The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-11-04
THE BARRILL BUSINESS.

The publication OF Peary's "prOofs "
that Cook did not reach the pole hav-
ing been accepted as the most childish
exhibition Of tOmfoOlery that a man
supposedly in possession CT his senses
could be guilty of the Peary backbiters
thought that the doctor might be at
tackled from another standpoint. There
was some doubt about his having
reached the top of Mount Mckinley,
just as there has been doubt about Miss
Peck's and every other mountain
climbers exploits, 1t was learned that
Barrill, the packer who accompanied
Cook, had not received all his pay, and
so campaign was started with Barrill
as the objective point. Ifan affidavit
could be secured from him, it was
thought that DR. Cook would get a
very black eye, and then perhaps Pea
ry could take to the lecture stand and
get the honor and the gate receipts due
to the man who had discovered the
pole
Lawyers were engaged and Barrill
was besieged. Money was also sent
out to procure the perjured testimony.
Barrill had frequently declared to a
number of persons that DR.. Cook had
climbed Mount Mckinley, and he in
timated to his partner that there was
s., 900 to $4,000 in it for him. Finally
he disappeared from his home, and
then was heard from in New York,
where he signed an affidavit written
by lawyer declaring that Cook had
never climbed the mountain.
Then Barrill was hidden out and no.
body has been able to interview him
for the press since,
In the meantime DR.. Cook has had
some investigations made, has secured
a statement from BarrlllS partner, and
some startling revelations are promised
at an early day.
Now, so far as Barrill is concerned,
he is an ignorant and insignificant per-
sonage, and counts for nothing in this
controversy. He has until recently al
ways asserted that he and Cook reach
ed the top of the mountain. He ex-
plains the entries in his diary by de-
claring that DR.. Cook compelled OF
induced him to fasify them.
But the significant part about this
incident is the revelation of a disgrace
full conspiracy emanating from the
Peary camp This testimony from a
self-confessed falsifier was purchased.
There is every reason to believe that it
is false testimony. We know that
Peary, the president of the Explorers
Club, ordered the Mount Mckinley in
vestigation without consulting the
wishes of the club. We know that
Hubbard, the president of the Peary
Arctic Club engaged lawyer out west
to get mp the Barril testimony,
Thus the scheme Is traced directly to
Peary and his fuglemen, 1t is there
fore necessary that the conspiracy
should be probed to the bottom, and
that the men who bribed the ignorant
westerner and who put up the money
to secure perjured testimony should be
exposed. The bounding Of Dr. Cook
is the most disgraceful thing that has
occurred in this country for years, and
the people want the truth. The fact
that the man who is so relentlessIy
pursuing Cook is naval officer makes
it entirely proper that he should be
summoned before court of inquiry
and be compelled to meet the charge
of conduct unhecoming an officer and
a gentleman.
The American people want the whole
truth as to this apparently disgraceful
conspiracy.-Commercial-Appeal.