Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-22

vile, where the Grand Republic met
the liner, and DIR. Cook was trans
ferred to the harbor steamer to re-
ceive his official welcome.
Tug DlmIy Outlined
At last the right tug was dimly out
lined through the mist. and DR.. COOK
springing to the companionway, leaped
across the intervening stretch of water
to the tug, and dashed up to the hur-
ricane deck, where his wife was walt
ing for him, waving the Stars ana
Stripes.
The returned explorer took her in
his arms without q word passing be-
tween them. DR.. Cook broke the ST.
-lence.
Where are the children" he asked.
His wife did not reply, but led him
to the children, a few steps away he
kissed his eldest daughter, then seized
the younger one in his arms and raised
her to his shoulders. At this the
spectators broke into cheers.
Bravo! Cook!" "Welcome home!"
'We're proud of you!" rang out across
the water
Then the words For He's a Jolly
Good Fellow" were sung in chorus by
DR.. Cooks fellow passengers on the
Oscar II, as the tug left the ships
side.
The Oscar II Immediately weighed
anchor and continued up the river to
her dock, and DR.. Cook was trans
ferred to the Grand Republic, which
was lying a quarter of mile away.
Cinematographs and cameras were
turned on him from every point as he
went on board, and passed through q
guard of honor of the Forty-seventh
regiment, to receive the greetings Of
the reception committee.
Places Wreath About Neck
On board the Grand Republic, DR..
Cook was greeted by the official recep-
tlon committee and a wreath of roses
was placed about his neck.
Standing on the upper deck of the
steamer, DR.. Cook addressed the COM
mittee and friends briefly
The trip was a triumphal one. The
Grand Republic was greeted by the
shrill shrieks of hundreds of craft,
small and large. Dr. Cook stood on the
upper deck.
The steamer. after reaching the foot
of West 130th street, went up the
North river as fer as Spuyten Duyvil,
and then retraced it's course to the
Battery, and proceeded up the East
river to the foot of South Fifth street,
in Brooklyn, where DIR. Cook landed
Dr. Cook gave out the following
signed statement:
"On board the Oscar II: After one
of the most delightful trips of my life
across the Atlantic I am, indeed, glad
once more to see the shores of my ma
tive land. 1 have come from the north
pole. / have brought my story and
my data with me. The public has al
ready tangible record of that trip. In
short time the narrative, with all
its observations, will be published and
placed before the world for examina-
ton.
Easy to Understand
at is as easy for you as for me to
understand why / cannot, on the i'm
pulse of the moment, read off a man
uscript which involves the work OF
two years. AS [ said on several occa-
sions all the charges, accusations and
expressions of disbelief are based on
entire ignorance of the supplementary
data which 1 possess.
mo one who has spoken or written
on the subject in opposition to my
claim knows of the facts with which
such work of exploration is measured.
All of the criticisms have been based
upon obvious errors in the reproduc-
ton of my first dispatch, or upon the
discussions of petty side issues pre-
sented by unfair criticisms.
IT am perfectly willing to abide by
the final verdict of competent judges
I That must be the last word in the
discussion, and that alone can satisfy
me and the public.
Furthermore, not only will my re-
port be before you in black and white,
but l also will bring to America human
witnesses to prove that have been to
the pole.
Cook Welcomed by Family
The scene as Dr. Cook was welcomed
by his family and friends was one long
to be remembered. From o'clock this
morning the explorer internationally
paced the salon deck, placing his ma
rine glasses to his eyes and watching
every tug or other vessel which ap-
preached, to see whether he could OBJ
serve his wife on the deck of the craft.
At one moment he thought he saw
his wife on a small tug; he raised his
hat and waved it. Then he dashed
down to the waist of the ship, where
a. temporary companionway had been
rugged to permit him to descend to the
tug bearing his wife. This, however,
was a false alarm and the explorer
returned to the upper deck.
The ceremonies on the Grand Re-
public were informal. The first per
son to greet DR.. Cook was Ida A.
Lehman, a daughter of one of his old
Brooklyn friends, who had been dele
gated to decorate the explorer with
wreath of roses DR.. Cook wore the
garland during the rest of the recep-
ton ceremonies.
Explorer Is Welcomed
Borough President Bird S. Coler well
coined the explorer on behalf of the
borough of Brooklyn.
"You are not only a great explorer"
said he, "but a Thorough American
gentleman, and Mrs. Cook is a thor
ough American lady"
One of the first to greet DR.. Cook