Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-16
THINKS BARRIlL WAS BOUGHT
Former Guide Said 10 Have Been or
fered Considerable Sum Of Money to
Swear That He and Brooklyn Ex-
plorer Did Not Reach Summit OF
Alaskan Peak.
(By Associated Press.)

NEW YORK. Oct. 15.-Dr. Freder-
lex A. Cook announced tonight mat
he has organized an expedition TO
ascend Mount Mckinley and procure
the records which he says were left
there on his former ascent. This step
Will be taken TO refute the charges
that he did not attain the summit OF
the mountain as set forth in The am
iavit of Edward " Barrill. The guide
who accompanied HIM.
In a statement 70 the Associated
Press tonight. DIR. Cook said:
Upon MY return from Atlantic City
today | conferred with a confidential
agent whom | had sent 10 Montana
TO investigate stories which had reach
ed me in Kansas City to the effect
that strong inducements had been
offered Edward " Barrill. the guide.
who accompanied me to the summit
of Mount Mckinley in the summer OF
1906. This confidential agent return
ed from Montana this morning and
for good reasons do not care at the
present time 10 make his name pub
lie. After thorough investigation
there. he reports to me that an offer
OF a considerable sum Of money was
made to Mr.. Barrill on the condition
that he prepare and sign an affidavit
which would be calculated 20 d:scredit
my claim that I succeeded in scaling
the Alaskan peak. This offer, so my
informs me. was made
TO Mr. Barrill. In the presence of G..
G. Bridgeford. a reputable citizen OF
Hamilton. Montana. who is associated
with Mr. Barrill in the real estate
business.
Declined First Offer.
Barrill. at the time. according 10
the statement of Mr.. Bridgeford to
my representative, declined to make
such an affidavit and informed the
men who had requested him 10 swear
that did not reach the top of Mount
Mckinley that to make such an affi-
davt he would have to commit per-
jury and sell his own SOUL
Several days after this proposal
was made to Mr. Barrill. he in COM
pany with Frederick Prinz. who was
also a member of my Mount McKin-
ley expedition. joined Walter p. Miller.
the. official photographer OF that ex-
ped tion IN Missoula. Montana. and
accompanied him 20 Seattle and Ia
coma.
1T was while on this trip. 7 am IN
formed. that Barrill made the AFFIDAVIT
which was printed in New York for
the frs; time yesterday.
Question CT vera>ity.
Since Barrill ard myself we're the
only two members Of the party TO
reach the top Of Mount Mckinley. II
IS row simply a question OF my WORD
against his statement Within the
next foTty-eigEt hours. however, AFT
dsvits made by prominent citizens OF
Hamilton. Montana. will be handed
over to the Associated Press and will
BE- to the effect that during the last
three years Bsrrill has continually re-
hearsed the Mount Mckinley story
and has ~ all times insisted that we
succeeded in reaching the summit OF
the mountain. No one has been
found in Hamilton who can testify
that al any time he has ever heard
Barrill tell the story as u Is related
by him in bis sworn AFFIDAVIT.
I have TODAY received numerous
kilograms from reputable citizens Of
Montana who have talked with Bar
rill asd are willing 90 make afsdavits
a. TO his former version OF the
Mount Mckinley trip.
Fisis Asked TO lead.
= have tonight forwarded q teie-
gram 10 Anthony Fiala. asking him
10 h. ID an expedition to Noun, Nc
Kiniey - bring back my records.
AMOR y ram has been sent 20
ProfcssCr .ierschel G. Parker. Of Co
lum. Ia University. Who accompanied
ne IN the early stages 81 my last
Mount Mckinley expedition. asking
him 20 Join Fiaia on this expedition.
The preliminary arrangements for
the trip vill be made at once and
the expedition viii start a. sooa g.
the weather pcrmitr next year.