CHAPTER XXVII. 



COOK'S RETURN TO HIS HOME. 



It was a great day in New York when Dr. Cook was welcomed back to his 

 native land. He was hailed as a conqueror ; and though the crowd did not 

 crush him and tear his clothing, as a mad rush of the curious did in Copen- 

 hagen, enthusiasm in New York was no less fervid. 



The steamer Oscar II, on which the explorer returned to America, had 

 arrived in the outer waters of New York harbor the evening of September 20. 

 It was not docked, however, until the following morning, since its arrival 

 before Tuesday would have disarranged the carefully laid plans for a grand 

 reception. 



Dr. Cook's arrival at New York went through progressive stages of en- 

 thusiasm as he moved from the lower bay to quarantine, thence to the tug on 

 which his wife and children were waiting to give the first exchange of family 

 endearments, then to the steamer Grand Republic, freighted with more than 

 1,000 enthusiastic friends and champions of the explorer, and finally, as he 

 set foot on his native soil of Brooklyn and passed through cheering throngs and 

 flower-arched streets, to his home in Bushwick avenue. 



Everywhere he was met with the same clamorous shouts and demonstrative 

 approval, which swept aside any dissenting note if it existed. 



Dr. Cook bore his honors calmly and with dignity, smiling upon the crowds, 

 bowing acknowledgments to the oft-repeated cheers and grasping the out- 

 stretched hands of friends and strangers. 



The steamer Oscar II, with Dr. Cook on board, reached quarantine at 6 

 a. m., and anchored to await inspection by the health officer of the port. Mean- 

 time several tugs loaded with passengers hung about the liner. 



At sunrise the steamer was dressed with flags and preparations were made 

 to receive the explorer's wife and children, who were coming down in a tug, 

 and to meet a reception committee of city officials and friends of Dr. Cook, who 

 went down the harbor on the steamer Grand Republic. 



Dr. Cook was standing amid a group of passengers on the saloon deck when 



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