The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-23
COOK COMES BACK
TO NATIVE LAND
Calm as if There Had
Been No North Pole
Controversy.
STILL THINKS
HE GOT THERE
Returns for Sole Purpose of
Setting Himself Right With
His Countrymen-Passengers
Aboard Ship Divided Into
Factions for and
Against Him.

New York. December 22.-Dr Fred
erick a. Cook came back to his native
land to-day on the steamship George
| Washington, as calmly as II there had
never been North Pole controversy.
! lie looked well apl said little; in fact,
a typewritten interview handed to re-
porters embraced all that he had to
say, with the exception of the neces-
sary formaliies of conversation thrust
upon him by interviewers OF far more
dramatic interest was a heated con-
troversy among the steamship pas
sengers concerning the impression he
/ had made upon them. The doctor still
asserts that he believes he was at the
pole.
DR.. Cook, in his statement, referred
to the fact that he was in the United
states less than a month ago.
II arrived in Quebec on October 30,
went to Troy, y. Y, then to Newburgh
and Poughkeepsie. he said. Il was in
the two last named cities about three
weeks writing, revising and correcting
proofs on my story. ! registered under
an assumed name. because ! was very
busy-too busy TO receive my many
personal friends or newspaper men.
No other precautions were taken to
keep my presence concealed. j stopped
at leading hotels. and took an auto
mobile ride each pleasant day l was
at the Palatine Hotel, IN Newburgh,
most of the time. | left Poughkeepsie
on the night OF November %, and went
directly to Halifax. where 1 sailed for
Europe.
Docs Not Know Plans.
Dr. Cook said that he did not know
what his plans for the future would
t-e. rI,... fa.,.
going on the lecture platform.
u have come back solely for the
purpose of rehabilitating myself and
my family by setting matters right
with my countrymen. he declared.
The argument among the George
Washington's passengers arose when
the doctors synipathizers aboard
wished 1t understood that he was re-
ceived with no shadow Of discrimina-
tion By the other passengers.
HIS enemies wished It made clear
that he had been stunned The minute
the newspaper men, who had go
down the harbor on the revenue cut
ter, stepped into the saloon. represen-
tatives OF both sides descended On
them. Persons who in ordinary circum-
stances dodge publicity as they would
the plague swooped down on the re-
porters and fairly button-hole them
in their eagerness TO present their case
first.
While the dispute in the ladies
saloon boiled. more temperate mind
ed passengers elsewhere found time
to tell without neat about the doctors
trip. He came aboard at Bremen, they
said, wearing a full beard, but had 1t
shaved off on the first day
His name did not appear on the pas
senger list at first, but was placed
there Observation-Disclosures DR.. Freder-
lex A. Cooke ma supplemental list is
sued. He was an unostentatious pas
senger, playing cards of an evening
with few friends, and neither seek
ing nor avoiding attention. Once,
when the toasts were going round be-
fore bedtime and it came his turn 70
name health, he was quick to pro.
pose the Stars and Stripes-a toast
that none could refuse.
Another time, when passenger who
had not remarked him before. asked
brusquely: Are you DR.. Cooke" he
answered, "My name is Cook
Are you the DR.. Cook who went
to the North Pole?" persisted the ques-
toner.
Says He's Been There.
Il have been there" asserted the
doctor gravely.
me typewriter interview which the
doctor issued did not satisfy the re-
porters. They piled him with ques-
tions, but to almost all of them he
parried.
You have written this: After ma
ture thought I confess that l do not
ksow absolutely whether I reached
the pole or not Do you believe that
you did,"
II still believe it,
Does your uncertainty at all ex-
tend to your ascent of Mount McKin-
ley?',
Not in the least. shall have re-
ply to make to Professor Herzchel C,
Parkers latest attack on my ascent
probably next Monday
Did you still believe in your rec
ords when you sent them to the Uni
versty of Copenhagen?"
"Oh. certainly"
Then why did you call Captain
August W. Loose to aid you in compil-
ing them?"
THAT VIII be answered in the next
instalment"
university?"
YES, think we have accented
that"
"And you believe that Peary got to
the pole?"
II have never questioned it,
From the steamer DR.. Cook went
direct to the Waldorf Astoria, where
he stayed before, on his welcome from
Copenhagen. Mrs. Cook and, the chill
dren, he said, We're still in France
where the children We're going to
school.
VIII Furnish Proofs.
Washington, d. G., December a..
After months of persistent refusal on
the ground of interference with con-
tracts with publishers. Captain Robert
e. Peary the Arctic explorer, has
nrnmi sod To- furnish Con S.ras.s ..,ith the