Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-10-16

I talked II over with my wife after
YOU sent for me and we reached the
conclusion that Il was my duty to give
the world the real truth"
Gen Ashton said there were other
arldavits. and that he Understood that
the originals we're oil 70 be turned
over 20 the committee OF the Explorers
club and other authorized organiza-
tons.
DIR. COOKS STATEMENT
DR.. Cooks statement made to the
Associated Press. follows;
Upon nay return from Atlantic city
today I conferred with a confidential
agent whom / had sent 10 Montana 10
investigate stories to the effect that
strong Inducements had been offered
Edward ~ Harrill the guide who at-
companied me 20 the summit Of Nj.
Mckinley in the summer Of 1906. This
confidential agent returned from Mon
tana this morning, and Tor good rea-
sons ] do not care al the present time
to make his name public
After thorough Investigation he re
ports % me that an offor OF "a consider
able sum Of money was made 10 Mr.
Barrin on the condition that he prepare
and sign an affidavit which would be
calculated 70 discredit my claim that
| succeeded in scaling the Alaskan
peak This OFFER 50 my representative
informs me, was made TO Mr. Barrill
In the presence of G. G.. Bridgford,
reputable citizen Of Hamilton Mont,
who il associated with Mr. Bariill In
the real estate business.
Barrll at that time according 70 the
statement of Mr.. Bridgford to my rep
resentative. declined TO make such an
affidavit, and Informed the men who
had requested him TO swear that l did
not reach the top OF Mt. Mckinley that
TO make such an affidavit, he wouli
have 20 commit perjury and sell his
own soul"
Several days after this proposal was
made to Mr.. Barrill he, In company
with Frederick Pfntz. who was also a
member OF my Mt. Mckinley expedi-
ton. Joined Walter p. Miller the Of
fcial photographer OF that expedition
in MissOula, Mont, and accompanied
him 70 Seattle and Taoema. II was
while on this trip, I am Informed. that
Barrin made the AFFIDAVIT 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 or Mount Mckinley, Il is now
simply a question Of my word against
his statement. Within the next IS
hours. however, afndavits made by
prominent citizens OF Hamilton, Mont,
win be handed over TO the Associated
Press. and via be 20 the effect that
during the last three years Barrill has
continually rehearsed the Mount Nc
Kinley story, and has at all times in
sisted that we succeeded In reaching
the summit OF the mountain. No one
has been found in Hamilton who can
testify that at any time he has even
1aau ri IN o. efa "a a II 70
lated by him in his sworn AFFIDAVIT
have today received numerous tele-
grams from reputable citizens OF Mont
ana, who have talked with Barrll and
are willing 10 make afiidavits as 70 his
former version OF the Mount Mckinley
trip. 7 have tonight forwarded tele-
gram 70 Antony Fiala asking him 20
head an expedition to Mount Mckinley
to bring back my record. Another tele-
gram has been sent to Prof II. @. Par
ker Of Columbia university, who ac-
companied me IN the early stages of my
last Mount Mckinley expedition. asking
him TO Join F'iala. have the assur-
expedition viii be forthcoming and the
expedition VIII be entirely under the
supervision and direction Of Mr. F'iala-
The preliminary arrangements for the
trip will be made at once. and the eX-
pedition viii start as soon as the
weather permits next year.
Mr.. Fiala and Mr. Parker will no
doubt invite a number OF expert noun
tain climbers 10 accompany them. The
result OF their efforts will set at rest
forever any doubt that may exist as 20
Barrill and myself reached the
topmost summit and deposited there
records as described in my book, ITO
the Top OF the Continent" The result
of this expedition will further demon
strate whether Dir. BarTfll, in the affi-
davit Just made and published has
sworn falsely regarding the result
OF the 1906 expedition.