The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-16
EXPLORER BRANDS AFFIDAVIT
OF HIS GUIDE AS ABso-
luTELY FALSE.
WILL PROVE EVERY CLAIM
Man Who Claims to Have Discovered
the North Pole First Returns to New
York and Faces Charges Against
Him With Absolute Calmn-ss-Says

New York, oct. l5,-Dr Frederick \.
Cook came back To New York today.
Al calm and smiling as ever, re-
ceived the freedom of the city as CON
ferred by the board of aldermen,
branded as allie the affidavit of Ed
ward y. BarrilI the guide who says
Cook did not attain the summit Of
Mount Mckinley, and finally. to crown
the day. fired the shot which started
"A 2i-hour automobile race at Brighton
Beach.
The comforting of the freedom of
the city was ii formal affair. conduct
ed Jointly by the board of aldermen
and the Arctic club of America. The
club presented to DR.. Cook Il gold
medal in recognition OF his discovery
of the pole while the aldermen took
the occasion to recognize him official
~ for the first time since his arrival
on home shores. George BOrup and
Professor Donald Il. McMillen of the
Peary expedition. We're among the in
tcrestcd spectators.
In his speech DIR. Cook said in
part:
This is the proudest moment of my
life, to feel that you have confidence
in me, in the face of the unfounded
statement and against the false af
fidavit published during the last few
days.
Evasive Answers.
Il will substantiate every claim
have made with every proof within
the power of man. The charges
brought against me relative to my
polar trip have been based upon evas-
i've answers by my loyal Eskimo
friends. The alleged affidavit of my
Mount Mckinley guide Is IA deliberate
It sehood. The confidence you re-
pose in me is not misplaced. The
Eskimos were made to say what they
did not say and | will bring them
here to prove it,"
After the ceremony DR.. Cook had
a long conference With his lawyer,
Henry w Wack. concerning the Bar
rill affidavit. He afterward intimat-
ed that he had not decided on taking
legal action in the matter. He was
asked whether he could produce his
original diary of the climb. and said
it. He said he thought he had it
stored somewhere.
DIR. Cook reiterated his charge that
Barrill lied in his affidavit.
His declaration that the point
where the photograph with u flag .
WAS taken was far from the top of .
Mount Mckinley is falls ! I'd" he /
said. 1t was taken at the summit. ]
His statement that told him not to ,
tell anyone about the trip Is also base
less. There was no secret whatever
about it. AS to Miller. he has been /
hostile to me from beginning to end.
| have no reason to say | found him
but he knew nothing about
the climbing of Mount Mckinley as
he was GO or 20 miles away at the
time"
Details of how Barrilfs affidavit
was obtained became available here
today. The guide came here two
days ago and informed General
president of the Peary Are
tic club. that everything in the af-
fidayit WAS true, Burrill also talked
with General ]. NJ. Ashton of Tacoma.
who obtained Barrill's affidavit, to-
sether with the affidavits from Fred
Printz. packer on the Mount Nc
kinley expedition: Samuel Beccher.
the cook. and Walter Miller. the pho
tographer. all members of the Cook
party.
General Ashton, speaking of the
manner in which the Barrill affidavit
Was obtained. said:
i received word from General
Hubbard to ascertain the exact truth
DIR. Cooks climb To Mount
Mckinley and~ had not the remotest
idea what side | was on. or would he
On sent Miller to BarriIl and the
other members Of the expedition and
had them brought to Tacoma. They
we're carefully examined. Rarrill
spoke openly and squarely from the
start.
"Barril said the doctor was u good
fellow and that he (Barriin had not
given the Mount Mckinley matter
thought until the north pole question
came up. The guide said to me:
Then | talked it over with my wife
after .-ou sent for me and We reached
he conclusion that il was my duty
o give the world the real truth
General Ashton said there were
'ther affidasits and that he under
'tood that the originals We're all to be
urned over 10 the committee of the
Explorers club and other authorized