The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-16
COOK DENIES THE
BARRILL CHARGES

New York. Oct. 15.-Dr Frederick
A. Cook, refuting the charges tnat
be had not ascended Mount Mckinney
In Alaska, came out with statement
here tonight after three hours CON
ference with his attorney inuimatlne
that Edward NJ. Barrill. the guide
who accompanied him had perlured
himself in his recent affidavit LOT
consideration offered by Cooks de-
tractors.
To disDroye Barril's statements Dr.
Cook further announced that he han
taken preliminary steps to organize
an expedition to ascend Mount NC
Kinley to procure the records which
he says he left there. He has wired
Anthony Fiala the Arctic explorer TO
head the expedition and has w1rcd
Prof "A C.. Parker of Columbia uni
vcrsity TO accompany F1ala. Their
answers are expected tomorrow
DIR. Cooks statement made to the
Associated Press follows;
Upon my return from Atlantic CITY
today, | conferred with a confidential
agent whom had mt TO Montana
10 investigate stories 10 the effect
that strong inducements had been OIL
fered Edward \. Barrill, the guide who
accompanied me to the summit OF
Mount Mckinley. In the summer Of
1906
This confidential agent returned
from Montana this morning and Tor
good reasons ] do not care at the
present time TO make his name pub
lie.
After thorough Investigations he
learned that a substantial offer had
been made Barrill II he would prepare
and sign an affidavit which would be
calculated TO discrcdit my claim that
] succeeded in scaling the Alaskan
peak
"Barrill at that time. according to
the statement OF Mr Bridgcford to
my representative declined to make
such an affidavit and informed the
men who had requested him to swear
that did not reach the top of Mount
Mckinley. that TO make such an af'
6dayit, he would have 10 commit per-
jury and sell his own soul
Several DAYS after this proposal
was made TO Mr.. Barr!ll, he, in com
pany with Frederick Printze, who
was also q member of my mount Nc
Kinley expedition joined Walter P.
Miller, the official photographer Of
that expedition In Missoula. Mont,
and accompanied him TO Seattle and
Tacoma. 1t was while on this trip.
| am informed. that Barrill made the
a1idayit which was printed in New
York for the first time yesterday.
Since Barrill and myself were the
only two members of the party to
reach the top Of Mount Mckinley. 1t
is now simply a question of my word
against his statement Within the
next forty eight hours, however, af
fidavits made by prominent citizens of
Hamilton. Mont, VIII be handed over
to the Associated Press and will be
to the effect that during the last three
years BaTrlll has continually rehears-
ed the mount Mckinley story and has
at all times insisted that we succeed
ed In reaching the summit of the
mountain. No one has been found
in Hamilton who can testify that at
any time he has ever heard Barrlll
tell the story as II Is related by him
In his sworn affidavit.
Copenhagen, Oct. 15.-Thc affidavit
of Edward n. Barrill, denying that Dr..
Frederick A. Cook reached the sum-
NIT OF Mount Mckinley. and which
was considered here as vague reply
to the affidavit Of DR.. Cook. are be.
lieved TO have weakened somewhat
the American explorers position that
he ascended the mountain.
Public opinion, however, still favors
his claim that he reached the north
pole.
The rector of the University of Co.
penhagen said:
at is clear that Dr. Cook Is being
pursued by enemies. There Is no rea-
son for a change of mind because tho
stories are printed. II Is impossible
TO check them"
Captain Otto Sverdrup, the Arctic
explorer. also thought that the denial
Of DR.. Cooks conquest OF Mount Nc.
Kinley was due 10 his enemies.
Commander Hoygard, also an Arctic
explorer, said.
Il have not changed my mind about
DR. Cook know nothing about
Mount Mckinley. but | think he can
prove that he reached the pole"