Show IDAHOAN DEFENDS COOK rancher prospector makes aff dav t in support of explorers cla ms lewiston ida walter stiles tor for fifteen years a rancher ot of orofino this state who has made numerous pros hect ng trips to alaska made aff dav t on friday in support of dr cook s claim that he ascended mount me kinley stiles went before united states commissioner J W merrill and swore that he with several companions who were on a prospecting trip to alaska in the bummer summer of 1906 was at tyonek when dr cooks party returned from the attempt to ascend the mountain chris hansen a of stiles party carr ed the cablegram announce ing the ascent to seward stiles says he talked repeatedly with dr COOK and ald barrill botn boto ot whom described the ascent in detail |