264 COOK'S RETURN 



"The expedition was private. It was started out without the usual pub- 

 licity bombast. John R. Bradley furnished the money and I shaped the destiny 

 of the venture. For the time being it concerned us only, but the results were so 

 important that on returning I at once placed before the public a report contain- 

 ing the main outline of the work. 



'T have not come home to enter into arguments with one man or with fifty 

 men, but I am here to present a clear record of a piece of woik over which I 

 have a right to display a certain amount of pride. When scientists study the 

 detailed observations and the narrative in its consecutive order I am certain 

 that in the due course of events all will be compelled to admit the truth of my 

 statement. 



"I am perfectly willing to abide by the final verdict of this record by com- 

 petent judges. That must be the last word in the discussion and that alone 

 can satisfy me and the public. 



"Furthermore, not only will my report be before you in black and white, 

 but I will also bring to America human witnesses to prove that I have been to 

 the pole. FREDERICK A. COOK." 



"I shall await events," said Dr. Cook just before he left the deck of the 

 Oscar II to be taken to the city by the welcoming committee. 



"When my material has been got together and put into shape it will be sub- 

 mitted in the first instance to the University of Copenhagen. After that it will 

 be laid before the geographical societies of the world. I will not consent to 

 submit any fragmentary portions of my observations or my records to any one. 

 The report and all the data connected with my trip must be examined in their 

 entirety, together with my instruments, some of which I have in my possession 

 now and others of which are on their way to America at the present moment. 

 These will all be properly controlled and tested before submission to the scien- 

 tific bodies." 



Asked for what reason he did not immediately give full details of his 

 achievement, Dr. Cook said : 



"I have given to the public a concise account of my journey similar to that 

 always given by explorers on their return from a journey of exploration. For 

 the present no other details are necessary and, as a matter of fact, no further 

 specific evidences of my claim have been called for from any side. It has never 

 been customary hitherto for explorers to make their full records public in such 

 haste. As a rule, scientific societies are not remarkable for their rapidity in 

 coming to conclusions, and they are usually content to wait until complete data 

 are compiled," 



