Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-10-21

would such witnesses-tne outy Ones ~
his command-be to verify Cooks story
Of his Polar discoveries ? Could they not
be deceived or suborned by Cook, as to
where they went and what they saw
Even il he should go after them and
bring them down, would their testimony
convince anybody? II they had declined
70 talk with Peary, it would have counted
much more for Cook. The story put into
their mouths by Peary is plausible and
given with considerable detail. some
wiII accent it as true in preference to
Cooks own tale.
George KEENAN,, the explorer, takes
Cooks oU n. figures OF what he carried on
his final dash to the Pole and shows that
neither man nor dog could have lived on
the amount OF provisions for the time
Cooks party did, according to his story.
OF course KEENAN, may be mistaken him
self. but he has wide renown for arctic
knowledge.
Most damaging OF all is the Mount Nc
Kinley revelation. Some years ago Dr.
Cook headed an expedition to reach the
summit OF this highest of mountains IN
Alaska, He returned reporting that he
had reached the crest and wrote book,
"The Top of the Continent" giving de-
tailed story of the ascent, with numerous
photographs; at least one OF the crest II
was notable achievement to scale this
mountain. Almost Immediately doubt
was cast on DR.. Cooks story. 1t APP
peared that the party divided and several
members gave up the ascent. Cook and
guide named Barrill returned later and re-
ported that they had succeeded. All the
others secuted the idea, but Cook and
BarriIl insisted, and geographers have
generally accepted Cooks claim, though
not without question.
Now, after all this time, and in this
critical juncture, comes Barrill with an
affidavit that completely upsets the
Mount Mckinley exploit, il it is accept
ed. He swears that DR.. Cook and himself
fixed up the story after parting with the
rest OF the company; that they never
went anywhere near the top OF the
mountain; that the summit picture was
faxed from an ice crest much further
down, and that many OF the photographs
and incidents contained in Cooks book
were pure fiction, intended to deceive.
This affidavit from Barrill was obtained
by those interested on the Peary side Of
the present controversy and was undoubt'
eddy bought for big money. How near
the truth it is let each one decide The
worst phase is that it quite destroys Bar.
rills value as material witness in
Cooks behalf, and such a witness Cook
now sorely needs.
Cooks reply to all this. is that Barril
lies; that they both did reach the noun
tan's peak and that his book account il
true. But ii is only his word against his
guides, with the others OF the expedition
against him. Cook proposes now to leac
a party to the top OF the mountain mex
year to find the records he left and sub
stantiate his story. This is fair, and will
be convincing If the party is made up o.
impartial men named by some competent
authority. II Cook should do this, ant
return with the records, supported by
witnesses beyond suspicion, it would dc
more than all else to prove not only tha
he reached McKinley's summit, but th'
Pole itself. II he faxed the earlier dis
coyery, he did the latter.
, There is good deal of backing anC
filing over submitting Cooks Polar rec
ords for verihcation. He promised then
to the University of Copenhagen first
! but is holding them back under one plel
] and another until the Danes who ap
! proved him when be came among them
show signs of impotence. Cook will no
! submit the records in this country, hav
ing agreed to give them to Copenhagen
, Nor is it at all certain that the record
7 and observations themselves when exam
0 ined will prove conclusive. Some scien
I lists say that shrewd man with suffi
{ cient knowledge OF conditions in th
! higher ATTITUDES could fake records ths
7 would fool the experts. It is concede
: that DIR. Cook, il not genuine, is tn
q shrew dest fakir the world has ever seen
q Meanmhlla Dr. Cnnk IL naming thnns