned to her the
|. original records which had been giver
/ me for safe keeping with the sugges
g ton that they be Immediately sent tt
e Europe. supposed that she had pre-
yiously mailed the records but dis
covered that she had changed her mint
}. and had taken them with her.
After she had sailed l received al
i. inquiry from Dr. Cook, who was thel
in Europe. for his wife's whereabouts
which communicated to him. The ma
r. ture of this inquiry led me to believ'
9 that he was anxious to meet her to &c
k his originals and hurry them to Copper
J. hagen and this strengthened my wal
n ing confidence and prompted me to Civ
it public expression to it,. have nc
f. heard from him since then, directly Q
!. indirectly, and l have no idea wher
d he is now.
r. Il confidently expected that he woul
meet Mrs. Cook when she landed /
Europe and rush the records to Copper
hagen, which he had ample time to d,
g. before the verdict was announced.
u Through his failure to do this an
h his further failure to come out from hi
e seclusion and defend himself since tn
lie announcement of the verdict which h
0, undoubtedly has read in the newsp
e. pers wherever he is, have become col
le WINGED that my confidence in him wa
,e sadly misplaced"
Of Cook May Show Fight.
III New York, Dec. 27.-It was state
10 in Brooklyn that letter was receive
from DR.. Cook stating that he is n,
prepared to accept the verdict of tt
S. University of Copenhagen as the fin
decision in the north pole controvers
Il. and that he is already preparing
proceed to Etah and bring back tt
H. records and instruments that he 6
to legged are still there and which he a
OF serts will prove to the world that tt
st Characterization of him as the mo
gs colossal faker of modern times is u
tie warranted. 1t is declared in the lett
tie that the rush to condemn him is on
DIS what was to be expected and the e
40 plorer bitterly bewails the fact tn
he yielded to popular clamor and pr
at sented his incompleted documents
up the Danes when he should have wa
to ed until he had all OF his data and
is struments available.
ct His brother, William L. Cook, w;
TT seen in Brooklyn. and while he adm
Il ted he recently received letter fro
Us the discredited explorer, he refused
On let it be seen. He declared the actit
10 of the Danes In discrediting his brot
OF er was simply part of the general pl'
IN on the part Of the explorers who al
or friendly with Peary to secure for tt
latter the honors of the pole disco
cry.