The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-03

Lieutenant Schwatka, OF Arctic fame,
who, with his party, was picked up BY
Lieutenant Ray, at St. Miohsal's speak
Of his trip up the Yukon river, Alaska,
says they started from Fort Vancouver,
W. 7. on May 81, being detailed by
General Miles, commanding the Depart
raent of Columbia, to make an explora-
ton of the valley of the Yukon. He
travelled 800 miles overland, reaching
the head-waters Of tho river, where they
constructed raft Of logs to navigate
the stream to its month. They procured
q crew OF six Indians and proceeded
down the gradually increasing stream
within $50 miles OF Fort Chilcot, when
rapids were encountered.
Down them the Indians refused to 90,
and attempted to force the raft ashore.
Schwatka in order to suppress the
mutiny, opened fire on the Indians kill
ing three, when the others submitted,
and the rapids were run. The voyage
on the raft was ]. 1929 miles. From the
mouth OF the Yukon they proceeded to
st. Michsel's, where they boarded the
Leo. Lieutenant Schwatka claims that
he has been further up the Yukon than
any other white man.
This is denied by Signal Service OIL
Ger Leayitt, who has been stationed at
st. Michael's, and who also came down
on the Leo. He says he assembled the
Yukon to Fort Selkirk, 1000 miles from
its mouth. He describes the river as
being one of the largest in the world,
discharglng 90 per cent. more water
than the Mississippi, and as being at
places seven miles in breadth.
The Yukon, whichH Lieutenant
Schwatka has been exploring, is the
empties into Behring Sea, Its length is
probably about 1000 miles, and for
three-fonrths of that distance it is navi-
gable for steamers. 1t cuts through the
Rocky Mountains by narrow, deep,
and very swift channel, without falls or
obstruction, and amidst scenery of sur.
passing grandeur. The Yukon has five
mouths, the intervening delta being
seventy miles in breadth. At some
points along its lower course, it Is so
wide that one bank cannot be seen from
the other. For the first thousand miles
1t is from one TO five miles in width, and
In some places, including islands, it is
twenty miles from main bank to main
bank. The estimates of the length of
this magnificent stream vary consider
ably, Mr.. Robert Campbell, of the
Hudson's Bay Company, declares that
it is navigable at certain seasons OF the
year for distance of 8, 900 miles. SIN
the spring Of $780," he writes, 81
crossed ehe mountains and came on the
headwaters of q magnificent stream,
which 1 named the Policy river. In
1850 received permission to explore
the Policy down to its mouth, in due
time reaching Fort Yukon, setting the
question at rest that the Pelly and
Yukan were one and the same river,
Three kinds CT salmon ascend the river
as far as Pelly Banks, which is about
5000 miles from the sea coast. When
in full freshet flow in summer, steamers
could ascend to within 80 miles of Pelly
Banks" Whether or not Mr.. Camp
bells estimate of the Yukon's length is
to be relied on, 1t Is certain that neither
Lieutenant Sobwstka's nor Signal Off
Ger Leavitts claim to have navigated
the river for the greatest distance can
be allowed.
Lieutenant Story, who went upon the
last trip of the revenue steamer Oorwin
to distribute among the Tchekchee In
dams of Alaska the $4,000 worth of
presents given by the Government in
recognition OF the fact that they afforded
shelter aud food to the officers and crew
OF the steamer Rogers, burned in 1881,
reported the discovery of an immense
river, hitherto unknown to geographers.
1t is his opinion that the discovery of
this river accounts for the large quaint
ties of floating timber in the Arctic
Ocean, which has popularity been sup
posed to come down the Yukon river.
The Indians stated that the river in
some places is twenty miles wide. 1
lies within the Arctic circle.