The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-21
Dr. Frederick Cook Is Met By Newspaper Men At
 Fire Island
GREAT RECEPTION IS
 PLANNED FOR EXPLORER
Over Thousand People Will Go Out on a Steamer to Meet the Yes sel Which Brings Dr.. Cook
 from Copenhagen.

New York. September 9o-"It's good to be an American; it seems that l have been gone ten years"
 Gazing toward the lights of New York after an absence since July 1, 1907, these were the first sentiments expressed to- night by Dr. Frederick A. Cook of Brook lyn as he paced the deck of the steam ship Oscar II. waiting for daylight and his actual return to his native land. Dr. Cook Is practically at home tonight, for the Oscar II Is anchored off Fire Island. The ship is marking lime. as it were. so there may be no hitch in the home-com- ing reception for the explorer, who re- ported via the Shetland islands on Sep tember that he had unfurled the Amer ican flag at the north pole on April 2l, 1908.
 Though 60 miles from the city proper. the Oscar II was in easy wireless com munlcation with New York during the day and night. pr. Cook was deck almost constantly and as sunset ap- preached he watched the brilliant pano- rama and conversed with newspaper men with a brief hail in reply to their greet ings through megaphone.
 T feel anxious to get ashore" he said. but I dread the ordeal of landing to- morrow I would much prefer landing quickly and quietly, without a repeti- ton of the scenes at Copenhagen. hope that I shall be left in peace with my family by tomorrow night at least'
 Cox Sees the Papers.
 Some New York papers were brought on board this evening, containing long reports concerning Commander Peary's achievement. Dr. Cook read them care- fully, then said:
 There is nothing new here, and shall wait until something more definite is published before saying anything fur ther"
 Aside from this short reference to Peary. Dr. Cooks expressions today and tonight chiefly concerned the joy of his arrival at home. It was a day of varied emotion for the explorer, and although he is not an emotional man. his eyes glistened as he saw the beach on Fire island. as the Oscar II passed close in shore and the passengers were able to distinguish plainly objects on land.
 Dr. Cook took advantage of the delay in landing to send a wireless dispatch to his wife, asking her to come down the bay tonight and join him on board, thus to avoid the crush at the public greeting tomorrow. Mrs. Cook was slightly indis- posed, however, and replied by wireless that she would be unable to come. This was disappointment, both to Dr. Cook and the passengers.
 No One Allowed On Ship.
 The first tugs, bearing the advance guard of newspaper men from New York, reach ed the Oscar II tonight, but no one was allowed aboard the vessel except Anthony Fiala, the Arctic ex- plorer, who is a friend of Dr. Cook. He swung himself up from a tug, held a brief conversation with the explorer and departed.
 The passengers, including Dr. Cook. watched with amusement the vain at tempts of the reporters to get aboard, and pr. Cook shouted:
 Glad to see you, boys" as the re- porters endeavored to make themselves heard through a megaphone.
 It Is evident that Dr. Cook wishes to avoid too demonstrative a reception to- morrow and his attitude may curtail some of the arrangements in Brook lyn which have been only tentatively made, pending some announcement from him. The Oscar II will make her way slowly to quarantine, so as to reach there about S:30. There Mrs Cook accompanied by the two child ren, pr. Cooks brother William. Dr. R. o. Stebbins and J. Knowles Hare of the executive committee of the Arctic Club of America, and perhaps one or two others will be waiting on a tug which will leave early tomorrow morn ing.
 Reception is Planned.
 Dr. Stebbins and MT. Hare have ob- tained permission to board the A,ner. After they have greeted pr. CookS he will join his wife on the tug and WI be transferred from this to the steamN boat Grand Republic, which will carry\ party of friends and enthusiasts down the bay to meet him. The Grand Republic will take him to the BrooK- lyn water front. whence he will make his entry Into the city by automobile.
 More than thousand persons wit be on the Grand Republic. but the borough of Manhattan will not be of foially represented. Bird s. Coler, president of the borough of Brooklyn. will officially welcome him there The greatest reception, however, will be held in Dr. Cooks home section of Brooklyn at the Burwick club about noon tomorros,A Soon after that Dr. Cook will join his family at the Wal dorf- Astoria. His plans thereafter. with the exception of being he guest of honor at the banquet of the Arctic Club of America, to be held at tho Waldorf on Thursday night, have not