New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-09
WALRUSSIA.

GRANTLEY HARBOR-THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN
TELEGRAPH-NATURE AND RESOURCES OF
THE COUNTRY-CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE.
From Our Special Correspondent
BARK CLARABEL. AT SEA, Sept /, 1867.
We arrived at Port Clarence. or Grantey Harbor
on June 2s This harbOr, which is the only one Of
Importance the eastern side of Behring Straits, is
situated in about longitude 1869 W., latitude CSC 10
n, a few miles below Cape York, 1t affords good
shelter with plenty of water for vessels of medium
size. The entrance to Port Clarence is easily found
by means of long spit extending towards the n N.
W, which cannot be mistaken for any other point in
this vicinity. The entrance to Grantley Harbor is
only fit for the passage Jf vessels of light draught.
Here some of the vessels of Admiral Pyms expedition
in search of Sir John Franklin wnered in 1S5O-5l.
Traces of the houses occupied by these men still
exist The work of the Telegraph Company at
this point has been vigorously prosecuted under the
charge of Capt. ID. Is. Libby, who was left here
with about forty employees III October last. The
party have in general, enjoyed good health, though
the scarcity of provisions as referred to III my laSt
letter presented serious obstacle TO the prosecution
of their work. In spite of all difficulties ana Cd
staces they succeeded i'm building some 40 miles of
telegraph line. and in distributing material through
out the entire district extending from BenIng straits
to Golovln Bay on Norton Sound. Capt Libby, who
in command of this district, Is an experienced
telegraph builder, and has shown himsclt-by his
energy perseverance and economical ablllues-fully
adapted to the position assigned nm lie carries
with him the respect and esteem OF ali ms suOoIdl-
mates, who, though they have suffered more or less
during the past year. speak IN the highest terms OF
Capt Lbby's general management. The arrival of
the Clara Bell at Port Clarence hailed with every
demonstration of jOy The party having been reduced,
through some mlSmanagement, TO dlet OF WARNS
and seal meat fora few weeks were eagar to greet the
arrival OF vessel containing comparatively lreSh
provisions But one death has occurred during the
Winter, viz: that of NJ H. Slavan OF San Francisco,
who died from chronic rheumatism, june :, 1861.
Mr. Savan was affected by this disease at the time
of his arrival at the post and although urged 10y MS
friends of the expedition 10 return 10 san francisco;
decided to remain during the winter lie had
during his illness good medical attendance, and was
inferred with the rites of Christian burial near the
station at Port Clarence His manner and habits
won the universal respect of all who were associated
with him. Port Clarence Is the central point az
which the natives from the Arctic and III the vicinity
of kOtzebuo Sound meet annually IN the Spring for
purposes of trade At the time Of our arrival there
were present several hundred Indians, the number
of whom constantly increasing by daily arrivals.
Vessels engaged in the coast trade, for skins and OIL!
usually visit tins POINT early IN the season. Al the
time OF arrival Port Clarence had only been free
from ice about one week. from tins point there
is communication IN Summer by sea, ana
in Winter by land, with settlement
of Indians at King Eagan, or Cape Prince of Wales.
To Mcssrs. W. A. Walker and L. }. Rodgers who
spent portion of the Winter at the settlement on
Cape Prince OF Wales, your correspondent is indebted
for many items of interest in regard 10 that point
The settlement numbers about 500 Indians VINO sub
sist mainly upon walrus ana seal meat, ana tllde
largely with the natives to the norhWard and across
BehTng Straits. Their principal trade IS IN OIL and
bone, for which they receive ammunition guns, ana
knives brought across the country from rs far as
Yakoutsk in Eastern Siberia. During the past Win
tor all the natives IN the vicinity of Cape Prince OF
Wales and the borders of the Arctic have suffered
much from scarcity of food. Messrs. Rodgers Wal
ker. and ode Bendeleben, 10 whom Capt. Libby was
indebted for an occasional supply OF fresh game and
meat report the natives as having Deen IN almost
starving condition. To show You what slender food
Indians may require. | can only state that during
portion of the Winter they were living upon nOuTlsh-
ment derived from boot-soles and the lining of bH-
kets Capt. Libby in obtaining provisions from capt
Ennis, who was IN command OF the DIVISION, was
.,r.t.4 er#n trrfh 70 lgln
ton Of the amount sent, through avalanche
of earth and snow. Between Port Clarence and Col
OWN Bay there is but little timber, except on the
southeastern portion of the district. A large nyer
cmptying into GOlOyln Bay, near its head Is lined
with timber of various qualities ali, however suit
able for telegraph purposes. lhe rivers are plehii-
fully supplied with salmon and white tish, while the
plains abound in rabbits and grouse. Reindeer arc
not frequently seen IN the vicinity OF the coast ana
the edges of Norton Sound. The resources OF the
country cannot to any extent be depended upon Tor
the supplies OF parties residing there. lhe principal
furs obtained here are the mink and American sable,
stOne-marten. With these the natives trade win
those the opposite side of Behring Straits Capt.
Lbby's party, throughout their entire explorations,
found no traces of minerals except IRON ana copper
The country generally presents barren appearance,
and cannot produce vegetables 10 any extent. Capt.
Libby endeayOred. during the last Winter to SINK
a well but after going through % feet Of Ice decided
10 give IL up. The average depth 20 which the sur
face tbaws is about nine inches.
months January, February and March, was less than
40o although the thermometer has been observed as
low as IS Farcnheit. Were il not for the severe
snow storm called "pOOrgas' which now and then
sweeps across the plains would hardly notice the
severe cold. Portions of Capt Libbys party were
encamped in tents with the thermometer at b. As
have said before, il has been satisfactorily proven
from the experience of these men, that white can
live in the extreme northern climate without especial
danger of suffering, provided they are furnished with
a suitable amount of provisions. The party under
Capt. Libby, although without bread or Hour for
some weeks, escaped the scurvy entirely. The gene
rally received opinion that scuryy is generated from
want Of -four does not seem TO be correct Al the sta
ton Fort ST. Michaels, where plenty of Hour was
ceved and freely used, they afflicted with this
disease while at Port Clarence where they al
most entirely dependent upon the resources of the
country for some weeks, living upon warus and seal
meat, without flour or bread, no symptom of scurvy
made its appearance. III fact the climate and tenn
perature OF the country in the vicinity of Port Clar
ence seems 10 present great obstacle 90 ITS habita
ton by Americans. Should the extreme northern
portion of our new Territory of Alaska ever be set
tied, l am convinced that Port Clarence will form
of the most eligible points at which to locate,
both from its geographical and commercial position.
As far Behring Straits is concerned il IS the only
good harbOr upon the eastern shore while it entirely
commands the trade between KOtZebue sound the
Arctic, and Norton Sound. Sailing hence July 2 we
reached POycr Bay JulyS.
THE TURF