The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-04
RECOGNIZES COOK
Washington Officially Welcomes
the Arctic Explorer
As the Original Discoverer of
the North Pole.
is CAUGHT IN A JAM.
Crowd of 10000 Welcomes Hin
at the Depot.
People Make Frantic Efforts tE
Reach His Side.

! nome Of the American nag, WHICH you
carried to the North Pole" was the ex-
| preston of recognition given DR.. Fred
erick A. Cook by H B. F. Mcfarland.
| president of the district board of COM
missioners, in officially welcoming the
! explorer at the Municipal building to-
| day in the presence of a crowd that
| taxed its capacity.
General Greely and Admiral Schley and
other distinguished residents of WASH
ington have individually expressed their
appreciation of your great achieve
fitting. that the entire national capital,
through its executive government,
should give you hearty welcome and
cordial congratulations"
DIR. Cook was given an ovation When
he arrived at the municipal building
and when he arose to respond to the
commissioners tribute he was greeted
with prolonged cheering.
'I fail to find words to suit my ap-
probation of your Kindness" DR.. Cook
said II am man of few words and
1 can only say thank you"
The explorer then stood in the center
of the room beside Commissioners Nc
Farland and Judson and was given
hearty handclasp by the hundreds who
passed in line.
West Shows Most Interest.
1.-THE people of the middle west seem
to take more interest in the SubJect
than in any other section" remarked
DR.. Frederick A Cook, the arctic ex-
plorer, in commenting upon the warm
reception he had been told awaited him
at ST. Louis on Wednesday. He con-
tinued: ''It seems to be nearer their
hearts somehow, and they are appar-
emily enthusiastic over it. 1 shall be
glad to go to ST. Louis. I shall be there
only one day, leaving at IL o'clock
Wednesday night for Kansas City,"
Dr. Cook on his arrival in Washing
fnT foH af nil =
crowd estimated at 5000 to 10000 per-
sons. He was almost mobbed by the
rush of people pushing forward to get a
look at him and the police were nearly
overcome in their efforts to avoid his
being knocked down. He was hurried
to an automobile and to the Willard
hotel where, while hasty luncheon
was being placed on the table for him
paper men. Scientific men were con-
spicuous1y absent, even from the hotel
lobby.
Plan to Meet Whitney.
DR.. Cook, when asked about Harry
Whitney, said: ''I expect to see Mr..
whitney in about ten days after
conclude my present lecture tour" He
will, after this trip, prepare his data
for transmission to Copenhagen, and
then devote his time to writing his
book. He stopped en- route to Wash
ington to have a talk with a publisher
in New Jersey. 1t will probably take
him several weeks to get his full data
in shape to send abroad. Scientists
in this country who desire to examine
his claims to have reached the North +
Pole, therefore, will have to take up /
the matter with Danish authorities,
unless DR.. Cook does it for them.
The theater where he lectured was
not overcrowded, though comfortably
filed. Possibly 200 more persons
could have been seated. DIR. Cook and
his manager, Mr.. Gray, were pleased
to learn of the immense audience that
would greet him at St Louis. and it.
was when this information was i'm
parted to him that he remarked about
the intense interest being shown by
the people of the interior of the coun-
try. He will not ride in the historical
parade, but will hurry on to Kansas
City as soon as he has finished his lee
ture Wednesday night.
Nearly Hit by Policeman
Just as DR.. Cook was preparing to
enter the auto at Union station an
overzealous policeman raised his
ing the explorer, when the officers
uplifted arm was stayed by two of
the explorers newspaper escorts. The
policeman had had much trouble in
keeping the crowds back. It began
about an hour before the train ar
rived, and kept up until DR.. Cook
was escorted from the depot to his
ear.
In the large crowd thdt waited
about the station were several per-
sons on mischief bent. They began
oy forming a line. and. raising cry
Of there comes Cook" and enc of
the party would doff his hat in
recognition Of the applause. and in
his way nearly a thousand people
we're kept rushing back and forth
from the gates leading to the train
1ut through the station to line of
.axicabs standing in front. At first
he policemen entered into the spirit
IF the fun, but after the performance
1ad been repeated several times it
aroused their indignation. 1t was
DR.. Cook did arrive the crowd of
he curious viewed him askance. and
wen the policemen were more or
ess confused as to his identity
Scramble to Look at Him.
There was no committee at the sta
ion to meet the explorer. He aligIlted
rom the train accompanied by his lee
ure manager, his private secretary and
wo or three travelling correspondents
Or newspapers. and was met oy press
representatives. who formed his body
uard as he marched from the train
0 his auto. AS he proceeded through
he depot and the waiting crowds final
' became convinced that the explorer
ad finally arrived there was an un-
eernly scramble to get look at him.
here was difficulty in recognizing him,
as he made no signs of !
ecognition, except once or twice to
astily remove his hat and quickly re-
tore it to his head. The policemen had
ound it necessary to use their clubs
ather roughly, and when the dnalI
tampede came, just as DR.. Cook was
rying 10 enter his automobile, the po-
ceman who was on the point of club