Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-27
Fake Explorer Wanted
Him to Take Data
to Denmark.
AIDED HIM ALREADY
Had Been StaunCh Supporter
of Brooklyn Man Until
This Time.

New York, Dec. 27.-Charles Wake
who has been one of the stanchest
hackers of Cook, has at last concluded
his faith in the arctic explorer was
misplaced. He has issued a statement
in which he tells the full story of his
relations with Cook. After relating
how Cook had practically been driven
into seclusion by denunciations and
i threats, Wake tells of the steps he
n took to assist him.
THE doctor and his wife evinced in
creasing anxiety to have HE with
them says Wake, "and beginning
with Nov. 10 l passed every night at
the Hotel Grammatan. So great was
their fear FOR the safety of his original
records that from the second night
consented to the door between their
room and mine being left open.
'"They urged me repeatedly to go
fwith them to Europe to safeguard the
original records, but did not consider
it necessary, and could not see my way
clear to do it. During all the time
was with them the doctor was unable
to get any sleep, night or day, and at
the end he practically was a nervous
: wreck
Cook and Wife IncOEnitO.
81 finally arranged that Lonsdale,
Cooks secretary, should sail for Co
penhagen with the typewriter copy
of the records on the steamship
United States of the Scandinavian
American line, sailing Nov. %. and
that the doctor and his wife. carrying
the originals. should sail for Genoa,
under assumed names. on the Cedric.
leaving Nov. 27. Lonsdale, after he
had deposited the copy, was to go, ac-
companied by some trustworthy per-
son. to Stettin, Germany, to meet the
doctor and his wife. Lonsdale and his
companion were then to take the orig
inals 10 Copenhagen. Cook was to re,
main within easy distance of the uni
versity.
Their passage on the Cedric was
secured, but subsequently it was
agreed that their departure should be
deferred until it became more certain
they would not be detec>ed and fol
lowed When l left the HoceI Gram
, matan at noon on Wednesday. Nov.
"a, it was understood the doctor and
Lonsdale should come to my office at
o'clock that afternoon to arrange
= some details of Lonsdale's departure
ITO allay the anxiety of the doctor
and his wife had arranged with de-
tective agency to have him constantly
shadowed and the detective was at my
office at o'clock to pick him up.
Cook Leaves LOnsdnIe.
Cook did not appear at the hour ap-
pointed. but about o'clock Lonsdale
teIephoned my office that everything
was all right.
''Lonsdale at o'clock met me and
told me the story of Cooks disappear
ance. He said they came down from
Bronxville at 2: 80 that afternoon, in.
tending to go to my Office. On their
arrival at the Grand Central station
they found the usual array of detec
tives waiting to shadow them. They
hurried through the crowd and saw a
south bound Madison avenue car just
getting under way.
ION seeing the car, the doctor sud
denly exclaimed: Here's a chance to
get away from them and 1 am going
to take it. Come on They caught
the car Just as it was entering Park
avenue Cuuuel anu were CeEldln IHS
detectives had been left behind. They
left the car at Thirty-third street and
went into the subway. where they
boarded a south bound train, after
,lmaking sure they were not followed
They left the train at Bleecker street
From there they went to the Penn
sylvania depot by a circuitous route
and Cook took the train for Philadel
phia. On the way to Jersey City ne
had his mustache shaved and ex
changed his derby for soft felt hat
His parting words to Lonsdale were:
Now 1 shall be able to get some sleep
Tell Wake will write him, using the
name of Harper, but tell him l trust
him to keep this secret along with the
rest Lonsdale sailed with the copy