El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-23
DOC COOK BACK
IN NEW YORK
Explorer Says He Thinks
He Got to the North
Pole.

New YORK, Dec 23.-Dr. Frederick A
Cook came back TO his native land
Thursday on the steamship George
Washington as calmly as if there had
never been a north pole controversy.
He said little. a type written inter
view, handed to reporters, embraced
all that he had TO say, with the excep
ton of the necessary formalities of
conversation thrust upon him by inter-
viewers.
81 spent weeks preparing my story
and / have frankly said in it all that
there is to say" his written statement
said.
Every charge against me is taken
up and answered in its proper place in
my narrative
Il do not know what my plans for
the future will be. 1 have not returned
TO America with the intention of max
ing money out of my arctic expert
ences. 1 have come back solely for
the purpose of rehabilitating myself
and my family by setting matters right
with my countrymen."
DIR. Cook boarded the ship at Bre-
men, they said. wearing a full beard,
but had it shaved off on the first day.
His name did not appear on the passen-
ger list at first, but later was placed
as Herr Dr. Frederick A. Cook on a
supplementary list. He was an unOs-
tentatious passenger, playing cards
evenings with friends. Once when the
toasts were going round before bed
time and it came his time to name
health, he was quick to propose the
stars and stripes.
One time a passenger who had not
remarked him before, asked brusquely:
Are you DR.. Cooke" He answered.:
My name is Cook
Are you the doctor Cook who went
to the north pole?" persisted the ques-
toner.
81 have been there" asserted the doc
tor gravely.
The typewritten interview did not
with questions, but to almost ali Of
them he parried:
THAT has already been covered in
the statement" or IT shall answer that
in full later"
You have written. doctor: After
mature thought I confess that 1 do not
know absolutely whether 1 reached the
pole or not Dc you believe that you
did,"
Il still believe it,
Does your uncertainty at all ex-
tend to your ascent Of Mount Mckin-
ley?'
Not in the least. I shall have re-
ply to make to Prof. Herschel C. Par
ker's latest attack on my ascent of
Mount Mckinley in few days"
Did you still believe in your records
when you sent them to the University
of Copenhagen"
"Oh. certainly"
Then why did you call Capt August
c. Woods to aid you in completing
them?"
That will be answered in the next
statement"
why did you choose to make this
abatement to the public for money,
thrugh the medium of magazines. rath-
er than to the University OF Copen-
hagen, which had honored you with
degree"
Il wanted a medium that would be
free from bias"
Yet you accept the verdict of the
Yes. I think we have accepted that
And you believe that Perry got to
the pole"
Il have never questioned It,"
Shall you enter into any debate with
them?"
Impossible. That is not my man
ner.'
did you intend to take part in any
other polar or antarctic expeditions"
Il am through with exploration. There
is no other point on the globe where 1
wish to 60"
The doctor said that what he Intended
to do with the instruments and records
which he says are at Etah would be
told later He was emphatic that they
were las correct as any explorers IN
and that mo polar proofs
are positive" He reiterated that al
competent to make observations to de-
termine his position
From the steamer he went directly
to the Waldorf Astoria, where he stayed
on his welcome home from Copenhagen
Mrs Cook and the children, he said.
were still in France, where the chill
5ren were going to school.