Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-10-20
FAKE AFFIDAVIT
| SAYS DOCTOR COOK
|ExPLoRER DECLARES coNFi-
DENcE IN HIM is NOT
MISPLACED.
SAYS BARRILL's STATEMENTS
ABOUT MOUNT M'KINLEY
ARE BAsELEss.
HAS PROOF FROM MONTANA
ASKS FiALA TO MAKE
EXPEDITION.

calm and smiling as ever and received
the freedom of the city and branded
as a lie the Barrill affidavit. Last
night DR.. Cook fired the shot which
started the "a hour automobile race.
Tomorrow night he will start west
| on another lecture tour. Meantime he
| is comforting with counsel over the
advisability of an action against Bar
rill for alleged perjury.
| The comforting of the freedom OF
1.-The city was conducted by the alder
| men. The Arctic Club of America
presented him with gold medal.
George Borup and Professor Mcmillan
of the Peary expedition were among
the spectators.
President MCGOWAN of the board
said:
CDR. Cook wanted this action by
! the aldermen postponed until after
i all his proofs were produced, but we
declined because our sentiment was
a belief in DR.. Cook, and believe the
. city believes in him.
i This was greeted by cheers and DR..
i Cook said:
"This is the proudest moment OF
nv life. To feel that you have con-
ifidence in me, in the face of an I'M
founded statement, against a false
affidavit, published in the last few
DAYS. creates a feeling of pride in me
q that nv countrymea believe my word.
| will substantiate every claim I have
made with every proof within the
power of man. The charges against
me relative to the polar trip are
based upon evasive answers by my
loyal Eskimo friends. The alleged
affidavit of my Mount Mckinley guide
is deliberate falsehood. The conf
) dence reposed in me is not mis-
placed. The Eskimos were made TO
. say what they didn't say will
bring them here, not to prove my con-
Il quest of the pole, but to prove che
truth of this last statement Their
presence as proof of the conquest is
unnecessary
4 After the ceremony DR.. Cook reit-
Grated that the photograph of the flag
taken on Mount Mckinley was taken
at the summit, and added that Bar
/ rill's statement that Cook told him to
\ tell nobody about the trip was base
less, as there was no secret about it.
Barrill came here two days ago
and informed General Hubbard, presf-
dent of the Peary Arctic club, that
everything in the affidavit was true,
and, after talking with members of
the explorers club, departed, presum-
ably for the west General J. M.
Ashton of Tacoma, who obtained Bar
rills affidavit, said:
| 81 received word from Hubbard to
ascertain the truth and had not the
remotest idea what side | was on
4 Hot After BarriIl
DIR. Cook made a statement last
night intimating that Barrill, the
i guide. who accompanied him on the
i ascension of Mount Mckinley, per-
/ iured himself in his affidavit for a
consideration offered by DR.. Cooks
/ detractors. DR.. Cook has taken pre-
i liminary steps to. organize an expedi-
i ton to ascend Mount Mckinley, and
procure the records he says he left
: there. He requested, Anthony Fiala,
the arctic explorer, to head the expe-
d dition and asked Professor H. G. Par
ker of Columbia university, to accom-
. pany Fiala. kilograms were sent
Fiala and Parker last night.
/ DR.. Cook stated to the Associated
Press that he sent an agent to Mon
!, tana to investigate the stories that
strong inducements had been offered
Barrill. His agent reported an offer
of considerable sum of money made
to Barrill on condition that he sign
an affidavit calculated to discredit
Cooks claim. He added:
This offer, my representative
states, was made to Barrill in the
presence of C. g. Bridgford, repu-
table citizen of Hamilton, Mont, who
was associated with Barrill in the
real estate business. Barrill then de-
clined to commit perjury.
several days later Barrill, with
Frederick Prinz, also member OF my
Mount Mckinley expedition, joined
Walter p Miller, photographer of that
expedition, and accompanied him
from Seattle to Tacoma. On this trip
am informed, Barrill made the affida-
Wit printed yesterday.
i within forty-eight hours, affidayits
by citizens of Hamilton, Mont, will be
. handed the Associated Press to the
effect that for the last three years
Barrill has continually rehearsed the
Mount Mckinley story and always IN
sisted we reached the summit. No
body in Hamilton can testify that he