The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-29
COOK LOSES OUT.
People of Barrill's Home Town
by a Vote
Express Their Confidence i'm the
Guides Story.
HE CHARGES BRIBERY.
The Explorer i'm a Statement
to Big Crowd
Declares That Evidence of De-
tractors Has Been Bought.

Hamilton, Mont, Oct 29.-The people
of Hamilton and the surrounding towns
of the Bitter Root valley, the home Of
Edward N. Barrill. who made a sworn
statement that DR.. Cook never reached
the summit of Mount Mckinley, turned
out en- masse last night to listen to the
doctors story regarding the ascent OF
the mountain and hear a brief lecture |
on his trip to the North Pole.
Enthusiasm and interest were at !
fever heat in the valley all day and
when DR.. Cook arrived in Hamilton in |
an automobile, in which he made the !
trip from Missoula, he was greeted by
a crowd that thronged the main street. !,
Long, before the hour for the lecture the
opera house was filled and by the time
the doctor was ready to make his ap-
pearance the throng extended into the
street. There was much cheering and
the reception accorded the doctor was
enthusiastic. The speaker was intro
duced to the audience by Mayor Drink
enberger.
Dr. Cook said:
Satisfied that the people of Mon
tana believe in justice and fair play,
have come into your commonwealth.
not to seek revenge, not to enter into
a controversy with men in whom I had
every confidence, but to ask for a fair
deal. There is no malice in my heart, I
am not here to invoke the strong arm
of the law. My veracity has been az
tackled by men residing in this COM
munity. They have fallen into evil
hands and the temptation was too!
great. They have sold their birthrignt
for silver and there probably was more
than thirty pieces.
IT am here to give my version of the
Mount Mckinley controversy, and then
leave my case in the hands of an hon
est body-people Of the great state Of
Montana. 1 will accept her verdict"
Continuing, DR.. Cook said:
DIR. Cooks Statement.
"At the time of my arrival in New
York after two years and three months
in the Arctic regions and when all
America was rejoicing over the double
discovery of the North Pole, there be
gan a warfare to rob me of the glory
of an achievement which was and is
rightly mine Confident that my rival
had triumphed after nearly a quarter
of a century in quest Of the great un-
known, T. with all good Americans, re-
| joiced in his success, and, In Copen-
hagen I declared there was glory
enough for two. Despite the bitter at
tacks which have been made upon me.
my attitude in this respect is un-
changed. When this warfare failed the
enemy began this flank movement on
! the climb to Mount Mckinley; men
| with money to burn in the flame of in
| fanny entered the arena. Men of this
| lieved honest, fell as victims. Their
statements were absolutely untrue.
Still 1 nurse no spirit of revenge or
malice against these misguided men,
My counsel, however has been in
structed to continue the investigation
until we catch the guilty money givers
higher up.
Hamilton and Missouia have clearly
shown their (tisapproval of this battle
of injustice. They have shown that they
dc not believe this malicious turn of
rival powers. Your fairness ard your
faith is Pledge of human nature worth
more than millions thrown into the hell
of bribery.
''F'or the present I am willing to trust
my case to the citizens of Montana as
a jury. After you have read the mass
of testimony which my counsel has col
lccted, ] am ready to abide by your YER
diet. Then, with a new expedition to
Mount Mckinley. 1 will guarantee our
future position. My records are on the
summit of the Alaskan peak. and ac-
oompanied by unbiased, fair minded
men. I pledge you my word that 1 will
again reach the top of the mountain and
bring back this unquestionable proof of
the success of my former expedition"
There was a sensational conclusion of
DR.. Cooks address when counsel for
Barrill and Printz, the guides, arose and
questioned the explorers declaration
that he reached the top of Mt McKin-
ley.
AuUitIIce WIFI LOOK.
Following this movement on the part
Of the guides friends man in the au-
cience introduced a resolution CRITICS.
ing DR.. Cook and upholding the two
guides.
This resolution was not adopted ard
su ubresoluticn of non-comn1ittai char
acter was presented by United States
Senator Joseph M Dixon of Missoula
Edward n. Barrill was brought to the
platform during the excitement and said
@ few words in such a low tone of voice
that he could not be heard by the audi
ence.
DR.. Cook repeated his declaration that
he had scaled the Alaskan peak and ex-
pressed a Willingness to sign an affi-
Gavit to it, when he was asked by one
of Barrill's friends why he had not met
the guides charges with sworn state
ment.
Confidence in the veracity of Edward
N Barrill and Frederick Printz, the
guides who nave declared false this
statement of DIR. Frederick A. Cook that
he ascended Mount Mckinley. formally
vas expressed in 2 resolution adopted by
the large crowd that heard DIR. Cook
lecture in this, the home town of the
two guides.
The resolution was adopted by q large
majority vote at the conclusion of q
stormy session in the opera house, dur
ing which charges and countercharges
were hurled back and forth between the
friends of Barril1 and Printz and those
who desired to see fair play given DR..
Cock.
The Queen Believes in Cook.
Hamilton, Ont. Oct. 29.-Queen
Alexandra of England, through a let
Ter received from DIR. Maurice Francis
Egen, American minister to Denmark,
conveys her greetings to DIR. F. A
Cook, and expresses absolute con-
fidence in his polar achievements.
DR.. Egen's letter, which is dated
October Z, in part reads:
"On Sunday night last, at the kings
dinner at Charlottenlund, her gracious