Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-01
Discredited Explorer Asserts He Will
Return and Try to Brighten
Tarnished Reputation.
WANTS CONFIDENCE OF PEOPLE
sympath yOf Fellow Men is Most
Valued Now.
DIsCLAIls ATTEMPT AT FRAUD
Doctor Thinks Now He Was Half Mad
at Time.
WANTS CONFIDENCE OF PEOPL
DIsCLAuMs ATTEMPT AT FRAU
WRITES STORY FOR MAGAZINE
In it he Discusses His PHychOIoEical
Condition and seeks 90 show
that if Mistaken lie Was
Honest.


NEW YORK Nov. 80.--Dr. Frederick A.
Cook. the Brooklyn explorer. in an article
which will be published in Hamptons Mag
azine. says that he does not know whether
he reached the North pole or not. DR..
Cook, who has been in hiding for more
than a year, has informed the editors Of
the magazine publishing his story that he
will return 70 the United States with his
wife and children December % in order to
spend Christmas here.
DR.. Cook, In his story, deals with the
psychology Of his adventure and says
Did l get TO the North pole? Perhaps I
made a mistake In thinking that l did.
Perhaps, did not make mistake. After
mature thought l confess that I do not
know absolutely whether reached the
pole or not This may come as an amazing
statement but am willing to startle the
world, II, by 50 doing, can get an oppor-
tunity 10 present my case.
"By my case, / mean not my base as a
geographical discoverer, but my case as a
man. Much as the attainment Of the
North pole once meant to me, the SYM
pathy and confidence OF my fellow men
mean more.
Attempts 70 Justify Himself.
Fully, freely and frankly I shall tell
you everything Tell you everything-and
leavo the decision with you. II. after read
ing my story you say, Cook is sincere and
honest; half crazed by months OF isolation
and hunger, he believed he reached the
pole; he is not a fakir, then shall be sat
isfied."
DR.. Cook tells the story OF his life and
pictures what he calls the overpowering
ambition for exploration that beset him
until II finally eliminated in his effort to
reach the pole. Dr. Cook declares that at
the time he convinced himself he had dis
covered the pole he was half mad. He spent
two years IN his quest and during that
time endured hunger and privation that
he says, would unbalauoe any mind.
The explorer states that IL would be inn
possibis For any man TO demonstrate be-
yond question that no had been to the
North pole He charactsTiEes the region as
q region OF insanity where one cannot
believe the evidences gathered by ones own
eyes.
Overcome with BevvildermeRt.
he says ne had always looked on the
discovery OF the pole as an achievement
Tor his own personal satisfaction for the
satisfaction OF craving and desire that
was greater than any other factor in his
life, When he found how tremendous n
sensation his statement that he had at
tanned the pole created, he was overcome
with bewildsrment. DR.. Cook then tells
the story of the days in Copenhagen and
later In New York. and OF the crisis in
his life that caused his flight from New
York and his voluntary exile from the
United States. The explorer says that not
80
lowed by the shrewdest newspaper men
IN the world-day after day. and that sums
ranging upwards OF several thousands OF
dollars were offered for a clue to his
whereabouts. he has never worn a disguise
and has never taken any unusual precau-
ton to conceal his identity. Part OF the
time he says. his wife has been with him
and part OF the time his children.
Dr. Cook and his wife are now In Europe
and the children are In a convent In
France.
Has Been I'm London.
Most Of the time during his exile DR..
Cook has been In London. He says he
has gone about among Americans there
with the utmost freedom and at times has
registered under his own name and that
only few have guessed his identity, Those
who did guess H. DR.. Cook says were
turned away with ease by the remark
why, yes, have been told that before
with the opportunities for thought that
his exile has given him-Dr. Cook says he
never even had time to sleep more thar
three or four hours between his arrtva
az Copenhagen and his disappeRrance IL
New York-he has found growing stronger
and stronger the desire TO return to hi,
own country 20 be understood by his owl
people. He realizes better than anyon,
Il have been called the greatest liar II
the world. the most monumental imposte
IN history" says Dr. Cook. Il believe tina
IN every undesirable way l stand unique
the object Of such suspicion and vituper
alton a. have assailed few men"
With this realisation Dr. Cook wrote hi
story ana says that 20 him the honor O
discovering the north pole no longer mean
anything, The explorer has been working
on his story since last August and says
according 20 the editor OF Hampton
magaEine. that hts sole desire IL to max
the people Of the United States rtaliE
Just what be went through during his ~,
and a half years In the Arctic fastness
and 70 make them SEQ what processes o
thinking or lack OF thinking-it was tina
LED him 70 90 the thing which connrme,
to the average mind that worse suspioiohl
against him.
Peary a. silent.
WASHINGTON. Nov. @-Robert Z
Peary, commander Of the expedition who
the National Geographic society recognise.
as having reached the north pole. declinei
today 70 make any comment on the n
ression OF Dr. Frederick A. Cook afte
hearing OF H.
Il have absolutely no statement {
make" declared Captain Peary. with EN-
phasis. Il wish the Associated Pres
would make Il as emphatic as possible tina
have absolutely nothing q say In con
nocuon with the matter. / cannot max
this too strong"
When asked whsther he would have any
thing 20 say after Dr. Cooks article an
pears. be replied that he did not thin
Ia would