Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-16
EDWIN N. BARREL, COMPANION
ON MOUNTAIN CLIMB, DE-
cLAREs DOCTOR WAS NOT
NEAR M'klNLEY's SUMMIT.
WESTERN EXPERT
DOUBTS PEARY
PROF. DYcHE, WHO HAS BEEN
NORTH WITH BOTH ExPLoR-
ERs, DECLARES COMMANDERS
CHARGES ARE INCREDIBLE.

New York, Oct. 15.-The Globe this
afternoon prints a copy OF an affidavit
made by Edwin N. Barrill, who says
he was the only person who accom-.
panied DR.. Cook at the time he an.
nounced his reaching the summit OF
Mount Mckinley. The affidavit was
made before a notary public at Ia
coma, WASH, Oct. 4, and was just re.
ceived in New York. BarrilPs aff1davit
states in effect that he was the only
person present with Cook on the date
when he claims to have reached the
summit of Mount Mckinley; that they
did not in fact reach the summit, and
the nearest point to the summit reach
ed was at least fourteen miles distant
from the summit; that the mountain
elevation at no time exceeded 10000
feet Barrill's affidavit also brings In
question number of photographs
which Cook has given as representing
the summit and other high attitudes
of Mt Mckinley, some of which he
declares were drawn from magma
ton.
Cook Says He Has Evidence.
New York, Oct. 14.-In an interview
this afternoon on the Barrill affidavit
Cook emphatically stated he had SUI
ficient evidence to prove that he had
been to the top of Mt. Mckinley.
Peary's Statement Incredible.
Topeka, Kas., Oct. 15.-Professor L.
L. Dyche, head of the department of
natural history in the University OF
kansas, who made several trips to the
north as member of both Peary and
Cook expeditions, and who Is person
ally acquainted with the explorers,
Yesterday made statement to the To-
peka State Journal concerning Com
mander Robert e. Peary's charges
against DR.. Frederick A. Cook. pub.
lished yesterday.
Commander Peary's statement"
said Professor Dyche, ito my mind is
absolutely incredible. 1t Is based on
the testimony of ignorant Eskimos,
who were incapable of understanding
country to which they had never
been before well enough to outline
such a map as that published and
credited by Mr.. Peary to their explain
alton
"Only intelligent white men with In.
struments could make their way to
such country and be able to report
- ooefhiI upon II q year dIteT Tue Trip
was made.
Believes Both Got to Pole.
while believe Commander Peary
reached the pole. have not shadow
Of doubt that DR.. Cook reached the
pole first and exactly as he details In
his own published story.
The most astounding part Of Com
mander Peary's story, 1t seems to me,
consists of a statement that DR.. Cook
got to the north part Of the land Dor
dering on the great Arctic ocean-the
point for which he had striven for
month during the hardships OF intense
cold and rigors of arctic climate
with ample supplies, sleds and Eslsi-
mos all in first class condition. and
then simply turned back, apparently
for no reason.
How unlikely 1t Is that man with
over twenty years arctic experience,
fired with an ambition of lifetime,
would give UP just at time and place
/ when one Of the greatest trophies the
world has to bestow upon brave and
daring explorer was standing within
1 his reach, reckoning him to come on. :"