OCR Text |
Show I) WELCOMED BY EOYALTY OF BLOOD AND BRAINS t . ! . COPENHAGEN, Sept. 4. Dr. Frederick Fred-erick A. Cook, tho Amorican explorer, returned to civilization from his dis-j dis-j . covery of tho north pole, enmo into ' Copenhagen harbor at 10 o'clock this morning on board the steamer Hans !' Egede from Greenland. Dr. Cook was standing on tho bridgo of tho vessel, r; which flew the American flag at her mizzen mast. Crown Prince Christian of Denmark; Maurice Egant the American minister: ; the Danish minister of commerce and ! committees representing various pub-he pub-he bodies boarded tho Hans Egodo and welcomed Dr. Cook in tho name of ' the nation and tho city. .' Dr. Cook was escorted ashore by rl Princo Christian. Tho explorer was cheered by great crowds as ho came I ashore. An immense throng followed j through the streets to the Metcoro-logical Metcoro-logical institute, where he made a brief speech. I Leaves Flag at Polo. I Speaking to tho representative of i the Associated Press, Dr. Cook snid he left at tho north nolo an American Hag ) and a box containing documents, including in-cluding a brief account of his trip and certain observations and the data to j bear out his claim. Captain J. Larson of the Hans Egede j said he had examined Dr. Cook's rcc-I rcc-I , ords and believed them to be perfectly. correct. ft In course of conversation with the Associated Press, Dr. Cook declared L with great cmnhasis: i$ "I have been to the north pole and I. have brought, back the most exact observations, absolutely proving my 1 statement. T hnvo 'kept a diary :i throughout my ontire expedition, in ji which X recorded tho most minute de-t de-t tails." Continuing tho conversation, Dr. 'j C'cok said: i'l "It was not my intention at the j start io proceed to the polo; 1 wns (4 merelj' on an arctic excursion, but as j." 1 found conditions favorable 1 con-f con-f tinned on my way to tho nolo. 1 dis-! dis-! covered hitherto unknown islands, j i Found Supply Depot, a "Wo missed tho denots which pro-M pro-M viously had been established, but wc IB I'aiiio accidentally upon one of Mel-1 Mel-1 mIIc's depots, where we found provi-H provi-H .sions and instruments in an excellent state of preservation. h "Owing to the srnallness of my ex-u ex-u pedition our requirements were not v. large. For ih'i sumo reason, wo were Is able to proceed quickly. On some days n wc covered as high as twelve miles, r' which is an extraordinary speed. ; "As I approached tho polo the Es-ij Es-ij kimos with mo v.'ero frightened at the ( meteorological conditions. "On the return trip our provisions I became exhausted. No animal life wns f visible and for three daj-s wc had noth-! noth-! ing to cat. Then in a crovice of ice I wc caught sight of several walruses. I Saved by "Walruses. " a, "I had only a few cartridges left. I ;,J crept along the ice on my stomach, ap-!i ap-!i proaching the animals slowly so as not ri to scare them. I expended all my car-M car-M tridges. and as a result killed two of I: Iho walruses. Our livos were 6aved. f "Wo then broke up our only sledge IjL' i and made bows and arrows of the wood, as do the Eskimos and wc obiamod game with these arms. "Again nenr Capo York wo were on the point, of starvation, when wo found a young seal sleeping on the ice. y'At Cape York wo found traces of musk oxen, which wo tracked and killed. "From Unernavik to Egedesmindo 1 sailed on the samo ship that carried the MacOlintock and Franklin relief expeditions.''' Jt was a weather-beaten and shabby, but claied, hero who was welcomed this morniug by Iho Danish capital at tho samo official pier and with tho same honors that are customarily used in the greeting of visiting members of royal families. In Need of a Tailor. Dr. Cook stood on tho bridgo of the Hans Egede, wearing a shabby brown suit that had been loaned him by n seaman. On his head was a disreputa-blo disreputa-blo old cap and his feet were clad In leather moccasins. His blonde hair was long and shaggy and his moustache rough and straggling. Tlis complexion wns sallow, but his face was full. Ko was a strango figure for tho center cen-ter of such a brilliant sceno that greeted greet-ed his return to civilization. A bright sun lighted up the blue waters of Copenhagen harbor. Ships and yachts on every side wcro gay with flags and tho shoro and piers were crowded with peoplo. Two big American Ameri-can flags flanked tho landing stage, where Crown Princo Christian and other notables waited for ono hour tho ap-ne.ir.mco ap-ne.ir.mco of TTans Elide. Hundreds of small boats containing sightseors swarmed over tho waters of tho harbor. har-bor. Many of these -boats wero filled with Amorican tourists waving tho stars and stripes. Prince Goes to Meet Him. When tho Unns Egede was a milo away, slowly coming in with an enthusiastic en-thusiastic following of small craft in hor wako, Crown Princo Christian and (ho members of his staff ombarked on a launch which took them to tho side of tho steamer bearing tho explorer. The moment tho anchor was dropped tho crown princo sprang up tho gangway. gang-way. Dr. Cook at tho samo time appeared ap-peared at the head of tho ladder. Tho peoplo in the surrounding boats, who had expected from the newspaper pictures to seo a bearded man, recognized recog-nized the explorer for tho first time and sent tin a loud cheer. Prince Christian, who is a tall and handsomo young man, was dressed in a silk hat and frock coat. Tic gmsped tho hand of tho shabby explorer and congratulated him on his achievement, and welcomed him warmly in tho name of tho Danish nation and tho Geographical Geo-graphical society, of which tho prince is president. Prince Yaldemar. brother, of King Frederick, in an admiral's uniform, accompanied ac-companied 1)3' a party of naval officials, city officials, delegates from societies ana tho minister of commerce followed the crown prince up tho sido of the steamer, and tho explorer was almost smothered in tho friendly group of uniforms uni-forms and officials in black coats and silk hats. r Direct Afiirmation. "Did you reach the north pole, Dr. Cook?" asked the correspondent of the Associated Press. "Yes, 1 did," replied Dr. Cook. After much handshaking, Crown Prince Christian 6aid to the explorer: "Come ashore with me, please; the people are waiting to seo 3'ou." Dr. Cook said something about his baggage. "Aly people will look after .your baggage." bag-gage." the crown prince said, and took Dr. Cook to the royal launch. "When the roj'a'l launch approached the pier with tho prince and Dr. Cook 1)3' his side a tremendous roar of chcors burst out from the people on shore, nnd from the assemblage ot small craft, including in-cluding 3'achts, motor boats, landing boats from the Russian warship in tho harbor, and racing shells, clustered thick about tho pier. Crowd Almost a Mob. Dr. Cook stepped ashore, and in an instant the police were powerless to make a way for the part3'. Dr. Cook and those about him were engulfed and swept along 13 a clamorous crowd. Maurice F. Egan, tho American minister, minis-ter, and tho Danish officials literally clung to Dr. Cook. Together the party fought its way desperately to a point near the Meteorological Meteoro-logical building. Dr. Cook was bruised and capless, and part of his sleeve was torn on. "I used to be a football player, but this is the worst I over saw," he panted. Dr. Cook and Mr. Egan finally succeeded suc-ceeded in reaching a balcony. The people peo-ple crowding tho streets and the adjoining ad-joining park yelled frantically when they appeared. Mr. Egan waved his hand toward Dr. Cook as an introduction, introduc-tion, whereupon tho explorer made a brief address in English. First Speech Brief. "My friends," he said, "I have had too hard a time getting here to make a speech. 1 can only say that I consider con-sider it an honor to bo ablo to put 1113-foot 1113-foot first on Danish soil." After more cheering Commodore Hov- Saard took Dr. Cook in a carriage and rove with him through the, crowded streets to the Phoenix hotel, where he will bo tho guest of the Geographical society. The halhvaj'S of the hotel were deco-, rated with American flags and massos of flowers, .lohuu Hansen, the minister of commerce, and a committee of the Georgruphienl socictj' gave a reception to Dr. Cook at the. hotel. Tho minister m:do a speech of welcome in which he said: "Before retiring to your much-needed much-needed rest, Dr. Cook, J hope 3'ou will give us an opportunity of bidding you welcome to Denmark. 1 thank 3011 on behalf of 1113' countrymen for the noble deeds which yoxi so successful' have performed." Invited to Banquet. The minister (hen invilod .Dr. Cook on behalf of (he government the municipality mu-nicipality and the Geographical society "as our honored guest," to a banquet tonight at the town hall. Dr. Cook thanked' tho minister briefly brief-ly "for tho very kind reception 3'ou have already granted in Denmark and with which I feel most delighted." Minister Hansen, over a bottlo of champngno, then led in "three choers and a long life for Dr. Cook." Tho members of the reception committee com-mittee withdrew and wero succeeded l3r numerous delegations of tailors, boot makers and barbers. The explorer placed himself iir their hands and several sev-eral tradesmen wcro at work on him at the same time. At the end of an hour Dr. Cook emerged with his hair nentl3 trimmed, his mustache cropped close, and in a new suit, hat and boots. Ho then went U) the Americfiii legation and had luncheon with Minister Egan. Dr. Cook will 8ta' in Copenhagen for a fow days as the guest of the government, waiting the arrival of hii wife. He will then go to Belgium. Minister Hansen talked freely with tho representative of tho Associated Press regarding the authentic-' of Dr. Cook's exploit. He said: Word "Good as Gold." "Our two foremost Danish Arctic explorers, Ami'ndsen and Pnsmussen, know Dr. Cook personal, and thev havo nssured us that they believe explicitly ex-plicitly ovory word ho snvs about his achievement. Their word is as good as gold with us oh such questions. " Export Isv Satisfied. Commodore Hovgaard, tho command-or command-or of the royal yachts and one of tho foremost of Denmark's Arctic explorers, had an opportunity today of cxamiuing Dr. Cook's journals. Later he said to tho Associated Press: "I noticed certain inaccuracies in tho newspaper reports of the expedition, but a long conversation with, Dr. Cook has convinced me that his statements are absolutely reliable. His replies to nn- questions wcro clear and prcciso and left no doubt in 1113' mind. "I did not havo sufficient time to rend the diary, but from my brief inspection in-spection thereof I obtained the firm-impression firm-impression that the doctor's claim of having reached the north polo is correct. cor-rect. "Xaturalb-, I cannot place tho official offi-cial seal of ncceptauco on Dr. Cook's achievement; that is for tho head of his country to do. Cook has cabled thq president of the United States. We are now awaiting Mr. Tnft's ropy, and we hope it will express official "recognition." "recog-nition." . Dauganrd Jensen, the Danish inspector in-spector of north Greenland and tho highest official in that region who spent( two months in tho company of Dr. Cook is satisfied regarding tho reliability- of Dr. Cook's statement that he reached tho norlh pole. Eskimos Confirm Story. Apart from his own observations, Inspector In-spector Jensen conferred with tho Danish Dan-ish polar explorer, Knud Itnsmussen, who obtained from the Capo York Eskimos Es-kimos a description of Dr. Cook 's jour-no3'. jour-no3'. Rasmussen is tho only European who fully understands tho ianguago of tho Capo York Eskimos from among whom Dr. Cook's companions wcro selected. se-lected. Rasmussen told Jensen that the stories of thoso Eskimos confirmed Dr. Cook in all tho external details of his narrative. TI103- corroborated tho statement state-ment that tho .iournc3' ended quito voluntarily, vol-untarily, no ice or other obstacles preventing pre-venting its continuance. Dr. Cook's reply to his critics is as follows: He has the records of his expedition, togother with certain scientific data and proofs, which he will submit to the world of science for its judgment. Ho is confident that the verdict will be a substantiation pf his claims. Questioned on the skepticism regarding regard-ing his story arises from tho fact that he was tho onl3' white man to take bearings and observations, ns well as being the only white man in the partj', he answerod that, with other well authenticated au-thenticated expeditions, one scientific man of the part 3' took all the observations. observa-tions. Left Substantial Evidonce. Dr. Cook left; at the pole a metal C3flindcr a small American flag and the records of his yo3'agc. lie did not havo a staff on which to erect the flag,' nor could the stability of a small staff havo been assured. At Minister Egan 's luncheon Dr. Cook looked like an athlete in splendid training. Ho discussed his trip and answered all questions put (0 him.-Among him.-Among his interrogators wore the Russian Rus-sian minister, who was an eager seeker for information, and tho representative of the Associated Press. Dr. Cook is particular' desirous that the public refrain from accepting all alleged interviews by the various newspapers news-papers here as authentic, and while it would not be fair to him to attempt lo quote the recollections of his conversation conversa-tion as a verbatim interview he has no objection to a recital of some of tho main points he mentioned. Dr. Cook is of the opinion that the United States ma3 f ni rly claim, for' whatever it ma3r be worth, jurisdiction, b3" right of discovery over the farthest north region of the world. Corrects Misrepresentations. He said he regretted to hear that some newspapers had incorrectb' represented rep-resented him as claiming to havo discovered dis-covered 30,000 miles of new land. What he had dono wns to settle tho nature of a region of about that extent. He. wns 011I3' able io sec for nn average of about. .15 miles on oach sido of his route. The most northerly land he saw was between 84 and 8(5 degrees. There wero two bodies of land at this point cast of his route, One was about one thou sand feet high. He could not say whether they were islands or not, as he was not equipped (0 make a detour to explore' them. Dr. Cook said hcwas strongly of the opinion thnt no while man could reach tho pole unless he wns able to wear the same clothos, eat the same food and live in all wn3's as do the Eskimos. New Eoute Helped. He said ho owed his success largelv to choice of a routo whore gamo w.V. more plentiful than on tho routes for-merl3' for-merl3' attempted and to tho fact that, he traveled in winter. The lowest lempernturo experienced was 83 degrees below zero, I'Vihrenheit. but the explorer said be did not feel the cold noarly so much then as in higher temperatures when tho wind was blowing. For a long time tho explorer livod on musk oxen; he wore the fur of these animals, ate thoir meat and used their fat; to burn in lamps. Dr. Cook said among other thinpfs that Harry Whitney of .Now Haven, Conn., had taken with him on a shoot ing expedition tho two Eskimos who made the trip to tho north pole with the explorer. Dr. Cook is overwhelmed at his reception re-ception hero. He expected to como info Copenhagen quioth-, but instead ho was almost mobbed 1)3" the great gathering of nowspaper correspondents, artists, bioscopo operators, scientists, publishers publish-ers and agents. Some photogrnphers even tried 1.0 invndo tho American legation le-gation forcibl- during the luncheon hour. Gets Messago From Wife. Hundreds of telegrams from publishers, publish-ers, lecturo managors and even theatri cal managers nre pouring in on the explorer. ex-plorer. Dr. Cook was grcat' plensed to find awaiting him hero a messago from his wife. Tho explorer has telegraphed to President Presi-dent Taft an announcement of his expedition. ex-pedition. Ho expects to reach New York in about ono month. Ho will stop on his wnj' to Brussols to visit tho headquarters of tho Organization for Polar Research and call on tho men with whom ho made his trip into tho Antarctic regions. Dr. Cook has accepted an invitation to dino with King Frederick at the Charlottenland palace Sunday evening. Mr. Kgan also will bo a guest of his majesty on this occasion. .(ollowing tho luncheon at tho legation, lega-tion, Dr. Cook was received at tho palace pal-ace 1)3' King Frederick. |