Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-09
LIT. FREDERICK SCHWATKA.

A New Expedition Under Command OF
the Famous Expl0rer--.Past Ac-
complishments Of the Daring Trav-
eler.
The ARGUS of last Monday spoke of
the presence in the city on his way to
new fields OF exploration in Old Mexico.
OF the former Rock Island citizen, 1t.
Frederick Schwatka, of Arctic fame.
Todsy's Inter Ocean gives the following
additional information of interest re-
gardinglthe trip:
There has just left the city of Chicago
an expedition that within month or two
will probably accomplish results which
will bring 1t before the American people
as one of considerable importance. This
Is an expedition into the northern part of
old Mexico, commanded by Mr.. Fred
erick Schwatka, the Arctic and Alaskan
explorer and traveller. He was born in
Galena, in this state. Sept. 90, 1S49. He
removed to Oregon with his parents in
1858, and in 1867 received an appoint
ment to the United Stated Military Acad
envy from that state, graduating in 1871.
He served IN the Third United States
cavalry from that year until 1884. when
he resigned to enter civil life. From June,
1878. until September, 1880, he was in
command of the Franklin search party in
the Arctic. which accomplished the
longest sledge journey In the world,
1921 miles in length and occupying IL
months and 30 days in its duration. II
experienced the coolest temperature ever
recorded by white men travelling in the
field, the Sd of January, 1880, a day on
which the party moved camp twelve
miles, showing II degrees below zero
(Fahrenheit. or 103 degrees below freez
ing point. This was also the first expe-
dition to travel through the whole of an
Arctic winter 1t buried a large number
Of Sir John Franklin's dead and
brought back the remains of one officer
Of that Inflated EXPEDITION which were
buried In Dean cemetery, Edinburgh,
Scotland, with the most imposing funeral
ceremonies ever seen in that city. II
cleared up all that remained Of the Frank
lin mystery, burying their dead. bringing
home important records and relics, and
establishing the loss of the main records
beyond all reasonable doubt. Books de-
scriptive of this expedition were pub
lisbed In the United States, England,
Scotland, France, Germany, Italy and
Austria by different authors.
Schwatks's second expedition was fol
the government, in Alaska, along the
Yukon river. Hiring seventy-fve to
eighty Indian porters on the Pacific coast,
he had them carry his effects on their
backs across the mountains to the head
OF the Yukon river, where the porters
were discharged. Here his party built a
raft and foated down the great stream
on it for 1.305 miles, the longest record
ed raft journey in the world. The upper
500 miles of the great stream was I'm
known until mapped by this expedition.
Here they shot number of rapids ag-
gregating five to six miles in length,
sailed and rowed across 1856 miles of lakes
in their cumbersome craft of AZ feet In
length and 10 in breadth, and altogether
were nearly two-mOnths on this print,
tive vessel built of spruce logs. By this
expedition the Yukon river got Its first
map, showing it to be 2045 miles in
length, navigable for | 1856 miles, and
one of the most important of the world.
Schwaiks's third expedition was for
New York Times in Alaska, among the
Mount st. Elias Alps. in and around the
base OF the great mOuDtain-the highest
in North Amortization which the snowy
range takes its name. The Agassiz Gls-
cier, the largest in the temperate regions.
was named and outlined by this party,
this enormous mass of leo covering over
1000 miles of territory. Mount st. Elias
was assembled for over 1000 feet, the
highest ascent ever made above the snow
level, which here reaches to its base.
Schwatka holds medals from the Paris
Geographical society, the oldest and
largest society OF the kind in the world
the Imperial Geographical society of Rus
STA, and others; while he is honorary and
corresponding member of the Bremen
Geographical society. the Swiss Geo.
GRAPHICAL society, the Royal Italian, etc.
The new land fourth) expedition is in
to the northern part of Old Mexico, so
long held by the warlike tribes Of noun
tain Apaches, and for which reason they
have been practically UNEMPLOYED coun~
try. over which pen and pencil will now
go for the first time In thorough search,
to give the world benefit of what is
known. The party goes over the Santa
Fe route to the southwest, where 1t will
sutft.
Mrs. Schwatka accompanies her hus-
band on this expedition.