The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-15
DIR. Cook Says Evidence of His
Ascent of Mt. Mckinley
Was Deposited at the SUNNI,
of the Mountain.
POSITIVELY UNTRUE
He Brands the Statements of
Barrill and Others.
Thousands Cheer Him on His
Arrival at Atlantic City.

AIldHtIc CITY, N. j.. Oct 16--Ex-
pressing astonishment = the state
ment of Edward Barrill. DIR. Cook
maintains that he ascended to the
summit of Mount Mckinley. and says
further that if an expedition will fol-
low the route he took they will find
the records deposited by him at the
summit of the mountain. Referring
to Barrill's sworn statement, DR.. Cook
said to a representative of the AS
sociated Press:
Il can not really understand why
Barrill should have made such a
statement as the newspapers re-
produced, if he was acting under
normal conditions. I must say it sur
prises me- We were always on the
most friendly terms. Until 1 know
of the condition under which this
alleged affidavit was made, I will
make no specific reply to it, My ac-
count of the trip has been published.
For the present it is the bald state
ment of one man against another. If
an expedition of experienced noun
taineers will follow the route that I
took and will go to the top of Mount
Mckinley, they will find there the
records which I deposited on attain
ing the summit of the mountain in the
manner described in my book, ITO the
Top of the Continent
In the course of a chat with
number of newspaper correspondents,
DR.. Cook declined to enter further into
the discussion of the subject He
touch with Barrill, when the whole
matter would be explained.
DR.. Cook met with hearty re-
ception here. Several thousand per-
sons cheered him as he stepped out of
the station. A reception was held at
the Hotel Marlborough Blenheim at
which the members of the city council
were presented to the doctor by Mayor
Stoy.
Decidedly False.
s'Will you say that the accusations
contained in the Barrill affidavit are
positively untrue ?" was the question
put to Dr. Cook by a large body of
newspaper men. The reply was:
fSigned) OF. A COOK
Dr. Cook. who had previously de-
clined to commit himself. did not hesi-
tate a moment when the question was
placed before him in writing. He was
sitting at the honored guests table at
the banquet of the National Hardware
association, to whose members he had
just concluded a lengthy speech re-
garding his arctic journey.
at have always had the most COM
plete confidence in Barrill and can not
comprehend why he should have sworn
70 such statement. The fact that
General Hubbard is proprietor of the
Globe throws a light on the affair
which was not previously apparent. 1
shall see Barrill 1 hope, when I reach
New York. but I do not know when
or where.
"It appears to me that there was
money behind his statement. He was
perhaps annoyed that he had not been
paid his wages, but that was not my
fault and I remedied the matter as
soon as got back from the pole.''
DIR. Cook refused emphatically to
enter into further details, saying he
would reserve his comments until the
time when he will be assured the aff1-
davit is genuine.
DR.. Cook later said:
II never even knew Barrill kept a !
diary. I never saw it, consequently I |
could not have asked him to alter ,
anything whatever. The only thing /
ever saw him do was to take sketches. |
Any statement of his that I suggested .
the changing of dates and altitude is
a 1ie."
Cook Leaves for New York.
Atlantic City, n. J., Oct. 15.-Dr.
Frederick A. Cook, who was the guest
Of the National Hardware association
at a dinner here last night, left today /
FOR New York.