Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-12-07
I$I.W PER YEAR
A MONUMENTAL FAKIR
Is Or. F. A. COOK
Admits he Does Not Know Whsther
He Reached. No. tn Pole

DE keacned- NO IN Pole
DR.. Frederick \. Cook the Brook
yn explorer, 10 an article which
will be published III Hampton : Nag
azine, coutesses that he does not
know whether be reached the North
Poe.
DR.. Cook, who has been in hiding
over a year, has informed the editors
OF the magazine publishing his story
that ne will return to the Uniied
States With his v life auI children on
December %, in order to spend
Christmas in New York.
DIR. Cook in his story deals with
the psychology OF his adventure
aud says:
Did l get to the North Poe?
Perhaps l made a mistake in think
ing that l did. Perhaps did not
make a mistake. After mature
thought confess that do not know
absolutely whether l reached the
Pole or not. This may come as an
amazing statement, but am willing
TO startle the world if by so doing
can get an opportunity TO present my
case. BY my case mean not my
case as 3 geographical discoverer,
but my case as a man. Much as the
attainment of the North Pole once
meant to me, the sympathy and con-
fidence OF my fellow man meant more.
Fully, freely and frankly shall
tell you everything. Tell you every
thing-and leave the decision with
you. If after reading my story you
say, Cook is sincere and honest; half
crazed by months OF isolation and
hunger, he believed that be reached
the Pole, be is not a fakir'; then I
shall be satisfied"
DR.. Cook tells the story of his life
and pictures what be calls the over
powering ambition for exploration
that beset him until it finally culmi-
mated in his effort TO reach the Pole.
DR.. Dock declares that at the time
he convinced himself that he had
discovered 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
un balance any mind.
-. The explorer says 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 as region OF insanity,
where one cannot believe the evil
dences gathered by ones own eyes.
He says that he has always looked
upon the discovery of the Pole as ar
' achievement for his own personal
satisfaction, for the satisfaction of Z
!, craving and desire that was greater
a than any other factor in his life
When he found how tremendous {
sensation his statement that he haC
:. reached the Pole had created be wa:
overcome with bewildermer..
- Il have been called the creates
| liar III tuo WOTlO. IuO uJOSt ulOu u
mental impostOr in history" say.
:. DR.. Cook. Il believe that in ever
- undesirable way 1 stand unique
~ the object OF such suspicion and Wit
- operation as have assaulted few men.
= With this realization DR.. Coo
, wrote his story and says that to hin
- the honor of discovering the Nortl
9 Pole no longer means anything.
CAPTAIN Robert E. Pesry laughe,
when informed that New Yorl
magazine had given out statemen
= purporting to be confession tina
-. DIR. Cook does not know whether o
not he reached the North Pole. H
:. refused to comment, however.
Il have absolutely nothing to say
and will not discuss the matter on,
way or the other" be declared.
n =