The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-11-30
Presents Case in Story in Hamp-
ton Magazine and Says Pub
lie Can Decide as to
His Honesty
DRIVEN MAD BY HARDSHIPS
Northern Regions Affected Mind, He
Declares, and Conditions are Such
That il is Hard TO Believe
Own Evidence.

New York. y. Y, NOV. 3O.-Dr. COOK
the Brooklyn explorer lin an article
which he publishes in Hampton's ma
eazine confesses he does not know
whether he reached the North Pole
or not. Cook, who has been in hiding
over a year, has informed the editors
of the magazine, that he will return
10 the United States to spend Christ
mas here.
Cook says his confession he does
not know whether he reached the pole
or not is made after mature thought"
He declares that as much as the pole
once meant to him, the sympathy and
confidence of his fellow men means
more. He states his case in detail and
is willing to leave IL to the judgment
of the public whether or not he is hon.
est.
Cook declares that at the time he
convinced himself he had discovered
the pole he was half mad. He spent
two years in, the quest and during that
time endured hunger and privation
that, he says, would unbalance any
mind.
A Region of Insanity.
The explorer states it would be i'm
possible for any man to demonstrate
beyond question that he had been to
the North Pole. He characterizes the
region ms a region of insanity, where
one cannot believe the evidence gath
cred 10y ones own eye.
He says he had always looked upon
the discovery of the pole as an
achievement for his own personal sat
isfaction, for the satisfaction of a
craving and desire that was greater
than any other factor in his life.
When he found how tremendous
sensation his statement that he had
attained the pole created, he was over
come with bewilderment.
Did Not Conceal Identity.
Cook then tells the story of the days
in Copenhagen and later In New YORK
and of crisis in his life that led to his
fight from New York and his volun-
tary exile from the United states. The
explorer says that notwithsta ding the
fact he was followed by the rewdest
newspaper men in the world day al
ter day and that sums ranging up to
several thousands of dollars were OF
fered for clue to his whereabouts
he has never worn a disguise and has
never taken any unusual precaution to
conceal his Identity.
Part OF the time, he says, his wife
has been with him, and part of the
time his children. Cook and his wife
are now in Europe and his children
are in a convent in France. Most OF
the time during his exile Cook has
been i'm London. He says he has gone
about among Americans there with
the utmost freedom, and at times mas
registered under his own name, and
that only n few have guessed his iden'
tty. Those who did guess it, Cook
the remark: ewhN yes, l have beer
told that before"
Great Desire to Return.
With the opportunities for thought
that his exile has given him-CooR
says he meyer even had time to sleef
more than three or four hours be-
tween his arrival at Copenhagen and
his disappearance In New York-he
mas found growing stronger the desire
70 return to his own country, to bt
understood by his own people. H'
realizes better than any one else the
esteem i'm which he was held.
I've been called the greatest liai
IN the world. the most monuments
imposter I'm history says Cook. .
believe that in every undesirable wa,
stand unique, an object of suspicion
and vituperation as have assailed few
men,"
With this realization, Cook wrote
MS story and says that to him th'
honor of discovering the pole mo long
er means anything. The explorer hai
peen working on his story since las
august, and says. according to TIN
euitors of the Hampton magazine
unat his sole desire is to make tn
people of the United States realiz'
just what ha uyapt flro,r.rl, slat ri no bi