Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-16

conferred by the board of aldermen, branded as a lie the affidavit of Ed ward N. Barrlll, the guide who says he did not attain the summit of Mt Mckinley. and, finally, to crown the day. fired the shot which started twenty four-hour automobile race at Brighton beach.
 Another Lecture Tour in West.
 He will remain in New York until Sunday night, when he will start for the W vest on another lecture tour. In the r eantime he will confer with couns,i over the advisability of bring ing action against Barrill for alleged perjury. and he may issue a detailed affidavit in reply to the guide.
 Presented a Gold Medal.
 The conferring of the freedom of the city upon the explorer was formal affair, conducted jointly by the board of aldermen and the Arctic club of America The club presented to him gold medal in recognition of his dis covery of the pole. while the alder men took the occasion to recognize him officially for the first time since his arrival on home shores. George Borup and Prof. Donald B. McMillan of the Peary expedition, were among the interested spectators of the cere- mony. Before the honor was bestowed, President McGowan of the board an- nounced that q deem 1t fair to Dr. Cook to say here that he wanted this action by the board of aldermen post poned until after all his proofs had been produced, but we declined be- cause it was believed that the senu- ment of the board was belief in pr. Cook. and I believe the city of New York believes in him"
 This statement was greeted with
 pr. Cooks Speech.
 In his speech, Dr. Cook said in part:
 This is the proudest moment Of my life. and to feel that you have confidence In me. in the face or the unfounded statement and against the false affidavit published during the iaA few days. creates feeling or pride in me that my countrymen be- lieve my word.
 T will substantiatc every clam l have made with every proof within the power of man. The charges brought against me relative to my DO. lar trio have been based upon evaslve answers by my loyal Eskimo friends, while the alleged affidavit or my Mt. Mckinley guide is nothing more nor less than deliberate talsehood: Ihe confidence you repose in me is not misplaced The Eslimos were made to say what they did not say, and l will bring them here. not to prove my conquest of the pole, but to prove the truth of this last statement. Their presence SIS proof conquest will not be necessary.
 Has Lone Talk With His Lawyer.
 After the ceremony at the city hall. pr. Cook had a long talk with his lawyer. Henry Wellington Wack or New York. concerning BarilIs afflda- vit. He afterwards intimated that he had not yet decided to take legal ac- ton in the matter.
 Can Produce Original Diary.
 'I am perfectly willing to go before the ExplorersIel and give my tes- timonv as to the ascent of Mt. Mckln- lev" said pr. Cook, tonight Tn fact, l have already consented to do so.
 He was asked whether he could pro- duce the original diary of the climb. q will look into the matter and see whether I still have my original ola- ries," he replied. T believe they are somewhere, and ! will produce them If l can find them"
 BarrilI Lied in His Affidavit.
 Dr. Cook reiterated his charge that Barrin lied in his affidavit. "The dec laration that the point where the pho- IO&IdDn Mlln lllC lio5 NA7 far from the top of Nit. Mckinley IS a falsehood' he said. Tt was taken at the summit His statement that told him not to tell anyone about the trip Ia also baseless. There was no se- cret whatever about it. --..
 Miller Always Hostile.
 "As to Miller, he has been hostile tc me from beginning to end. l have nc reason to say I have found him un- truthful, but he knew nothing about the climbing of Mount Mckinley, as he was sixty or seventy miles away al the time"
 How the Guides Affidavit Was Ob-
 tained.
 Details of how Barrill's affidavit was obtained became available here today The guide came here quietly two days ago and informed Gen. Thomas n Hubbard, president of the Peary Arctic club, that everything in the aff1daVi' was true. and, after talking with mem bers of the Explorers club, departed with his wife presumably for the west
 While in the city Barrill talked witt Gen J. NJ. Ashton of Tacoma, who ob' tained Barrills affidavit, with the affi- davits from Fred Printz, packer or the Mount Mckinley expedition; sam uel Beecher, the cook, and Walter MIL Ter, IDe oAi " the Cook party.
 General Ashton, speaking of th' manner in which the Barrill affidavi was obtained, said: T received wort from General Hubbard to ascertain thu exact truth concerning Dr. Cooki climb of Mount Mckinley and had no the remotest idea what side l was oi or would be on.
 q sent Miller to Barrill and othe members of the expedition and ha, them brought to Tacoma. They wer' all carefully examined. Barrill spok openly and sduarely from the start.
 ''Barrill said that the doctor was good fellow and that, he (BarrilD ha' not given the Mount Mckinley matte a thought until the north pole question came up The guide said to me: 'Fhel I talked it oyer with my wife after yol sent for me and we reached the con tlusion that it was my duty to siv the world the truth.
 Other Affidavits to Be Produced.
 General Ashton said that there wer other affidavits. the originals Of whief he understood were all to be tune over to the committee of the Explorer. club which is Investigating Dr. Cook ascent Of Mount Mckinley. as well a tn other authorized organizations whlc gre. endeavoring to ascertain the trut ebcut the pole and Mount Mckinley.
 General tfubnrrd said m an inter vfen todav that he asked Genera Ash top to obtain the facts in the ascent 0