Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-29
DR., COOK RETURNS
PERFECTLY POISED
Looks Well and Says Little but
Hands Out a Typewriter
Statement.
HE WAS IN U. 5. MONTH AGO
Dramatic Incident at Pier Caused
by Heated Controversy about
Explorer among His Eel
low Passengers.
He WAS IN U. 5. MONTH AGO


Cook came back to his native land to-day
on the steamship George Washington as
calmly as if there had never been North
Pole controversy He looked well and
said little: typewriter interview
handed to reporters embraced all that he
bad to say except the necessary converse
ton thrust upon him by intcrviewers. OF
far more dramatic interest was a heat ted
controversy among the steamship pas
tongers concerning the impression he
had made upon them. The doctor still
INSERTS that he believes he was at the
POLE. Here is his statement in part:
II have no statement to make other
than that which have carefully prepared
md which IS now being published. Any
Interview might give would necessarily
tc fragmentary and doubtless misleading
also, so l. shall not now give out any
Interview. and any purportng to come
from me will not be authorized. spent
weeks carefully preparing my story and
have frankly said in It all that there IS
to say. Every charge against me is
taken up and answered in its proper place
In my narrative.
II will say however, that | was in the
United States less than a month ago.
I arrived in Quebec on October %, went
to Troy. y. Y. then to Newburg and
Poughkeepsie. | was in the two last
named cities about three weeks writing,
revising and correcting proofs on my
story, I registered under an assumed
name because / was very busy too busy
to receive my many personal friends or
newspaper men.
STOPPED AT LEADING HOTELS.
"No other precautions We're taken to
keep my presence concealed. ! stopped at
icading hotels and took an automobile
ride each pleasant day. | was NJ the
Paatine Hotel in Newburg most Of the
time. left Poughkeepsie on the night of
November %. and went directly to Hall
fax. where 7 sailed for Europe on the
famc steamship line, on the same steam
Pr and lust a year from the time sailed
from the same port when left America
In 1903
II do not know what my plans for the
future will be. have plans whatever
for going on the lecture platform. | have
not returned to America with the inten-
tlon of making money out of my Arctic
experiences. Money did not prompt the
writing of my story as have seen sug-
Eested in certain newspapers. AS have
said, I have come back solely for the
purpose of rehabilitatng myself and my
family by setting matters right with my
COuntrymen."
The argument among the George Wash
inCton's passengers developed when the
Doctors sympathizers aboard wished it
understood that he had been received
with no shadow of discrimination. His
enemies wished it made clear that he
had been stunned Representatives of
both sides swooped down on the re-
porters and buttonhoed them to pre-
sent their cast first.
HE Is THE SAME DR.. COOK.
The doctor himself was spared the
embarrassment of this hubbub He
met the reporters perfectly poised
with a steady hand and clear straight
forward eye for all OF them 1t was
the same Dr. Cook. little less tanned
and worn than when they had seen him
last, but with the same lock of hair
hanging down over the forehead. the
Eame reticent half smile. and the same
scrubby m oustache. I'm half an hour
gentlemen, | Will have Statement,
for you. Just make yourselves a,
home in the ladies' saloon
While the dispute in the ladies' sa-
loon boiled more temperate minded
passengers told without heat Of the
1octor's trip. He came abroad al Bre-
men. they said. wearing full beard
Int had It shaved off on the first day
Jle had behaved quietly. playing cards
Of an evening with a few friends, ant
neither seeking nor avoiding atten'
ton.
once. when the toasts were COINS
round and it came his turn, he wa'
u1lirly n the stars and stripes
toast none could refuse.
Another time when a passenge
asked him Are you Or. Cooker" HI
answered my name is Cook" "Ar'
your the Or. Cook who went TO tn
North Poleo" persisted the Questioner
IL have been there" asserted the doc
tor gravely.
PARRIES MANY QUESTIONS.
The typewriter interview which tn
doctor put out did not satisfy the re
porters, To Almost all questions, how
ever. he parted
THAT has already been covered In tn
statement you have" or Il shall answe
that in full In the series of article
that is now being published
"You have written this doctor: 'Afte
mature thought ! confess that ! do no
know absolutely whether | reached tn
Pole or not DO you believe that 70
did?"
II still believe it,"
Does your uncertainty at all extend t
your ascent OF Mount Mckinley"
Not in the least. ] shall have repl
TO make to Prof. II. c, Parkers lates
attack on my ascent Of Mount McKinle
In a few days, probably next Monday
You have also written, doctor: Mos
positively and emphatically | am not
thief. Most certainly there was no pla
tc hoax the world to my own nnanci'
profit. but II you now admit doubt
what you spoke from the platform
your lectures, how can you keep tt
admission fees you received?'
THAT will be answered"
NO DOUBT ABOUT PEARY.
"Do you believe that Peary got
The Pole?"
Il have never questioned It,"
SHALL you enter into any deba
with him?"
Impossible; that is not my maj
ner"
do you intend to take part In an
other polar or Antarctic expedition