The Lamar register., 1890-10-11
EXPLORING ALASKA.
Adventures and Discoveries in th's
Wonderland.


SAN Francisco, Gala, Oct -
Mark Kerr, OF the United States 'opo-
graphical survey has returned from nis
Alaskan expedition with information o'
great value to the scientific world and 10
this government.
last lime he started from Tacoma with
Professor Russell, OF the United states
geological survey, and six oregon wow
men. the expedition being under the aus
pices OF the National Geographical so
ciety. He went with the avowed purpose
of scaling Mount ST. Elias il possible. BY
perseverance and pluck, and the endur-
auce of many hardships, he established
four important facts hitherto unknown
First-St Elias is not 1850 feet high
as the latest government maps have IL
but much lower, perhaps 5000 fee; lower.
Second-St Elias crest lies within
American territory
Third-The discovery Of the miFhties'
glacier in the world, named Lucia, by Mr..
Kerr. 1t moves fifteen feet a day and
forms q natural pass over the ST Elias
range to the interior OF Alaska
Fourth-The discovery Of grea, range
| OF mountains behind the St Elias range
| Also that between St Elias and Lucia
glacier are several other peaks, averaging
| Il. 900 feet in height and covering FAR
| greater territory than does ST Elias.
The first landing place was at Saku;a'
| Bay, which, instead Of being dangerously
shallow and uunavigable is twenty miles
| long and grand inland sheet OF water
nearly sixty fathous liz depth Up a large
canon and across two glaciers, the Kettle
| and Augusta, the party Travelled in the
direction Of St Elias. Al the head OF
Augusta glacier they came upon a singular
sight Fifteen hundred feet above the ses
was an Island in the middle OF glscta
streams profusely covered with flowers
ferns and spruce trees. Bluebells anC
Luplns were found, and the little par
adise was called Blossom Island
There camp was made, and Mr.. Kerr an'
Professor Russell, with two assistants, 1
weeks provisions aud a tiny oil stove fo'
heat aud light, commenced the ascent TO
wards St Elias. On the other side o
| Hitchcock glacier, named after the scien
tist the grand Lucia was encountered
is ten miles in width and flows twenty -fiy,
miles Till 1t falls by big moraiue int
Baird glacier, which includes all the uortl
side of Yakutat bay. Its movement
easily perceptible and 1t is covered wit
circular crevasses- At the head Of IN
Lucia is pinnacle pass, natural highwa.
into Alaska over ST. Elias range.
Then commenced hArdships. I; wa
found necessary 10 tunnel through IN
faces of impossible precipices, aud by u
use of ropes pull and lower each othe
from frightful heights. Then came
heavy snow storm and the provisions IA
out Mr.. Kerr was In snow and raj
storm thirty-six hours without food, an
when discovered by the men who had gon
/ to his relief was unable to move. tn
storms continued, the season was nearl
over and return was necessary after Al
tanning an altitude Of 1900 feet.
The peak Of ST. Elias lies al GO degree
81 seconds latitude and lil degrees iongi
tude. Tho boundary line between BIRTHS
and American territory crosses tho north
east slope, leaving the summit on the An
erican side. The height IS probably Il, %
feet The high peaks found near Luci
glacier were called Newton, Augusta
Shepard. BoEemau, Malespira and Hun
bard. The highest peaks in the Sava
range are called Bear, Corwin, Thc,i.
Jeanette, Pinta and Rush.