Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-10-16
To Organize Expedition To
Fetch His Record Left on
Mount Mckinley to Prove
His Ascent.
BARRILL is AL
READY DISCREDITED
People OF Own Town Say
His Story Does Not
Tally.

New York. Oct. 16.-Dr Freder-
ick A Cook announced last night
that he had organized an expedition
TO ascend Mount Mckinley and pro
cure the records which he says were
left there on his former ascent. This
step will be taken to refute the
charges thai he did not attain tho
summit OF the mountain as set forth
in the afndavit OF Edward N. Barrlll,
the guide who accompanied him.
In statement to The Associated
Press last night DR.. Cook said:
Upon my return from Atlantic
City today conferred with n conf
Dental agent whom ! had sent to
Montana TO Investigate stories which
had reached me In Kansas City to-
the effect that strong induce ments
had been offered Edward n. Barrill,
the guide who accompanied me to
the summit OF Mount Mckinley in
the summer OF 1906. This confiden-
tial agent returned from Montana
this mOrni & and for good reaBo1s
/ do not care at the present time
to make mis- name public. After
thorough investigation there he re-
ports to me that an offer OF con-
siderable sum OF money was made to
Mr.. Barrill on the condition that he
prepare and sign an anidavit which
would be calculated to discredit my
claim that I succeeded I'm scaling the
Alaskan peak. Tnls offer, so my
representative informs me, was made
to Mr.. BarrIll I'm the presence OF G..
G. Bridgford, a reputable citizen OF
Hamilton, Mont. who is associated
with Mr. Barrill In the real estate
business. Barrill at that time. ac-
cording TO the statement OF Mr..
Bridgford to my representative. de-
clined 10 make such an affidavit and
informed the man who had request
ed him to swear that did not reach
the top Of Mount Mckinley that to
make such an afnadvit he would have
to commit perjury and sell his own
soul
within the next 4S hours, now
ever. afIidaWis made by prominent
citizens Of Hamilton Mont. will be
handed over 10 the Associated Press,
and will be to the effect that during
the last three years BarriIl has re-
hearsed tho Mount Mckinley story
and has at all times insisted that
we reached the summit OF the noun
tain. No one has been found i'm Ham
iltOn who can testify that az any
time be has ever heard BarriII tell
the story as II is related By him I'm
his sworn afidavit.
~ have today received numerous
kilograms from reputable citizens OF
Montana who have talked with Bar.
rill and arc willing to make ahidayit
Of HIS former version Of the trip
~ have tonight forwarded a teIe-
gram TO Anthony Fiala asking him
10 head an expedition G., Mount Nc
I<inloy 10 bring back my records. An
other telegram has been sent to
Columbia University, Who accom-
panied me in The early stages of my
last Mount Mckinley expedition. ask
ng him TO join Fiala on this expedl-
ION The preliminary arrangements
T the trip will be made at once
md theeapedition will stare as soon
's the weather permits next year.
Mr. Fiafa nd Prof Parker no
ioubt will invite number Of o1-
pert mountain climbers 10 accom-.
'any them ON the expedition The
'esnit of their efforts will set at rest
.oreyor any doubt that may exist as
20 whether Barrill and myself reach.
'd tho topmost summit and Deposit
"a there records as described +, nv
book To the Top Of the Conu-
lent.'