Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-08
Lieut.. Schxvatka,s Explorations.


THE RoQUErTE MEDAL FORWARDED TO HIM-HIs re-
CENT DISCOVERIES IN ALASKA-A RIVER NAMED
AFTER PROF. NOURSE
The gold medal recently awarded to Lieut..
SchWatka by the Geographical society OF Paris for
MS valuable discoveries In the cause of science has
just been forwarded him by the War department to
the headquarters OF the department OF the COlum-
olii, at vancouver, where he is now on duty. This
medal Is awarded by the "Roauette Foundation
Society" for the most eminent and distinguished
geographical explorations and Is the same rs those
awarded for like services in years past to Kane
Hayes ana Hall, the American explorers The
medal IS quite handsome one, with a coin value OF
thirty dollars
Eectrotypes OF the other medals referred to above
nave Deen at Lieut.. SchwatkaS request. forwarded
MIN TO add to his collection. These last are the
same exhibited in the government building during
the centennial year.
EXPLORATIONS IN ALASKA
Lieut. Schwatka, In company with several other
army officers stationed 1.-THE post in Washington
Territory, have been making military reconnots-
Sance on the Yukon river in Alaska and there dis
covered branch Of the Dayay, which the Lieuten-
ant has named Nourse River, after Prof c. j..
NourSe, OF the Naval Observatory, whose yarious
works relating to Arctic explorers are well known
In this country and abroad. Below is suboined a
copy OF private letter, written to this gentleman
Dy Lieut.. SchWatla, under date OF October 25 in
Which he makes mention OF the discovery alluded
to-
81 have Just found time to answer your letter OF
June 23d and postal card OF August 2Sth after re-
turning from summers dash through Alaska In
the interest OF military matters, although have
not forgotten to assist science little as I went
am under deep obligations for your kindness in
attempting TO hunt up the electrotype copies OF
Kanes, Hayes and Halls Roquette medals, the OBJ
talning or which would give almost anything TO
accomplish l have taken the liberty with Your
name OF attaching it to mountain river that 1
personally explored about five miles from its
mouth lt Is the main branch of the DaVaV nCr
larger than the Dayay river at the tunction),
about eighty yards wide at its mouth, and a beau
tiful mountain stream, heading in large lake sur
rounded by glaclerS-So the ChilkatS say. l have
some dry plate Photographic views along it, which,
Indian name is Kut-lal-koos-ah, signifying Lake Ike
Water" 1t flows down through deep
gorge, canon or valley, with hills on either side
Baird glacier about Il miles wide, on the west, the
Saussure glacier, about miles wide, on the east,
both named by me; have also photographs OF
these). GAS soon as can obtain the same Will
send you copy OF the report of the commission of
the French Geographical Society awarding me the
the commission, Is about all can say Tor the
The reports to be forwarded by Lieut.. schwatka,
accompanied by photographs OF the scenery
encountered on his explorations through Alaska,
will be looked forward to with considerable degree
OF interest.
INDIAN RELICS FROM THE YUKON
In the Compile Rendu Of the Societe de Geo.
graphic, session OF November 9th, the receipt from
Lieut. Schwatka was acknowledged OF number Of
stone arrow-heads or lances, picked up by Mr..
Charles A. Homan, Of the corps of o. s. engineers,
at Ceilo Oregon, on the left bank of the Columbia
Engineer Homan was the Typographical assistant
on the late sAlaska Military Reconnaissance u
under Lieut.. Schwatka, reconnaissance extended
over 1000 miles. 800 OF which was raft journey
on the Yukon river. The itinerary Of this, s'the
longest raft journey In the interest of geographical
SCIENCE Is In press as part OF the neutenants full
report The arTOw-headS found by TopOgrapher
Homan did not appear ever to have been used, for
they were found among the debris OF flint on which
they had been cut, and no instrument was discoy-
cred which could have been used TO cut them out
Many Indians were found at Cello for the salmon
nshing.