The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-04-15
DOC COOK IS now
MEDICINE Man"
FOR uncle sam
Oil Fields Final Waterloo For
Man Who Claimed First Seal
ing of Mt. Mckinley and Dis
cOvery of Pole
Written Specially for The Courier
By Robert Fuller

Z
By Robert Fuller
Through Autocaster Service)
LeayenwOrth, Kas., April a.
DR.. Frederick A Cook has re-
turned to the practice of medi-
cine. 1t was against his viii, but
nevertheless for the next II to
IA years, should his health per-
NIT, medicine will be his prOfes-
sion. His services are free. He
is ministering to the ills of his
fellow cOnvicts in the Federal
prison here. He is number 23,1lS.
So opens one of the late chapters |
in the career of Americas greatest !
Ibluffer. Should he live to serve out !
his term of II to Ia years, he will
be 72 years old when he again steps
into the sunshine of freedom. He
was born in Sullivan County. N. Y,
June 10, 1865.
"Doc" Cook, the man who has
bluffed in a big way all through life,
has never yet put one of them across.
5 But he is still trying. Only last week
{ in Fort Worth, Tex, he attempted a
e bold and grand bluff-Of how he had
refused to join Jail delivery. This
was Just before his transfer to the
!. government prison here. Wardens
! Bididle and Zerbst of this institution
n Twill perhaps have many such bluffs
g and brainstorms of the famous doctor
1. to deal with before he says goodbye.
T. IF the reader is Of the younger
n generation, perhaps he is not fa-
! miliar with the dOings of Doc Cook.
|. Here are some of his bluffs-one of
S, which he cashed in on-but was
caught.
n Doc Cook claimed to have been the
l. first man to scale Mt. Mckinley. He
was given a seat in the hall of fame
beside such explorers as Agassiz and
q Herschel. Later his claim was dis
n proved. This was in 1906.
- Claimed He had
Reached North Pole.
In 1909 he returned from the North
less than two weeks ahead of Ad-
miral Peary, the real discoyerer o.
the North Pole. He returned by way
of Denmark-which country officially
hOnored him. New York gave hin
t. the freedom of the city" and huns
ry lgarlands of roses about his neck
Il- Peary's sudden return with authenti
r data and proofs of he himself having
to reached the pole was the bomb which
o, explOded all of Doc Cooks claims
yl- and the praise and homer he so glOrie'
O. in was quickly turned to ridicule an'
ch scoTn.
m The nations scOrn was SO grea
ne that Doctor Cook left the country, 90
IN. ing to BorneO. There is no record o
q his bluffs on the wild folks Of tn
nd East Indies, but that there were som
he there is no doubt.
m No sooner had the famous" eN
est plcrer returned to the United States
ler than he was busy again "stringing
suckers, His ideas were along ne'
hit avenues. however, for, whereas h
)b- always has specialized on scientist
at royalty and trusting general put
ion lice, he now turned his attention I
de- widows, orphans and poor folks VII
Ter wanted to get rich quick by the OF
ar well route-and he strung them to tt
lift tune of some $4.O00,O00.
eir His Oil Ideas
the Brought $4,000, 900.
is It would seem that his idea of
at going concern was to consolidate son
800 bankrupt oil companies with d
wells and make them. into one b
solvent company with flowing wei
BE soldH the idea Of the big conapal
or SO wei to the inexperienced and j
noraHts that be was rolling in milliol
when the government stepped in
invess saa
IS Conviction was obvious from 4
first. SIS was sentenced to serve
years
Io She's the workings Of Doc Cool
w Fort Worth new
claiming $1,000 o
had been convick'
re gifts had th
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