Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-09-12
ACROSS THE WIRES.
Important and Newsy Tales
Told by the Telegraph.
Terrible Experience of a Sur
Veving Party in Alaska.

DR.. T. c. MendenhaI, Superintendent o
the United States Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey, has received several reports from Johr
E. McGrath, of st. Louis, who has charge %
one of the parties engaged in determining
the 141st parallel, the boundary between the
possessions of the United States and Great
Britain In Alaska.
Mr.. McGrath's party is encamped ON the
Yukon River. about 400 miles from Sitka
and in one of his reports he tells of the priva.
lions experienced b. the party during last
fall and winter
Owing to the wreck of the steamship Arc
tic, which had provisions and other things
for the party on board, the SURVEYORS were
In danger Of starvation, and serious alarm
was felt as week after week went by and the
steamship did not appe ar.
In October the river was frozen over.
Just before this party OF starving miners
came down the river from Forty Mile Creek
and insisted on taking from Mr.. McGrath a
lighter that had been loaned him in
order to continue their journey. In
the hope of securing provisions two
Of the surveying party French and
McLarty1 were detailed to go with the
miners and secure what they could in the
way of eatables at a place called Miklukayet
and to put back to camp through the winter
by sled and dog. The members Of the party
had been placed on short rations before
French and McLarty left.
They set out for the main camp in Febru-
ary," says Mr.. McGrath, with hand sled
and toboggan drawn by three dogs. These
they loaded with -four and beans, knowing
how scant one lot was, and after seventy
days Of a Journey got into our camp on May
2, having Travelled $50 miles, and most of this
was gone over thrice, as they could not haul
their load all at one time.
"When they reached us they had only the
clothes on their back, one pair of blankets
and no coats, but on their sleds were 200
pounds of flour. For the last days they cut
off the tops of their boots to feed the dogs.
gave them deer skins and whatever they
could spare. Their own clothes they cached
on the way"
The progress of the survey has been greatly
retarded By cloudy weather, and Mr.. Nc
Grath has determined to remain another
year in order that his part of the survey may
be finished.
Collections have been made as far as posi-
BILE Of insects and fora. The party has re-
ceived large consignment of provisions and
is comfortably situated for the weather.
How an Ohio Miser Lived.
The death of George Gilbert, which oc-
doings Of the man, who was a con-
frmed miser. During the last fifty
years he had lived alone, devoting his time to
saving money, which he deposited in banks. It
was his boast that his living the year round did
not cost him to exceed three cents per day.
In 1855 he sold neighbor load of hay for
s27. Gilbert punctually collected the interest
each year, and last year he accepted the
principal, it having earned him over 500.
Gilbert leaves an estate valued at from
s125, 900 to $50, 600, and has no relatives iv-
ing In this par Ur tho oUurtry
Killing Horses to Put o-&a Fire
A widespread and destructive prairie fire
rhvaged hundreds of thousands of acres
along the Little Missouri River
few days ago, about forty miles
from the main line of the Northern Pacific
Railroad. The great range of the Fl. T. Cattle
Company was swept clear. The fire was put
out by means of horses which were killed for
the purpose of using them as drags to extin-
guish the flames. The horses were split up
the back and then the carcasses were
dragged over the country by long ropes.