Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-20
MOUNT ST. ELIAS.
Result of the Expedition Sent Out to
Explore AIaska's Mountains.
Mount st. Elizas "a 90 Feet Lower Than Her
Formerly Accredited Height-Im-
mense Glaciers.

| WASHINGTON, Oct. I9.-The scientific eSpedi-
| ton sent out last spring under the Joint
auspices of the National geographic association
| and the United States geologic survey, for the
! purpose OF exploring the region about Mt. 81
| Elias, Alaska, has returned. Mr.. Russell, who
| organized the expedition in charge OF the WORK.
| is now in Washington. AT the request or an
agent Of the associated press he furnished the
following picture sketch Of the work OF his
party. On arriving at Sitka the members OF
the expedition were transferred at once TO tine
United States steamer Pinta, un'ier command OF
Capt. FaheTnholt, who had previously re-
ceived instructions from The secretary OF the
navy to take the party to YaSutat bay: the
Pinta reached the mouth of Yakutat bay. on
June %. The bay Is deep, extending more than
thirty miles inland and it was the plan Ct the
ives: shore The weather being uhllk
Capt. Fahernholt did not think 1t
advisable to take the vessel up the bay
and the voyage had to be made by
means of boats and canoes in driving ram
storm. The actual base Of operations was
reached on June Is and the study OF the geology
When tie storm passed away, says MI. hns-
sell, we found ourselves on wild shore
ISCUdBERED BY ICEBERGs,
and at the immeois e base OF 3 muissttc noun
tain range trending southeast and northwest
Along the southern base of the mountains there
by the waters Of Yakutat bay Our task
was to explore and map the country from the
bay to ST. Elias and as far beyond as pFactic-
able. Excursions were begun to explore the
mountains and glaciers and up Yakutst bay as
tar rs the floating ice would allow clnoe to
travel One OF these excursions took Us
to an island near the head of the bay
which we named Grandview island. From its
summit, which rises boldly 1000 feet above the
water, magnificent view was obtained OF the
vast stretch of snow clad mountains from when
glaciers OF great magnitude descended to the
sea and ended in cliffs OF ice several hundred
feet high From these the iceberss s crowd ing
ciers were named after Dalton, the
pioneer explorer of the region. Another OF
a large size at the head of the bay named
in honor OF Gardner Hubbard, president OF the
National geographical societv. magnificent
mounts in peak rising some 1000 feet lmmedl-
name. Another towering. peak on the same
mountain crest triangular in shape and always
OF the purest white was named
MOUNT SEATTLE
in acknowledgement of the faithful services of
our camp hands whose homes are mostly in the
queen city of the sound" While our glacial
and geographical studies were being pushed
forward MIR. Ker, topographer of the party,
measured base line with considerable accur-
aoy and b map o. 'ss 5eon tnn e
several peaks and hill tops near at hand, the
angles formed afford'ng data for determining other
distances. By means of the angles of elevation
their heights could also be calculated The
stations whose position and elevation had thus
been determined were made the extremltles OF
mountain regions could be made and the heights
OF the highest peaks accurately determined.
The heights OF the stations occupied We're de-
termined by means OF mercurial barometer.
To aid in this work base barometer was
read three times day during July and August
by Rev. Cart K a ndricks, who has charge OF
a mission st Yakutat. From this beginning the
work of
MAPPING THE COUNTRY
was carried forward until all the peaks to be
seen from our line of march. were located
and their heights determined. As soon
the topographic work was well under
way the line of march toward st Elias was de-
cided upon. All our rations. bedding, tents,
etc. had to be carried or packed by men, the
character OF the country not allowing the use OF
northwest of the triangular summit of st. e lizas.
Our guide found passes in the mountains leading
in the direction we wished to travel and no in
surmountable difficulties in the way. although
great patience and judgment were required in
threading he crevices in the ice fields. Prob
ably more than nine-tenths of our journey was
GLACIERS AND SNOW FIELDS.
August / we were midway between Yakutat
mountain. Our camp was in the last and highest
grove of trees that it was practicable
to reach. The timber line is there about 1900
feet high aud all trees disappear. few miles
to the west is an island of rock surrounded by
vast glaciers but clothed with beautiful flowers,
rank ferns and dense spruce. The trees furnished
named this lovely oasis in the desert of ice,
blossom Island.'' From there our work in
the high mountains began. On following up
the Marvin glacier. which follows TO the west of
Blossom island for about fifteen miles, We
reached an elevation OF 1000 feet and found an
empty pass, although filed with glacial ice,
leading westward. across which for distance
there seemed to be On
IMpAssABLE MOUNTAIN RANGE.
We named this Pinnacle pass'' on account OF
the tapering spiretts overlooking it. West Of
Pinnacle pass we descended to glacier that has
its source far to the north of Mount Cook. and
separates that mountain from the St. Elias
rauC
approaching the mountain wall which
rises. TO the west OF It we again
forded an easy passage to the glacier, one
branch of which rises on the northern slone of
the great mountain. Following up this branch
above the snow line, found ourselves
encamped at the base OF st. Elias. The weather
had been clear for ten days and we had every
prospect of good days climb on the morrow.
Rising at 3 o. clock in the morning we began
what we believed to be
THE FINAL ASCENT,
but after few hours storm clouds settled down
aroun US. Snow began to fell, and all land
marks were lost to view. The snow continued
for thirty hours without cessation, and it
way through the binding snow to
the lower camp where the necessary rations
reach the summit two days later, but another |
snow storm broke over the mountains as sud- |
denly as the first. This time l was at the |
highest camp where was imprisoned for six |
days before being able TO reioin my party below,
while Mr.. Ker wns
SIMILARLY ISOLATED
at the first camp lower down. When I started |
down there were six feet of snow which refused |
to harden This rendered it impossible to do |
any more work among the high peaks. On |
descending to the lower camp started |
on en- excursion up the Glacier. between |
the -. E izas range and Mount Cook, which |
gave promise of leading to low pass across the |
main range but 6 third snow coming on was |
glai to return to Blossom island, and there re- |
Joined Mr.. Ker, vino had descended few days |
previous. My stay about ana above the snow |
line lasted thirty five days. During that time |
we lived in tents. many times
CAMPING ON THE OPEN GLACIER
30 as to be out of the reach of avalanches. After
returning to Blossom Island an excursion was |
made far out on the great Piedmont glacier, |
which forms plateau about 1910 feet higher |
of the St. Elias range. This |
glacier is of continental type in distinction
from the Alpine glaciers. and has area by |
estimate of about 100 square miles. It is the |
largest glacier known In the north
ern hemisphere with the exception OF |
the ice fields of Greenland. We returned |
10 Yaeutat BAY about the 10th OF September, |
having had stormy weather almost al the time |
since leaving the vicinity OF st. Elias. On tine
22d of Sep ember our hearts were giaddened by |
seeing the Corwin steaming up the bav. Capt. |
G. 1. Hooper. Commander of the Corwin, acting |
on ais own Judgment and knowing -s.t We would |
HAVE 4 HARD TIME
if left at Takutat until winter set in made |
cruise from Sitka especially for our relief and |
the expedition to Port Townsend, |
where we arrived October 2. From |
scientific point Of view the expe- |
ditiou was q success. The plan proposed |