Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-22
DR., COOK IN NEW YORK
Discoverer of North Pole is Given
Enthusiastic Welcome Home.
BRINGS HIS STORY AND DATA
says He Has Clear Record Of
Piece of work over which lie
Has Right TO be
Proud.

NEW YORK. Sept. I'll have come
from the pole. ] rave brought my story
and my data with me. l have not come
home TO enter into with one
man or with fifty men, but l am here to
present a clear record Of a plece OF work
over which 1 have a right to display a
certain amount of pride.
II am perfectly willing to abide by the
final verdict on this record Of competent
judges. That must be the last word end
that alone can satisfy me and the public.
Furthermore. not only will MY report
be made out in black and white, but 1
will also bring TO America human Wit
nesses to prove that 1 have been to the
pole"
Such is the sum and substance OF the
first message DR.. Frederick a. Cook
brought home in person to America today,
answering his critics the world over.
Under seas and overland it travelled north
as fast as electricity could cary it TO
where another explorer, Robert Il. Pcary.
homeward bound from the pole, was pac-
ing the decks with his hand TO mis- eyes fer
a sight of his wife and Children.
Throughout q long night, a flctilla Of
tug boats, outposts of a continental
curiosity, and tossed in the darknes for
a first glimpse Of the Oscar VI. bearing
the man from whom a nation waited word.
At 5 O'Clock this morning the explorer was
on deck. The Oscar II had purposely been
held back yesterday not to disarrange The
reception plans of the Arctic club of
America, but leaving Fire island shortly
after midnight it nosed its way into
Quarantine at an hour too early for every
body but DIR. Cook.
Meets wife and Daughters.
There was an anxious wait at quarantine
While the tugs bobbed nervously about, the
newspaper men on board them shouting
broken queries through ~megaphones at the
black sides of the Oscar II, high above
them. DIR. Cook lowered a signed statement
In a pail to the Associated Press and re-
sumed his tense to and fro, to and fro, up
and down the landward rail.
A speck in the distance began to assume
dimensions. Presently it was recognizable
as the tug bearing Mrs. Cook and her two
daughters. Quickly the tug came alongside
and, while the heavy swell running ground
its tenders against the plates of it's big
sister, DIR. Cook clambered nimbly down
Jacobs ladder and with no concern for the
cameras trained on him, made a rush for
his wife. For the moment he even missed
the children, who stood a few feet away,
until his wife silently led him to them
Then, as he lifted his youngest daughter to
his shoulder, the silent, watching crowd
that lined the rails of the Oscar II broke
into a storm of cheers.
1t had been arranged that the excursion
steamer Grand Republic, carrying DR..
Cooks friends and eliminates from Brook
Ign and New York and John r. Bradley,
his hacker, should keep far enough in the
background to give him a few moments Of
privacy with his family. But soon there
followed a second transfer from the tug
to the Grand Republic. AS DR.. Cook set
foot aboard, Miss Ida Lehman, daughter
of an old Brooklyn friend, threw a wreath
of roses about his neck, greeted him as a
hero, and proclaimed him a gentleman Of
Bushwick." Bushwick is the name of DIR.
Cooks home section of Brooklyn.
Brown, positive, patient, t%acturn, DR..
Cook endures the business of being a hero
with courtesy, but no enthusiasm. AS he
stood beside Bradley, his hacker, the con-
trast was apparent, Bradley looked the
typical man-about-town. barbered, tailored,
polished, Immaculate and Indifferent. Cook,
a little i'll at ease, smiled continually in an
honest, fortnight sort Of way, as a man
wholly sure of himself, but not so certain
- Wv aN "on hehAAo - No9
a good impression, though, here as abroad,
for the crowd liked his simplicity, which
seemed to carry conviction.
Mrs. Cook, at her husbands elbow, had
her first taste Of the publicity she has
hitherto summed, and took It placidly.
Because OF DR.. Cooks early transfer
from the Oscar II, the Grand Republic
found itself ahead of the schedule mapped
out by the reception committee, so instead
of making straight for Brooklyn, as had
been planned, 1t steamed first up the North
river to Spuyten Duvil, and then back over
the same course, around the Battery and
up the East river until 1t was time to
turn for it's landing at the foot of South
Fifth street, Brooklyn.
On shore the really formidable part Of
the day for DR.. Cook still awaited him.
After the first rush OF welcome aboard the
Grand Republic he had betn able to find
comparative seclusion in the pilot house.
From that vantage polnt he could see the
streets of Brooklyn, black with thousands,
long files Of automobiles ready, and he
knew that a reception had been planned
for him this afternoon at the Bushwick
club and that an ordeal awaited him.
No official Welcome.
AS he stepped ashore It was noticeable
that no representative of the nation, the
state or the city was there to greet him.
Bird S. Coler, president Of the borough
OF Brooklyn. had welcomed him on the
Grand Republic for that borough, but the
city OF New York sent no official repre-
sentative But sincere and enthusiastic
to the point Of tumultuousness, his well
come may be best described as a neigh
borly affair, devoid Of official significance,
DR.. Cook was hurried into a motor car
and then began the big parade, which
passed through five miles Of cheering,
crowded streets. At DR.. Cooks former
home in Bushwiok avenue, the procession
passed under an arch bearing the inscrip-
ton, 1--WE Believe in You"
Thousands Of school children lined Bush
wick avenue and cried Cook, Cook as
the explorer passed on his way to the
Bushwick club, where q reception in his
honor was held during the remainder OF
the day.
DIR. Cooks Plans.
On the question OF his plans DIT. Cook
said:
II intend to stay in New York for the
present. While there l shall complete my
work. l nave not made any arrangements
for lectures and l have not yet decided
- .N.Hr -IV..- aAvr 49, h-F,-s