The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-23
srRAwpERRIEs IN A1AsKA.


i
RAnkl Wall Of 1es'
Ina letter to the Timl dated sltka
Alaska, September 10, Lieutenant sChWat
ks says; Tbs Tina Alaskan Expedition
was left at Icy Bay on July II by thu
United States steamer Pints, and bsgal
the survey Of that bay at once, Will
preparations for explorations In the St
Elias Alps on and about Mount st, Elias
which great mountain was atterward as
csnded to q height above the snow level
greater than waR ever made before above
that line by Alpine climbers,
10y Bay Is q mere ipdentation on the
Alaskan coast, some fifty or 90 miles wesI
Of Yakutsk Bay, and would have no ex'
Elstence we're it not for an immense glazIel
emenatipg from Mount ST. Elias and jut,
ting out into the Pacific ocean far enough
to make the weatern side Of the bay, On
Monday morning, July 10, the expedition
for the exploration OF the mountains got
under way, The course at first lay up the
eastern shore OF the bay to where the In
dians said q large river came In at the
head OF the bay, thence up sthis river To
where II came from under the ice Of i'm.
mense glaciers, or as far as the Yakutsk
Indians ever 60 when hunting bears,
mountain goats, and the like, and thence
10 the base Of Mount st, Elias,
AT $3.50 O'Clock the party struck small
river fifty or seVenty'hve yards wide,
which had To be forded middle deep in
Ice water from the glacier, The next
hours walk was over beautiful prairie,
with heavy grass and wild pea vines, in
teTspsTsed with strawberry patches
loaded with fruit, and many pretty clumpa
OF evergreen trees, This march brought
the party to the great river which empties
into the head Of Icy Bay, and which was
struck about elk or eight miles from itR
mouth. Its immense Hl2e was q great sur
prise, as 1t was not supposed that such q
river existed in that part Of Alaska,
where 1t was first struck, The stream Is
from mile to to q mile and half wide;
eight hundred to one thousand yards III
water, the remainder being low mud,
sand and gravel.
The bay is covered at high water, when
the stream must be q second Mississippi
in appearance. Its western bank Is a
perpendicular wall Of ice, part OF the same
great glacier which forms the western
shore OF Icy Bay, It was loaded with
glacier mud from the Mount OF St. Elias
Alpa, and its swift current, with waves
about foot high, was thought 10 be
eight or ten miles an hour. ! was sur.
missed at the time, and aftarward partially
conoborated, that the great river ia en-
tlrely too big In every way to DO draining
only the Beaward sll pas OF the ST, Elias
Alps in the vicinity OF the mountains from
which It comes. II must head far beyond
the range and break through them at Re-
partan Pass, and after draining tho Ira.
yesse pine districts, its muddy waters from
the glaciers discolor all the wsters Of Icy
Bay and for many miles out 10 the sea.
1t was named Jones River. after George
Jones, Of the New York Times, and geo.
graphically was one OF the most important
discoveries Of the expedition. II Is not
thought to be riyaled by any Alaskan
river emptyinE into the Pacific Ocean.
The real ascent OF Mount st. Elias be.
gan July %, After several days climbing
the barometer showed an ascent Alt0geth.
er above the sea level Of about 1900 feet,
nearly all Of which was above the snow
level. This gave to the Times party, 1t Is
believed, the Alpine record Of the highest
climb above the snow level ever made,
certainly the highest on an almost wholly
unknown mountain. The party returned
10 Ice Bay well satisfied with its record.
Its geographical results we're beyond It's
expectations. Three immense peaks from
1000 to 5000 feet were named sfter the
President. cleveland Peak !" the Score.
tary OF the Navy, whitney Peak" and
tho Commander Of the Pinta, Nicholas
Peak" Returning from Icy Bay to
Yakutsk Bay, q swamp was encountered
and the party barely escaped. At va
kutsk three separate excurnions we're
made and many geographical features
mapped.