The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-27
DIR. COOKS FLIGHT
Charles Wake, the Explorers
Friend. Tells the Story
Of How and When He Left for
Europe.
CUT OFF MUSTACHE
And Booked His Passage Under
Assumed Name.
Was in Constant Terror Before
His Departure.

oA4Sh a. Cook. mas at last concluded
that his faith in the Arctic explorer
was misplaced. He has issued a state
ment in which he told the full story
of his relations with Cook. After re-
lating how Cook had practically been
driven into seclusion by denunciation
and threats. Mr.. Wake tells of the
steps he took to assist Cook.
The doctor and his wife eyinced
an increasing anxiety to have me with
them," said Mr.. Wake, s'and. begin
ning with November 10. spent every
night at the Hotel Gramatan. So
great was their fear for the safety of
his original records that from the sec
ond night I consented to the door be-
tween their room and mine being left
open. They urged me repeatedly to
go with them to Europe to safeguard
me original records, but did not con-
slider it necessary and could not see
my way clear to do it. During all the
time that I was with them the doc
tor was unable to get any sleep night
or day, and at the end he was prac-
t1cally nervous wreck. He became
even more uncommunicative than ms.
ual and would not express his
thoughts
Departure Is Deferred.
1t was finally arranged that Mr..
Lonsdale, Mr. Cooks secretary. should
sale for Copenhagen with a typewrit-
SSNAA SOPJ "a ZIG IGCOTQ on the United
States of the Scandinavian-Ameri
line, sailing on November 25. and that
the doctor and his wife, Carrying the
originals, should sail for Genoa under
an assumed name on the Cedric. Ieav-
ing November 81. LonsdaIe. after he
had deposited the copy. was to go. ac-
companled by some trustworthy per-
son, to Stettin, Germany, to meet the
doctor and his wife. LonsdaIe and
ms companion were then to take the
originals m
was TO remain within easy distance of
the university.
Their passage on the Cedric was
secured, but subsequently it was
agreed that their departure should be
dererred until 1t became more certain
that they would not be detected and
followed. When left the Hotel
Gramatan at noon Wednesday. No
vember "a, it was understood that the
doctor and Lonsdale should come to
my office at o'clock that afternoon to
arrange some Of the details Of Ions
dale's departure To aI1ay the AMI
ETY. OF the doctor and his wife. I had
arranged with detective agency TO
nave him constantly Swallowed. and
the detective was at my office at 8
O'Clock to pick him up.
Sees Chance to Lose Detectives.
'Dr. Cook did not appear at the honr
appointed but about 4 o'clock Lonsdale
teiephoned my office that 'everything
was all right I was not surprised thai
he did not say any more, for by that
Cooks. was leaking badly I, too. was
being followed by a corps Of detectives
Day ana night, but was greatly aston
1shed when failed to receive any fur
Their word for several hours.
Lonsdale eventually connected with
me. and told me the story of Dr. Cooks
disappearance. He said they came
down from Bronxville at 2:30 O'Clock
that afternoon. intending to go to my
office. On their arrival at the Grand
Central station they found the usual
array of detectives waiting to shadow
them. They hurried through the crowd
and saw southbound Madison ave-
nue. car just getting under way. On see
ing the car the doctor suddenly ex-
claimed: Here's a chance to get away
from them and am going to take it.
Come on They caught the car just as
it was entering the Park avenue tun-
mel, and were certain that the detec-
tives had been left behind. They left
the car at Thirty-third street and went
into the subway. where they boarded
a southbound train after making sure
that they were not followed They left
the train at Blocker street slipping
out just before the last door was closed
again, to make sure that they were not
being Swallowed.
Cook Assumes Disguise.
From there they went to the Penn
sylvania depot by circuitous route.
and DR.. Cook took train for Philadel-
phia. On the way to Jersey City he had
his mustache shaved off, and exchanged
his Derby for soft felt. His parting
words to Lonsdale were: Now, I shall
be able to get some sleep. Tell Mr..
Wake will write him, using the name
of Harper; but tell him / trust him to
keep this secret along with the rest
Il was greatly surprised, and at first
highly incensed, that the doctor shou ID
leave in this fashion. and for the first
time began to feel misgivings as to his
good faith though did not commune
cate them to his wife, for she was al
ready greatly perturbed by his action.
1 concluded. however, that the severe
strain he had been under was an ex-
tenuating circumstances; that perhaps
his mind had been affected. and that,
therefore, he should not be held too
rigidly responsible, for. in such an
event, he was more than ever in need
of my friendship
"Lonsdale sailed. with a copy of the
records. on the United States On Thurs
day. November %, and on the following
day Mrs. Cook, who knew nothing more
about her husbands wherea bouts than
did. moved to New York. On the next
day, the 9th. we received our first word
from DR.. Cook. It came in the form OF
a letter postmarked Toronto, Ont, to
Mrs Cook In it he told her to meet
him in Europe at once. If the hounds
are still pursuing you.' he said, put my
original records in a safe deposit box
and leave the key with Mr. Wake II
they are not following you. bring the
records with you. Ny life is Of more
importance than the polar matter,
which can wait if necessary
Wife Carried Original Data.
II did not like the tone of the letter
and said so. but Mrs Cook begged me
not to be hasty. but rather to continue
to give him the benefit of any doubt,
and above all not to desert her in her
hour of need. Realizing her predica-
ment l promised to stand by her.
Il had all along urged upon the
doctor the necessity for getting his
original records to Copenhagen with
all possible dispatch Therefore 1 re-
turned them to Mrs. Cook. who had