The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-16
Explorer Hints That BaniII
Was Paid 10 Sign the
ARdaVis
EXPEDITION PLANNED TO
TOP OF MT. M'K|NLEY
DR.. Cook Wants To Take a Party Of
Scientists and Go Over His For
nner Route and Secure Proof
of Trip in Records.

New York. October 15.-Dr. Frederick A.
Cook, refuting the charges that he had
not ascended Mt. Mckinley. in Alaska, in
1906 came out with statement in New
York tonight after a three-hour confer
ence with his attorney, intimating that
Edward N. Barrill, the guide who acconi-
panied him, had perjured himself In his
recent affidavit for consideration Of
fered by his detractors To disprove Bar
rill's statements, he further announced
that he had taken preliminary steps 10
organize an expedition to ascend Mt. Me-
hinley and procure the records which he
says he left there. He has requested An
thony Fiala, the Arctic explorer, to head
the expedition, and has asked Prof H.
7. Parker of Columbia university to ac-
company Fiala. Telegrams were sent to
both Fiala and Parker and their answers
are expected tomorrow
DR.. Cook made the following statement
TO the Associated Press tonight:
Upon my return from Atlantic City to-
day ] conferred with a confidential agent
whom | had sent to Montana to investi-
gate stories which had reached me in
Kansas City to the effect that strong In
dncements had been offered Edward N.
Barrill, the guide who accompanied me
to the summit of Mt. Mckinley in the
summer of 1906. This confidential agent
returned from Montana this morning and
for good reasons | do not care at the pres
ent time to make his name public.
Offer to Barrill.
After thorough investigation there he
reports to me that an offer of consid-
cradle sum OF money was made Mr. Bar
fiil on the condition that he prepare and
sign an affidavit which would be calcu-
lated TO discredit my claim that l sue
eeeded In scaling the Alaskan peak. This
offer, so my representative informs me
was made to Mr.. Barrill In the presence Of
Z. q. Bridgeford reputable citizen of
: Hamilton. Mont, who is associated with
Mr.. Barrill In the real estate business.
Barrill at that time. according to the
statement of Mr.. Bridgeford to my repre-
sentative, declined to make such an af-
f1dayit and Informed the men who had re-
qnested him to swear that | did not reach
the top of Mt Mckinley that to make
such an affidavit he would have to COM
nit perjury and sell his own soul
Several days after this proposal was
made to Mr.. Barrill he. In company with
Frederick Printz, who was also a member
OF my Mt. Mckinley expedition. Joined
Walter p. Miller, the official photographer
of that expedition in Mssoula, Mont, nd
accompanied him to Seattle and Tacoma
1t was while on this trip. | am informed.
that Barrill made the affidavit which was
printed In New York for the first time
yesterday.
Value of a Mans Word.
"Since Barrill and myself were the only
two members of the party to reach the
top of Mount Mckinley, 1t is now simp-
ly a question of my word against his
statement. Within tile next IS hours
however affidavits made by prominent
citizens of Hamilton Mont, will bs
handed over to the Associated Press and
will be to the effect that during the last
three years Barrill has continually re-
hearsed the Mount Mckinley story and
has al all times insisted that we sue
ceeded in reaching the summit of the
mountain. No one has been found In
Hamilton who can testify that at any
time he has ever heard the story as
II is related by Barrl in his own af-
fldavit.
Il have today received numerous tele-
grams from reputable citizens OF Mon
tana who have talked with Barrill and
are willing to make affidavits as to his
former version of the Mount Mckinley
trip.
Telegram to FaIa.
'I have tonight forwarded a telegram
to Anthony E1ala, asking him to head
an expedition to Mount Mckinley to
bring back my records. Another telegram
has been sent to Prof. Herschell G. Par
ker of Columbia university who accom-
panied me in the early stages OF my
last Mount Mckinley expedition. asking
him to join Fiala on the expedition I
have the assurance that the necessary
funds for the expedition will be forth
coming and the expedition will be en-
tirely under the supervision and direc-
ton of Mr. Fiala The preliminary ar
rangements for the trip will be made
at once and the expedition will start
as soon as the weather permits next
year.
Mr. Fiala and Mr. Parker will no
doubt, invite a number Of expert noun
tain climbers to accompany them on this
expedition.
THE result OF their efforts will set
at rest forever any doubt that may ex-
list as to whether Barrii and myself
reached the topmost summit and depos-
tied there records as described in my
book, To the Top of the Continent
THE result of this expedition will
further demonstrate whether MIR. Barrill
In the affidavit just made and published
has sworn falsely regarding the result
Of the 1906 expedition