Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-08
CALIFORNIA AND COAST.
an Alaska Exploring Party al the Point
Of Starvation.
TaE sPOEssE FALLS EXPLOSION.
The Shasta Republicans Place
Strong County Ticket In
the Field.
TaE sPoKssE FALLS EXPLOSION.
SPECIAL DlsrArcaza TO THE srOonD-unos.,
WITHOUT PRoyIsiovs.
Sad Experience of an Exploring Party in
Alaska.


SAN FRANCISCO, September 7th.-News
reachsd this city Yesterday that the Nc.
Grath-TurneT exploring party was still in
Alssks, and would remain there during
the winter. 0ae section of the party is
encamped on the PoTeupine river and the
other on the Yukon river aboGt 1000 mites
from its mouth. An account of the doings
and experience of the explorers has been
received By DR.. T. G. Mendenhall, Assistant
superintendent of The United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey. The party was first
sent out by the United States Government
It's mission was 10 locate and determine The
i4lst parallel boundary line between the
United States and the British possessions
in Alaska. McGrath arrived in Alaska in
the beginning of June, 1889 and until re-
cently no word was heard from him. He
proceeded from Sitks north. distance of
over 800 miles, and camped in barren
and bleak district. Ii was expected that
the steamer Arctic would take the eSplor.
ers a sufficient quantity of provisions
relying on this help. very few stores were
taken overland. Unknown to the campers
the Arctic was wrecked on her voyage, and
everything on board was iattisoned, To.
tally unconscious of this fatality, the
weary party kept daily vigil for the
steamer. Their scantt supply of pro-
visions commenced 10 thin ont.
Alter the expiration of few weeks the
position became go serious that the ratiops
to the men were halved, and later on they
were quar,ered. The hope that the steamer
would arrive was finally given UP. The
danger of starvation loomed up threaten
ingly.
During the latter part of August the lit
tie camp was surprised BY the appearances
OF several miners who bad come down the
Yukon river. They told pitiful tale of
starvation, and some of them bad scarcely
strength enough left 10 either talk or walk.
Ihey demanded the return of lighter lent
the McGrath party some months before.
Face to face with the peril of terrible
death, the miners and explorers decided
upon last attempt 10 secure some means
OF subsistence. Two members of the ex-
ploring party, named McLarty and French,
accompanied the miners to a place called
Muklukayiet, where it was thought some
stores might be had
Alter an absence of several weeks, during
which the Yukon river froze over, McLarty
and French were successful in securing
some stores. They packed them on a hand
sled, and also on sledge drawn by dogs.
and set out for the camp in June. The
principal provisions obtained were flour
and beans. After travelling $50 miles and
encountering a thousand set-backs, camp
was finally reached. The scene which met
the arrivals was piiiful. During the alb
sence OF the McLarty party the starving
explorers had exhausted their provisions
They were lean. gaunt, white and despair
ing. Their only hope was csntered in the
success of the long-sbsent skirmishers
They had been compelled to kill several
draft animals and the sledge dogs were
given the leather tops of the explorers
boots to eat. The return of McLarty and
French waa hailed with acclamations of
JOY. BY csretEl feeding and nursing the
entire party recovered health and strength.
McGrath writes that be will remain On
the Yukon and push his Investigations TO
completion. The party has already made
valuable collection OF specimens.