Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-11-12
AN ARCTIC WONDERLAND.
Interesting Geographical Discov-
cries I'm Alaska-An Immense
River and Gigantic Peaks.

In letter dated Sitka. Alaska, Sept
10. Lieut.. Schwatka says:
1.-The expcdit on was left at Icy bay
on July II by the United States steam
er Pinta. and began The survey of the
bay at once, with preparations for ex-
plorations in the ST. Elias Alps on and
about Mount ST. Elias. which mountain
was aftcrward assembled to a height
above the snow level greater than was
ever made before above that line by
Alpine climbers. ley bay is mere in
dentaton on the Alaskan coast somo
fifty to sixty miles west of Yakutat bay,
and would have no existence were it
not for an immense glacier emanating
from Mount St Elias and iutting out
into the Pacific ocean far enough TO
make the western side of the bay. On
Monday morning, July 10 the eXpedi-
ton for the exploration of the noun
tains got under way. The course at
first lay up the eastern shore of ley
bay. to where the Indians said largo
river came in. the head of the bay.
thence up the river to where it came
from under the ice of
IMMENSE GLACIERS.
as far as the Yakut Indians ever 90
when hunting bears, mountain goats.
etc. and thence TO the base of Mount
st. Elias. At $50 o'clock the party
struck a small river, fifty to seventy
five yards wide, which had to be ford
ed middle deep in ice-water from tho
glaciers. The next hours walk was
over a beautiful prairie. with heavy
grass and wild pca-vines, intcrSpersed
with strawberry patches loaded VITA
fruit and many pretty clumps of ever
green trees. This march brought the
party to the great river which emp,cs
into the head OF ley bay, and whIrl
was struck about six TO eight mics
from its mouth. Its immense sine was
a great surprise. rs it was not suppos-
ed that such river existed in hat part
of Alaska. Where it was first struck
the stream is from mile to a mile ani
a half wide; S00to 1000 yards is water.
the remainder being low mud, sand.
and gravel The bay is covered at high
water when the stream must be
a SECOND MISSISSIPPI
IN appearance: its western bank f.
perpendicular wall Of ice, part of ,a
same great glacier which forms tao
western shore of les bay. /, was lot-
ed with glacier mud from the MoHs
81. Elias Alps. and its swift curreu,.
with waves about a FOO high. WAS
thought 10 be- eigh, or tn miles an
hour. 1t was ,urm ,cJ AT the time.
aud ai,crward partially corroboratci.
that the great river was cnt rely too
bic in every way to be draining only
the seaward slopes of the 81 L "a,
Alps in the vicinity of the mouuta us
from which it comes. IL must head l,r|
beyond the range and break through
them at Riparian pass, aud after drug.
ng the TrayeSSe pine districts its mud. .
ly waters from the glaciers di-color all
he waters of ley bay and for many
miles out 10 the sea Ii wa5 named
Jones river after George Jones. Of
New York city, and geograph.cally.
was one Of the most important d.,coy-
'r.cs of the eXpcdit on. 1t j., not
hought to be riyaled by any Alaskan
liver emptying into the Pacific ocean.
The real
ASCENT OF MouNr>r. ELIAS
,egan July -. After several DAYS
climbing the barometer showed an
,scent altogether above the sea lcycl II
bout 1900 feel, nearly all Of VIII ca
va, above the snow level This gave
o the party, it is believed, the Alpine
ecorJ OF the highest climb above the
now level ever made. certainly the
highest on s1 almost unknown mount.
in. The party returned to ley bay
veil satisfied with it. record. Ii, gco-
.raphical results were beyond its cx.
rotations. Three immense peaks,
rom 1900 TO 5000 feet high. wer,
amed, af,cr the president, cleveland
'eak.' the secretary of the navy.
Whitney Peak, and the commander
f the Pinta. "Nichols Peak. Re.
nrning from ley bay to Yakutat bay,
wamp was encountered. and the party
arely escaped. At Yakutat three sep
rate excursions were made and many
CIV geographical features mapped"
a Young Man Tries Farming.
Almost every one has heard the story