Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-26
THE ALASKA EXPEDITION.
Messrs. Kerr and Russell Expect to Start
Tomorrow.


rHEr WILL TRY TO CLIMB rHE SUMMIT OF rHE ICE
CLAD MT. ST. ELIss-A REGULAR sTEGE 10 M
LAID-PIANs MADE FOR THE PARu-THI FUND
NOT ALL SUBSCRIBED VET.
The Alaskan expedition. consisting Of Messrs
Russell and Kerr Of the geological survey.
which was TO have departed for the Pacific
coast last night did not go. rs the Geographic
Society. under whose auspices the trip was
undertaken. had not quite succeeded in raising
The fnnds required for the expenses.
ii Is expected. however. that the deficit will
oe made up today and the explorers have pre-
pared 10 start tomorrow night They believe
thAt TINS VIII give them ample time 20 catch
tne steamer next after that which they had in
tended 20 take. which will land them in sitka
IN season for all the work that they had
planned.
Mt 81. Elias. Alaska. 10 perhaps the only
mountain within the reach OF man that h.s
heretofore resisted the efforts of professional
mountain climbers Ii is the KEY Of the entire
glacial system of Western Alaska. and it 10 sup
posed 10y scientists that most OF the large riy-
ers. about which so httle-in fact. almost
noihing-is known. have their source among
the never-failing fields Of ice that lie fathom.
deep upon this peak. gradually sliding down 10
the lower slopes. The mountain is exceedingly
steep ON the seward side. aud IL IL this fact
that has prevented it's ascent as the slope Of
Tered by the plane l. practically beyond human
endurance. The sides OF the peak are covered
with sheets of ice. through which travellers
have 10 force their way. But on the other side
1; Is nov come TO be accepted fact the land
rises with very easy grade. comparatively
aud thus forms the peak by slower stages The
abrupt decivIty near the sea - tine resul, of
what the geologist calls fault"
THE PLANS OF THE PARTY.
1t is the plan of the present party to make .
detour of about fifty miles from lakutat bay az
starting point. and crossing the range. of
which Mt. ST. Elias Is the main peak at q low
point approach the desired height from the
northern side. instead, ar has heretofore been
the case. Immediately from the south. An
enormous amount of provisions will be carried
besides mass OF apparatus. and the plan IL to
travel by very easy stages. going as far over the
lce-clad. governed aud chasmed country as Dos
slbie WITH the entire load. Then. when the as
cent begins 10 Toe too hard. the packs will be d.
Nlded, and only part of the provisions but all
OF the instruments will be taken forward
ihus the explorers will leave behind them in
thus wilderness a succession Of camps Of refuge
TO iall back upon ln case of necessity. Ii NAV
be that all further climbing with packs and
other loads will become utterly impossible with
M comparatively short distance from the
summit OF the mountain and then n large camp
VIII be established. from which the two
scientists VIII 20 daily. accompanied perhaps
by TWO Others from the party. in order 10 try to
make the entire ascent Tins will have 20 be
done by cutting through the ice that covers the
mountain, and the effort may be one of days and
days. one trip following another "A little ground
being gained each time. While this Is going
on the men at the camp will be making trips
backwards and forward 10 the camps that
have been lett, bringing up more provisions.
lie entire expedition IL well planned out
from data that Mr.. Russell obtained when be
made his famous exploration of the Yukon
river last year. lie went from the mount to
the source Of that stream. most of the time
pOlng llis way. About half of the party will
be native Alaskans. Used 90 cold and ice worn.
and the others Will be Americans taken from
Seattle.
ATTEMPTS TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN.
The first attempt to climb this mountain
Was made early in this decade by a party sent
out by the Royal Geographic Society. As they
started straight up from the seaside they
failed. Then IN 1856 Lieut. Schwatka OF
Arctic fame. made the attempt ON behalf
OF the New lork TtBas, aud he, 200,
WAS unsuccessful. La 1855 the English AL
pine Club. the most famous body of
mountain climbers III the world. tried 10 scale
the icy heights, and were forced to return with
ont accomplishing their object. They then de-
clared that Mt NJ. Elias is the most difficult
peak IN the world of ascent. The same season
wealthy thicagoan sent mp party. which
also slipped bach. In 1889 a French band Of
explorers started to make the trial, but Just be-
fore the climb began the chief OF the expedi-
ton WAS hurt and the trip WAS abandoned Last
! year an expedition was fitted out by the Frank
Leslies Publishing Company. but this time the
explorers dld not try TO climb Mt ST. Elias
4 gong INLAND TO make observations.