The Detroit times., 1910-12-01
F FOXY DIR. COOK
SLIPPED INTO ]. 5.
AND OUT AGAIN
Without Disgusting Himself, Except
BY Registering Under Assumed
Name, He Came To Troy, N. Y,
and Appeared in Public.
There Negotiations for His Series of
Stories for Hampton's Magazine
Were Completed.

NEW YORK, Dec. I-Dr. COOK
convinced us that the best disguise a
man can have is to have none at all,
but just to be his own self"
This Is the opinion today OF Benja-
min b. Hampton, editor OF Hampton's s
Magazine. In explaining to the United
Press how 1t vas possible to bring Or.
Frederick A. Cook, the Polar explor-
er, and for year the elusive quarry
of newspaper sleuths the world over,
to this country without any special
attempt at secrecy and negotiate with
him for the publication of his confes-
sion that he may not have reached the
North Pole.
Hunted in vain the world over, with
price on his discovery offered by
Cook returned to this country and
spent two weeks within 60 miles of
New York city, absolutely in the open
with the exception Of the name under
which he was registered, and no che
Of the hundreds who saw him and the
scores who talked with him. as much
as questioned his identity.
The story Of Hampton's Magazine,
which, .eginning In the January num-
ber, is to publish DR.. Cooks latest
story, in which he admits that the
hardships of the Arctic may have un-
balanced his mind and made him be-
lieve he had accomplished the stu
pendous feat Of discovering the Pole,
forms an interesting account that sets
at naught most Of the accepted the
ories of detective work.
When Hampton's decided to find
Cook, its representatives went to his
brother, proprietor of the North
Pole Dairy" In Brooklyn, and laid the
proposition before him. They told
William Cook that they knew the doc
tor was in London and were deter
mined to go over the city with fine
tooth comb II necessary to find him.
William Cook finally admitted that
DR.. Cook was either In London or
near that city. and gave the magazine
the name of his brothers solicitor.
Hampton then communicated with
this solicitor, and 1t was not long be-
fore cables were passing between DR..
Cook and his brother. The cables
from DR.. Cook we're signed "Freder-
ick" and addressed to William Cook.
When the negotiations had pro-
gressed sufficiently. T. Everett Harry,
one Of the staff of Hampton's, went
TO London, met DR.. Cook and re-
press Line Steamship company's
steamers to Quebec. In Quebec, the
party was joined by Hampton and
Ray Long, associate editor Of Hamp-
tons. The four then proceeded to
Troy, y. Y. DR.. Cook and Harry reg.
istered at the F1fth-Ave. Hotel in
Troy under assumed names, while
Hampton and Long stopped at the
Rensselaer, Hotel.
For two days the members OF the
party were I'm almost constant conn.,
munication. Once a day Cook and
Harry went motoring, with Cook max
ing no attempt at disguise. Cook
mingled with the crowds in the hotel
lobby, walked on the streets. and sat
In the public dining room and no one
was the wiser. Once he was told by
one Of the guests that he looked like
DR.. Cook, to which he smilingly re-
piled: "Yes, have often been taken
for the doctor" That ended Il.
Hampton and Long remained with
DR.. Cook until the series of four
stories that are to be published was
practically completed, when Cook left
Troy and went to a neighboring city.
There again his only disguise was an
assumed name. Despite the fact that
he carried big pile Of luggage, was
debating to a stenographer for sew
eral hours every day and was fire.
quently called to the long distance
telephone to talk with his publishers.
again his identity was not suspected.
II believe l could go to New York
city and not be found out, II re-
mained away from my home neigh
borhood," Cook declared. I'D like to
try it."
After the story was finished and In
the magazines hands. Cook returned
to London. having been In this coun-
try nearly a month. DR.. Cook will go
to France, where he Will be joined
by his wife and children, and will re-
turn to New York shortly before
Christmas.
Rentamin Hampton Is the authority
for the statement that Cook has not
the money lust" as many have
charged.
"There was no quibbling over the
nrice to be paid for his story" he
said. 'Tn fact, Cooks chief aim
seemed to be to have his story told.
Although Cook Is in fairly good
health. the last year has unquesuon-
ably worn on him. He is anxious to
return home"