Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-28
ALASKAN EXPLORATION.
The Interior of our Arctic Territory to
be Thoroughly Investigated.

Sailed from san Francisco April y. 1884, for
notham Inlet, on a voyage of discovery. the
United states schooner Ounalaska. Lieutcn-
ant George NJ. stoney, L. 5. n, command
ing.
The above brief notice Is about all that
has appeared in print says the New
York Herald Of the 10Th inst, concerning
the expedition which has recently been
fitted out at the Mare Island Navy Yard
for the purpose of exploring Putnam
river, Alaska, and which promises to
open up vast territory Of the United
States, Of which an almost absolute ig-
nOrance prevails throughout the civilized
world at the present moment. A glance
at Putnam river and the surrounding
country some fifty miles inland from its
debOuchUre into HOtham inlet by
Lieutenant StOney last year revealed
the interesting fact that the stream can
be readily Ravigated by the largest steam
ers for that distance. and in all prObabili-
ty for hundreds of miles further on. Ac-
cOrding to the statement of the natives it
is wider and deeper above its many
mouths, and numerous small rivers flow
into it through fertile valleys and dense
| forests of spruce and pine. Further than
this, little is known. Enough evidences of
a mighty river existed, however, to con-
vince Lieut.. St0ney, during the short ten
days spent in the vicinity, that a deter
mined explorer would be amply repaid in
seeking more definite information of its
source and the terra mcOgnita through
which it flows. a complete report of his
| investigations and explorations during
the limited time at his disposal in this re-
| giOn was forwarded by Lieut.. StOney to
| the Secretary of the Navy upon his return
/ to San Francisco in October last, with the
| request that he be allowed to return and
| continue the work under more favorable
conditions.
The question of a suitable vessel for the
expedition arising, the coast survey
| schooner Yukon was applied for, and
subsequently the Earnest-bOth excellent
vessels for the service and lying idle on
/ the Pacific coast. Failing in securing
/ either Of these, the young Lieutenant next
/ turned his attention to the Mare Island
/ Navy yard, where lay the schooner Ouna-
/ laska, recently seized in the harbor OF
/ Acajutla by the authorities of San Saliva
/ dor for attempting to supply insurgents
with arms and munitions of war, in viola
1 tiOn of the neutrality laws, and afterw ard
/ presented to the United States by that
/ government.
| 4 survey of this vessel by a board OF
naval officers at Mare Island resulted in
/ her being pronounced suitable in all re-
/ spects for the proposed expedition, and
the order was issued from the Navy De
| partment to fit her out with a crew OF
/ eight men and such stores and provisions
as might be required for the trip, and
Lieut.. StOney was placed in command,
/ with Ensign j. l.. Purcell and Gunner
| George p. Cushman as subordinate officers.
1t would have been difficult for better
selection of officers to have been made for
/ the expedition. Although a comparatively
Young man to be intrusted with the re-
| spOnsibilities of a command, Lieut..
! StOney sails with the fullest confidence
| repOsed in him by the Navy Department
/ Possessed of a powerful physique, an iron
/ constitution, coupled with never failing
! flow of spirits, even under the most trying
| circumstances, and varied experience
! considerably greater than falls to the lot
| of most naval officers of his rank and
! length of service, and with the assurance
! that his zeal, skill and abilities are re-
! cognized and appreciated by the depart
ment, the young commander goes forth
with every incentive ''tO do or die" and
with decided preference for the former