The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-10-18
DOES NOT BELIEVE
CLIMB IN ALASKA
Scientist Tells TS9 Fences and
Declares Belief in Bar
Tlll's Affidavit
Special to Daily Leader.

Special to Daily Leader.
Chicago, H., Oct. 1S.-Personal ex-
periences discrediting DR.. Cooks
claim that he ascended Mount McKin.
ley in 1906 were made public last
night in signed atement by Wal
lace w. Atwood. assistant professor
of physiography and general geology
at the Unitersity of Chicago and mem.
Der OF the United States and Illinois
Geological surveys. The university
scientist announced his confidence in
the affidavit made by Edwin N. Bar
rill, DR.. Cooks companion in the as
cent of the mountain.
Professor Atwood affirms that he
has long known that Mr. Barrill told
members of the Cook party that the
summit OF the mountain was not
-eached. as claimed by Dr. Cook. lie
states that the world owes Mr. Bar
rill serious expression of gratitude
for having made the affidavit, In
which he says hat he and DR. Cox
stopped fourteen miles from the sum.
nit; that he doctored his diary al Dr.
Cook ordels. and that Or Cook pub.
iished false photographs Of the noun.
tain
Atwood In Alaska At Time
According to Professor Atwood, who
was engaged in government geological
work in Alaska in 1905, none of the
members of Dr. Cooks party bcliey.
cd the explorers story Of bis climb.
The signed statement follows
Late in the season of 1906 Dr.
Cook ordered the members Of his par
ty, with the excep ion Of Barrill, 20
complete certain work in the lowland
areas bordering Mount Mckinley and
then to proceed 70 seldova, froin
which port the parry would sail for
Seattle was at Seldovia al the time,
having spent a part Of that season 10
the Cook Inlet region. and was de
tanned ere until Dr Cook and Bar
rill joined the party.
Z greeted Dr Cook and. as was nat
ufal referred to his work He seemed
unwilling TO say anything about It. lie
was apparently much embarrassed
when asked about the conditions on
he higher part of Mount Mckinley
and gave no intelligent answers "a
questions of purely scientific interest
regarding that region. Barrill vas al
so unwilling to say anything abou'
their trip and was 50 embarrassed that
he would stroll off II we approached
the question Of their reported climb
Cook Detained BY Lawsuit.
Z left Seldovia with the party et
route TO Seattle. Al Seward, DR. Cook
was detained, II was said. by law
suit brought by a man whom he had
engaged for the season and wht
claimed he was not paid. DR.. Cool
de aimed Barrill at Seward, but SEN
the rest Of his party on to Seattle.
THE facts available at that time
to all Of us were that Or. Cook anc
Barrill bad started on their proposed
climb with light outfit. and returned
in a surprisingly short time with
report made by DR.. Cook that the,
had been TO the summit
"The period was TOO short In The
( Judgment OF the othe- members ol
the party. who had been at worl
around the base Of the mountain ant
knew the conditions there, and toe
short in the judgment Of the prospect
oFs who know that region for then
% heve reached the summit even un
der favorable climbing conditions OF
the higher part. No man in the partl
seemed to believe the story.
No man that | have met during The
three seasons of travel In Alaska hal
admitted that he believed the story
never heard Barrill say that he reach
ed the summit. nor has Il been report
ed to me by anyone that Barrill eve
made that statement