Clinch Valley News

Doc Cook

"In his prison cell he sits-may be thinking of his beloved North Pole - his greatest hoax on the world. It was "oil" this time and it landed Dr Frederick A Cook in the U S. Prison at Leavenworth, Kan.

LEAVENWORTH. KAS., April 13 -Dr. Frederick A. Cook has returned to the practice of medicine. It was against his will, but nevertheless for the next 12 to 14 years, should his health permit, medicine will be his profession. His services are free. His is ministering to the ills of his fellow convicts in the Federal prison here. He is No. 23,118.

So opens one of the late chapters in the career of America's greatest bluffer. Should he live to serve out his term of 12 to 14 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 But he is still trying. . Only last week in Fort Worth, Texas, he attempted a bold and grand bluff-of how he had refused to join a jail delivery. This was just before his transfer to the government prison here. Wardens Bididle and Zerbst of this institution will perhaps have many such bluffs and brainstorms of the famous doctor to deal with before he says goodbye.

If the reader is of the younger generation, perhaps they are not familiar with the doings of Doc Cook. Here are some of his bluffs-- one of which he cashed in onbut was caught.

Doc Cook claimed to have been the first man to scale Mt. McKinley. He was given a seat in the hall of fame beside such explorers as Agassiz and Herschel, Later his claim was disapproved. This was in 1906.

CLAIMED HE HAD REACHED
NORTH POLE

In 1906 he returned from the North, less than two weeks ahead of Admiral Perry, the real discoverer, claiming that he had reached the North Pole. He returned by way of Denmark-which country officially honored him. New York gave him the "freedom of the city" and hung garlands of roses about his neck.

Perry's sudden return with authentic data and proofs of he himself having reached the pole was the bomb which exploded all of Doc Cook's claims-and the praise and honor he so gloried in was quickly turned to ridicule and scorn.

The nation's scorn was so great that Doctor Cook left the country, going to Boreno. There is no record of his bluffs on the world folks of the East Indies, but that there were some, there is no doubt.

No sooner had the "famous" ex-plorer returned to the United States than he was busy again "stringing" suckers. His ideas were along new avenues, however,' for, whereas he always had specialized on scientists, royalty and a trusting general pub. lic, he now turned his attention to widows, orphans and poor folks who wanted to get rich quick by the oil-well route and he stung them to the tune of some $4,000,000.

HIS OIL IDEAS BROUGHT
$4,000,000

It would seem that his idea of a going concern was to consolidate some 300 bankrupt oil companys with dry wells and make them into one big solvent company with flowing wells. He "sold" the idea of the big company so well to the inexperienced and ignorant, that he was rolling in millions when the government stepped in to investigate.

Conviction was obvious from the first. He was sentenced to serve 14 years.

To show the workings of Doc Cook's brain-he sued a Fort Worth newspaper for libel, claiming $1,000,000 damages-after he had been convicted.

Doc Cook had rare gifts, had they been used in the right direction. He was endowed with a rare personality, a beaming smile and affability that won the confidence of strangers. He started life well enough- but he never could control the desire to bluff. Leaving the home place up state in New York he went to Brooklyn where he drove a milk wagon until he had earned enough money to start through medical college.

He was a member of Admiral Perry's party on one of the earlier explorations--but had been missing for some years when he came from. the north with his announcement of having reached the pole. Even after all his claims were disapproved he maintained his stand and even went forth on the lecture platform to carry out his bluff. However, his pictures were old, his diaries falsified and in no way had he data which would stand inspection.

He made the gum drop candy famous-by claiming that by feeding the Eskimos these colorful sweets, they braved the intense cold and lead him to the pole.

If in the prison library here there is a Who's Who. Doc Cook will likely gleam a bit of satisfaction, because there amongst the great is his name.