The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-10-27
COOK IGNORES PEARY'S CLAIM
Explorer Also Silent Concerning
Motive for Barrill Affidavit on
Mount Mckinley.

DULUTH, Oct. 23.-Peary's dis
patch to Washington friends question:
ing the value of Knud Rasmussen's
report on Cooks achievements
brought forth no comment from Cook,
and it appears unlikely he will make
reply. Neither could Cook be in
duced to say anything regarding dis
patches from Missoula that his agents
in Montana had secured satisfactory
evidence that Barrills affidavit was
the result of inducements" He
stated, however, it would be impossi-
BILE for him to go to Montana before
the latter part of November and pos
sibly not until the middle of Deem
Der. Cook today sent a message to
Professor Torp, of the University of
Copenhagen, the text of the message
being: Hope you will send me
Lonsdale with data and records about
the month. Instruments cannot be
sent until next year (Signed.)
FREDERICK COOK"
Will Send for Instruments.
Explorer Cook stated today that his
instruments would be sent for next
June, which will probably bring them
to this country next September.
Barrll is COntrau1ctcO.
MISSOULA, Oct. 23.-An affidavit
contradicting the assertions of Ed
ward n. Barrill in his affidavit de-
claring Cook did not reach the summit
of Mount Mckinley was secured by
attorneys representing Cook in this
city today from c. o. Bridgford, until
recently a partner with Barrill in the
real estate business at Hamilton
Mont.
Other affidavits, contradicting the
statements of Barrill and declaring
the latter made contradictory state
ments before he made affidavit were
also secured by attorneys but not
made public. Bridgford will leave
here Monday for New York, where he
will appear as witness in support of
his sworn statement Bridgford de-
clares in his affidavit that he was as
ISOLATED for 10 to II years with Bar
rill on friendly terms and they con-
tinued together until Barrill went to
Seattle in the latter part of September
He always found Barrill a man of
integrity, and the first time he heard
Barrill say anything about Cooks
ascent of Mount Mckinley was in
September of this year, about the time
the news of the discovery of the pole
was received. He said a man named
Nicholas, from Chicago, connected
with the Bitter Root Valley Irrigation
company, talked of it and Barrill had
an appointment to meet Nicholas to
make statement. Barrill said he did
not keep the appointment, but the
next night Nicholas and Barrill met
and Nicholas said that if Barrill would
make statement about Cooks ascent
of Mount Mckinley he would give him
a bond that he would get his money
Later Barrill told Bridgford of re-
ceiving telegram from man
named Miller photographer in Seat
tie. Miller came to Missoula and Bar
rill told Bridgeford: Il am to meet
him there. This means from $4,000 to
$4,000 to me-"
THAT was the last l saw of Barrill
until he came back from Seattle Octo-
Der ~ Bridgford said. Barrill, after
coming from Seattle and before going
to New York left the impression he
was going as a friend of Cooks. The
affidavit concludes:
Mr.. Barrill stated he was there at
Mount Mckinley when DR.. Cook made
the ascent of Mount Mckinley Barrill
showed me pictures in a book and
said the pictures had been taken on
the trip up Mount Mckinley. He also