The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-01
IS RICHMOND IN
A KEROSENE BELT
Judging from Interest Shown
in Explorer Cook Such
Is the Case.
~ ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

Does Richmond belong to the "Ker-
osene lighted district" II interest in
and enthusiasm for DR.. Cook and the
narrative of his polar achievements is
an evidence of being included In what
has been termed the kerosene belt.
then Richmonds place ia fixed.
Several thousand people crowded
the big tent at the Chautauqua to hear
DIR. Cook yesterday afternoon and
about that many shook hands with
him afterwards--and he was continu-
ously greeted with
II always believe you, Dr. Cook"
Were with you. DR.. Cook"
"You're alright"
II never thought anything else"
"You told the whole truth"
II always thought Peary was a liar"
You're one OF us and we're for you"
"Dr. Cook you're an honest man"
go for 'em, doc"
you're perfectly lovely DR.. Cook"
Here's to you, doctor"
"Shoot up the bunch, DOCTOR"
Men, women. children, old. young.
uncertain, filed passed DR.. Cook and
shook hands with him. Little babies
were lifted up to greet him. Next to
William jennings II is to be doubted
ing hands with as many people as long
and as cordially as Doctor Cook. What
ever may or may not be thought of the
truth Of Doctor Cooks claims, he is
certainly very far from being dead
one"
Talks With candor.
However DR.. Cook presents his case
with forcible candor, and. after hear
ing him. it is hard to believe that he
did not achieve the pole or as near to
1t as 1t is within possibility to get
And that he beat Peary to it seems
convincing.
"My mission among the Chautau-
quas," said DR.. Cook. us to present my
side of the case. to uncover the dark
pages OF the ungracious controversy
that followed and to call for fair play"
DR.. Cook then proceeded to tell,
with simple directness, the tale of his
famous dash for the pole. of all its
hardships. OF every condition and his
reasons for taking them. 1t was, aside
from the personal interest attached,
an enthralling tale of adventure, and.
historically. admirably done. DR.. Cook
10 not without dramatic ability and a
genius for effects.
Doctor Cook started out, he stated.
with the idea OF solving the problem
Of polar exploration, with the simplest
methods possible. with assistants ma
tive to the country, with equipment
suited to the needs OF the inha bitants
of such a climate. and with the least
circumference possible.
Used His Own Money.
I'm carrying out my expedition l
used nobody's money, lost nobody's
Mves," stated Doctor Cook. to con-
trast his expedition with those Of
Peary's which were backed up by the
government and paid for by popular
subscription. II asked for nothing but
brotherly treatment. And l was hound
ed by the cowarlly slursf of the yellow
press"
DR.. Cook stated that he joined for.
ces with certain DIR. Bradley, in May,
1907, who was anxious to hunt big
game. and they bought a fishing
schooner, leaving the harbor of Glou-
cester, Mass, In 1907. and that after
establishing depot for supplies, Brad
ley left again for this country, having
in the meantime. satisfied his fancy
for shooting big game.
When they reached the region of
the pole. after many cruel hardships.
observations were taken by scientific
Instruments.
But. after all, we must admit" said
Dr. Cook" that IN taking observations
on sea of ice. with the sun but twelve
degrees above the horizon, such obser.