The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-08
Government Exploring Party
Lost in an Alaska Waste.
WEARY WAITING FOR succoR.
Supplies Sent Were Lost with Q
Steamer That Was Wrecked.
skirmishers Carry Food Three Hundred
and Fifty Miles ON Hand Sled snd
Arrive Barely in Time to Save the
Lives OF Their Comrades.

SAN FRAscrsco, Sept News reached
this city Yesterday that the McGrath- -Tur-
ner exploring party was still in Alaska and
would remain during the winter. One sec
uon OF the party is encamped on Porcupinc
and the other on the Yukon river. about
1000 miles from its mouth. An account of
the dolngs and experience OF the explorers
mas been received by DR.. T. C. Men
denhall. assistant superintendent OF the
United States coast and geodetic survey.
The party was first sent out BY the
United States government Its mission
was to locate and determine tha f4fst
parallel, the boundary line between the
United States and the British possessions
in Alaska McGrath arrived In Alaska in
the beginning of June, 1889, aud until re-
Gently no word was heard OF him.
de proceeded from Sitka north dis
tance OF over l,5o0 miles. and camped in .
barren and bleak district Ii was expect-
ed the steamer Arctic would take the ex-
plorers a sufficient quantity Of provisions,
and relying on this help very few
stores were taken overland. Unknown
to the campers the Arctic was
wrecked on the voyage, and everything on
board was jettisoned. Totally unconscious
of this fatality the weary party kent 4
daily vigil for the steamer. Their scantv
supply of provisions commenced to thin
out, and after the expiration of q few
weeks the position had bee 3me so serious
that the rations TO the men were halved and
later on they were quartered.
The hope that the steamer would arrive
finally was given up. The danger OF star
vation loomed up threateningly. During
the latter part of August the little camr
was surprised by the appearance OF several
miners who had come up tho
Yukon. They told q pitiful tale
of starvation, and some OF them had
scarcely strength enough left to talk. They
demanded the return of q lighter lent the
McGrath party some months ago. Face
to face with the peril of terrible death the
miners and explorers decided upon last
attempt to secure some means OF subsist-
nee. Two members of the explorers.
named McLarty and French, accompanied
the miners to place called Mukluklayet,
where it was thought some stores
might be had. After an absence Of several
weeks, during which the Yukon river frose
over, McLarty and French were successful
in securing some stores. They packed
them on a hand sled and sledge drawn by
dogs, and set out for the camp.
In June, after travelling $50 miles, the
camp finally was reached. The seems
which met the arrivals was pitiful. During
the absence Of the McLafsy party the starry
ing explorers had exhausted their provfe-
ions. They were lean. gaunt. white and de-
spairing. Their only hope WAS centered in
the success of the long absent skirmishers.
They had been compelled to kill several
draught animals, aud the sledge dogs were
given leather tops Of explorers boots TO
eat. By careful feeding and nursing the
entire party recovered health and strength.
McGrath writes that he will remain on
the Yukon and push bis investigation to
completion. The party has already mada
valuable collection of specimens.