The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-17

line. After several observations along
the river on the fourth day. Mr..
Turner concluding that he was as near the
boundary line as rough observations would
bring him, found q suitable place for per-
manent Camp, which he named Camp CO.
iouna, after one of the coast and geodetic
survey officials in Washington. We now
set to work in good earnest to build our
house. This took US long time as the
house IS big one. The walls are made of
logs notched together at the coaners: the
roof IS constructed of pieces of wood split
and laid on with the fat side down. On the
split pieces moss Is laid. and on the top of
all thick layer of spruce brush. So far
the roof has proved entirely satisfactory.
but whether 1t will remain so in the spring
when the snow and rain come down the
sequel will show. The chinks of the walls
between the logs are stuffed with moss.
II Is. In fact, moss which makes the house
tight We brought mp with us three
stoves, one OF which is in our room. an
other in the officers room. and the third
IS q cooking stove. Thus equipped
think We can defy the severest weather, at
any rate so long as We can stay in the
noHse.
II hare been out several times deer
hunting. but have not brought ANYTHING
down. as yet, the deer being very difficult
TO approach. They frequent the bare
mountains, and as / don't ccre much for
crawling mile or so on my hands and
knees IN the snow. or sitting behind rock
for couple of hours freezing and waiting
for the deer to take it into their heads to
come IN my direction, can hardly expect
to hunt with much success. We have
bought good deal or deer meat from the
Indians from time to time, but il seems the
deer are scarce this year. so that the In.
dians are in danger of starvation, the catch
OF fish this fail having been very poor.
The scarcity of fish is very serious mat
ter to the Indians, as they feed their dogs
upon il. 1t is a fact that IS per cent of the
dogs are subsisting on q substance too
filthy to be named. Ii the deer do not be-
cvme more plentiful later on it is possible
that instead of supplying us with meat the
Indians may have TO come to US for food
'sThe party for the Arctic ocean will
probably start off in the latter part of
March. Firth, the trader. has decided to
go too. for the purpose of trading on his
own account, ! suppose. 1t will be very
convenient to Mr.. Turner TO have this
man with him, as he knows something of
the country. and, of course, can speak the
language. His knowledge of the language
will be especially an assistance, for it is al
most impossible to make these Indians
understand what it is that you vans them
to do, and it seems that if they do under
stand you they will pretend that they do
not, If it suits their interests. Our work
here is no picnic, can assure you. The
stoves consume an awful amount of wood.
so that we are kept fairly busy telling,
hauling in on sleighs. and saving up. AS
there are only q few hours daylight, we
have to rustic. When Mr.. Turner is at
work in his observatory he wants fires
kept burning outside that he may
come out and warm his fingers.
Every week twenty-four consecutive hours
of magnetic work have to be done, and it
is far from pleasant TO sit outside in q
temperature of forty degrees below zero,
even if one has a fire to sitby. Mr.. Turner
and his assistant. Edmonds. can come out
of the observatory for q minute or two
only to thaw out their frozen carcasses.
However, must admit that do not feel
the cold by any means as much as ex-
pected. ! suppose that the blood thickens
up as the winter comes on, and will thin
down again as the summer returns"
The Porcupine river party, under Mr.
Turner, after doing their share of the work
in laying down accurately the 14lst nerd
ian, will come down to Fort Yukon, where
the party under Mr.. Magrath is stationed.
The two united parties will then descend
the Yukon river on RATS. and, If all goes
well. will reach San Francisco toward the
end of this year.