The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-10-16
COOK IS HONOREO
BY NEW YORK'S
ARCTIC CLUB
Presented With Freedom of City
BY Aldermen
HIS SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE
The Doctor Declares He Will Sub
stantiate Every Claim He Has
Made Regarding Polar Trip

New York, Oct 15.ZDr Frederick
| A Cook of Brooklyn came back to
| New York today, as calm and as smil
| ing az ever received the freedom of
! the city as conferred by the board of
| alderman branded as lie the affida-
Wit of Edward n. Barrill, the guide
who says he did not attain the sum-
nit of Mt. Mckinley, and finally fired
, the shot which started a 24-hour au-
| tomobile race at Brighton Beach. He
will remain in New York until Sun
day night when he will start for the
west on another lecture tour. In the
mean time he may issue a detailed
affidavit in reply to Barrill.
Gold Medal from Arctic Club.
The comforting of the freedom OF
the city was a formal affair conduct
ed jointly by the board of aldermen
and the Arctic club of America. The
club presented to him a gold medal in
recognition of his discovery of the
Pole, while the aldermen took the oc-
casion to recognize him officially for
the first time since his arrival on
home shores. George Borup and Pro
lessor Donald B. Mcmillan of the
Peary expedition were among the
spectators of the ceremony.
President McGowan's Remarks.
Before the honor avs bestowed,
President MCGOWAN of the board an
nounced that Il deem it fair to Or.
Cook to say here that he wanted this
action by the board of aldermen post
poned until after all his proofs had
been produced, but we declined be-
cause 1t was believed that the senti-
ment of the board was belief in DR..
Cook, and | believe the city OF New
York believes in him" This state
ment was greeted with cheers. In
his speech Or. Cook said in part:
Cooks Speech OF Acceptance.
This is the proudest moment of
my life. and to feel that you have
confidence in me, in the face OF the
unfounded statement and against the
false affidavit, published during the
last few days, creates feeling OF
pride in me that my countrymen be
lieve my word
Il will substantiate every claim II
have made with every proof within
the power of man. The charges
brought against me relative to my po-
lar trip have been based upon evas-
i've answers by loyal Eskimo friends,
while the alleged affidavit OF my Mt.
Mckinley guide is nothing more nor
less than a deliberate falsehood.
The Ascent of Mt. Mckinley.
After the ceremony at the city hall,
Dr. Cook had long conference with !
his lawyer concerning the Barrill az
fidavit.
Il am perfectly willing to go be- |
fore the Explorers club and give my |
testimony as to the ascent of Mt. Nc |
Kinley," said DR.. Cook tonight In |
fact, | have already consented TO do |
so. will look in the matter and see |
whether | still have my original dia- /
ries," he said. But they are stored |
somewhere. and | will produce them
If ! can find them
Dr. Cook reiterated his charge that
Barrill lied in his affidavit. THE
declaration that the point where the
photograph with the flag was taken
was far from the top of Mt. Mckinley /
is a falsehood," he said. 1T was
taken at the summit. As to Miller,
he has been hostile to me from be-
ginning TO end. He knew nothing
about the climbing of Mt. Mckinley,
as he was sixty or seventy miles
away at the time"
How BarriI Affidavit Was Obtained
Barrill came here quietly two days
ago. informed General Thomas H.
president of the Peary Arc
tic club, that everything in the af-
fdavit was true and after talking
with members of the Explorers club
departed with his wife presumably
for the west.
While in the city Barrill talked
with General j. Mr. Ashton of Tacoma
who obtained Barrills affidavit, to-
gether with the affidavits from Fred
Prints, packer on the Mt. Mckinley
expedition; Samuel Beecher, the
cook; and Walter Miller, the photo
grapher, all members of the Cook
party.
General Ashton, speaking of the
manner in which the Barrill affidavit
was obtained said: Il received word
from General Hubbard to ascertain
the exact truth concerning DR.. Cooks
climb to Mount Mckinley and had
not the remotest idea what side l
was on or would be on. =
81 sent Miller to Barrill and other
members of the expedition and had
them brought to Tacoma. They were
all carefully examined. Barrill spoke
openly and sQuarely from the start
"Barrill said that the doctor was a
good fellow and that he (BarrilD had
not given the Mount Mckinley mat
ter a thought until the North Pole
question came up. The guide said to
me: Then | talked with my wife