Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-16
EBy Assoclated Press.1

AIEW YORK, Oct. 15.-Dr. FrederlcH
~ A. Cook came back TO New Yorl
~ today as calm and as smiling a!
ever, received the freedom of the city
as conferred by the board of aldermen
branded as a lie the affidavit of Ed
ward N. Barrill, the guide who say:
Cook did not attain the summit O
Mount Mckinley, and finally, to crown
the day, fired the shot that started
a twenty-four-hou automobile race al
Brighton Beach.
The comforting of the freedom of the
city was a formal affair." conducted
Jointly by the board of aldermen ant
the Arctic Club of America. The clut
gave Dr. Cook a gold medal in recog-
milton of his discovery of the pole
while the aldermen took the occasion
to recognize him officially for the first
time since his arrival on home shores
George Borup and Professor Donalt
B. McMillen of the Peary expedition
were among the interested spectators
In his speech DR.. Cook said in part
This is the proudest moment of my
life, to feel that you have confidence
in me. in the face of the unfouDdeo
statement and against the false af1i-
davit published during the last few
days.
viii Prove Claims
"I will substantiate every claim
have made with every proof within
the power of man.
"The charges brought against me
relative to my polar trip have been
based on evasive answers by my loyal
Eskimo friends. The alleged affidavit
Of my Mount Mckinley guide is de-
liberate falsehood. The confidence you
repose in me is not misplaced. The
Eskimos were made to say what they
did not say, and l will bring them
here to prove it"
After the ceremony DR.. Cook had a
long conference with his lawyer, Hen
ry W. Waek, concerning the Barrill
affidavit.
He afterward said that he had not
decided on taking legal action in the
matter He was asked whether he
could produce his diary of the climb
and said he would produce it If he
could find it. He said he thought he
had 1t stored somewhere. DR.. Cook
reiterated his charge that Barrill lied
in his affidavit.
1.-THE declaration that the point
where the photograph with flag was
taken was far from the top of Mount
Mckinley is a falsehood," he said. ut
ment that l told him not to tell any
one about the trip is also baseless.
There was no secret whatever about
it.
Gas to Miller. he has been hostile to
me from the beginning to end. / have
no reason to say 1 found him untruth-
full, but he knew nothing about the
climbing of Mount Mckinley, as he
was sixty or seventy miles away at
the time"
How 1t Was Obtained
Details of how Barrill's affidavit was
obtained became available here today.
The guide came here two days ago
and informed Gen. Thomas H. Hub
bard, president of the Peary Arctic
club, that everything in the affidavit
was true.
Barrill also talked with Gen. ]. M.
Ashton of Tacoma, who obtained Bar
rills affidavit, together with the affi-
davits from Fred Printz, a packer on
the Mount Mckinley expedition; Sam
uel Behrer, the cook. and Walter Mill
er, the photographer, all members of
the Cook party.
General Ashton, speaking of the
manner in which the Barrill affidavit
was obtained, said:
81 received word from General Hub
bard to ascertain the exact truth con-
cerning DIR. Cooks climb to Mount Nc
Kinley, and had not he remotest idea
what side I was on or would be on
I sent Miller to Barrill and told men,
bers of the expedition and had them
brought to Tacoma. They were care
fully examined. Barrill spoke openly
and squarely from the start.
"Barrill said the doctor was a good
fellow and that he (Barrill had not
given the Mount Mckinley matter a
thought until the north pole question
came up. The guide said to me: Then
I talked it over with my wife after
you sent for me, and we reached the
conclusion that it was my duty tc
give the world the real truth"
General Ashton said there were other
affidavits and that he understood thai
all the originals would be turned oyei
to the committee of the Explorers
club and other authorized organiza.
tions.
In his speech at the aldermanic
chambers DR.. Cook said:
"I will substantiate every claim
have made with every proof within tn,
power of man, and believe me wher
/ say that the tribute paid me toda,
will never be misplaced
He reiterated that the Barrill afh
davit was a deliberate falsehood."
Cooks Statement
DR.. Cooks statement to the Associat
ed Press follows:
Upon my return from Atlantic Cit!
today L conferred with a confidentia
agent whom / had sent to Montana t
investigate stories to the effect tina
strong inducements had been offeret
Edward N. Barrill. the guide who ac
companied me to the summit of Noun
Mckinley in the summer of 1906.
This confidential agent returne
from Montana this morning, and 70
good reasons 1 do not care at the pres
ent time to make his name public.