The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-10
COOK INTERVIEWED
BY MARBLE STATUE
Only Eggs He Got i'll Copen-
hagen Were Those He Ordered
for Breakfast.
TELLS ABOUT CONFESSION"
Thinks Peary Reached Pole, and
Presents His Own
Claims.
TELLS ABOUT CORNERSTONE

Shades of my ancestors" saspei
Thomas Jefferson yesterday morning
from his marble pedestal in the palm
old Doc Cook"
| The famous explorer wrote his namo
on the hotel register and feturncd to
acknowledge II. US salutation.
| Come closer, son." said the old Vir-
Ginian, bending down from his perch.
I've heard some mighty hard things
about YOU. Just answer a few ques-
| tons for me. I thought We all read
your confession in a magazine several
! months ago, but now you arc insisting
that you did reach the pole. How
about it?"
well. Mr.. Jefferson" replied the
doc, my confession was considerably
| edited before it vas published. In
fact, It was edited so thoroughly that
| once thought of bringing suit against
the magazine. The only confession 1
made In that article, or over have
| made. was that 1 could not swear to
having planted my tube on the pin
| point of the North Pole any more than
Mr.. Peary or any other man could
swear it. In fact the committee that
| investigated Peary's claim said the
\ same for him that l acknowledged for
myselt-that he came approximately
| within two miles OF the pole. 1t Is
| impossible for any human to take
nla.thematically correct latitude and
longitude observations within twenty
! five or more miles OF the nor thern
| axis"
No Eggs ut Reception.
! I'm relieved on that point, son."
said T. j.. but tell mo about the oeS
reception they claim you got on your
second trip to Copenha gen.
The distortion and malicious SLAM
der of that affair Is likely to cost
snn,abSdE money DR.. Cook replied
sternly. Il have already brought suit
for 100000 against New York news
| paper for Its false statement of that
meeting in Copenhagen. Instead of
being esged and hooted, was en-
| Enthusiastically received and heard most
attentively. Listen to what the Copen-
hagen Express says about that came
meeting: Tho meeting last night In
the Concert Palace was decided and
magnificent success for the North Pole
traveller Dr. Frederick a.. Cook. This
was also DR.. Cooks personal impress
sion of the evening when we spoke to
him after the lecture at the Hotel
Phoenix This account. by trust
| "ortny representative OF the foremost
daiiy OF CouennuSea, Is rather dittcr-
en- from the IIIlAinouS account pub
goes on TO state tnat the only person
present 81 the meeting VINO seemed
disposed to create aiSordcr was Il
snaoo!ly dressed individual by this
name of DR.. Hanson. who was thrown
out at the command of tho auuIcncc
alter nc had attempted to disturb the
ADDRESS. was more than pleased by
the gracious reception rendered me by
the PcoplN of Denmark ON my second
visit there"
I That's good news. too" said L. ].
smiling, out tell me. do you think AIR.
Peary really reached the pole?"
Thinhs fcary t>cucncd II.
Yes, l think he reached IL approx
mately. just as | did, replied the eN-
plorer. Il am not attempting to dis.
credit his attainment OF the pole, but
must expose the methods he has
used to discredit my own achievement
VIII say this contdentialiy. however
If the hunting OF the pole had not
been such money making business
| Mr.. Peary couid nave discovered tnc
pole ten years sooner with the
splendidly equipped expedition he had
under HIM He and his arm chair
Ecograpncrs have done their best IL
uiscreuit nay discovery. but the men
who are best fitted TO jungc III such
Il manncr-thc Arctic explorers them
selves--sustain my claims. The Euro
pean geographical societies are re
naming neutral on the subject, and
what medals they have awarded hay,
been diplomntically given for Services
ian polar exploration"
What happened to those Instrument:
| that Peary Is calling for you to pro.
| ducc?" he was asked.
When l got ready to leave Btuw OIL
my return trip, they were left In the
care Of Harry Whitney TO be brough,
by him to the Danish settlements In
his ship which was due at Etaw in i
few months. There were too many
risks Of loss by the overland route
for me to want 10 carry the insLru-
mcnts with me when they could be
safely conveyed by Mr.. Whitney In his
ship. Ills ship did not come, however
| and when Peary came along in tho
| Roosevelt, Whitney got aboard. When
Peary found Whitney had my instru-
ments. ho made Whitney bury them at
| Etaw before he would consent TO take
the hunter back 10 civilization. Ii the
| mistakes in my observations are I'll.
proof of my failure, Mr. Peary had
thom in his hands. lie chose to pu,
them out OF the way, however"
Costs Money to Get There.
But why don't You go 10 Etuw and
| got Them 4. j. inquired.
Because the expedition would cost
! $4,000, and L have no government OF
society to back inc financially. More
| over. i do not believe the Instruments
are of any such value in this contro-
vcrsy as Mr.. peury tries to make out
| may go to Etaw some day to bring
some of my Eskimo boys here. Their
| story will be worth II thousand In
struments. After having spent twenty
years in Arctic exploration and noun
tain climbing. 1 think my claim should
rest upon something beside instru-
ments."
We'll. son." said T. j., settling back
on his marble, III you've spent twents
years In such weather as we've been
having In Richmond for tho past few
days you deserve considerable credit
Good luck TO you and good by"