Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-03
WONDERS OF ALASKA.
A Report From the Exploring Ex-
pedilion So Long Missing.
NEW RIVERS, LAKES AND PEAKS.
Hardships Encountered in the Parkway
Land of Snow and Ice.
RETURN. OFTEN SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE

RETURN. OFTEN SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE
FORT TOWNSEND, WASH, May 2-The
members of the Alaskan exploring e1pedi-
tion sent out year ago have arrived here
by the steamer Mexico. Recently news
paper reports were afoat that E. Hazard
Wells, the chief, and one man had probably
perished of starvation. The last news Of
them was in July, 1890, when Wells was
pushing into the interior of Alaska.
The explorer and three men in his party
had thrilling experience afterward battling
against starvation and other dangers, barely
escaping with their lives. One man, De-
haas, an old mountaineer, was afterward
left at trading post suffering from prostra-
tion from the journey. The men who re-
turned are E. Hazard Wells, the leader;
| A. B. Schanz, scientist, and Frank Price.
| The Chilikat native Indiank was left
at juneau, Alaska. He accompanied
Wells through all his trials. The other
whites and natives employed in the work
OF the expedition were discharged in
Alaska. Altogether, over 150 persons we're
in service at different times as retainers of
the explorers.
Simply Paused and Starved.
Mr.. Wells says: None of us attempted
to travel beyond the river Jordon, as news
paper reports imply. We paused and
starved upon its bank to correct the fanciful
statements published. 1 briefly present
some facts prior to the publication of our
geographical reports. The expedition orig
inallv consisted Of five white men and 20
| Chilikat Indians. We left the Pacific
coast at Klockwan, Alaska, on May 6, 1890,
to cross the Chilikat Mountains by route
never before traversed by white men.
"Dr. Kranz, of Berlin, had previously
ascendel by another route to the summit of
the Chilikats on the ocean side, and had
looked off into the country beyond, but had
returned without entering. Our party was
the first to descend the far side of the divide.
Alser march of 112 miles across the noun
tains, glaciers and torrents large lake was
found and named ArkelL. A smaller lake
was named Maud.
The Source of the Yukon.
Lake Arkell proved to be the main
reservoir of the Talk river, and we claim it
to be the source of the Yukon river. The
headwaters of the Yukon were located by
Lieutenant Schwatka in the Chilka Noun
tains, further to the south. At the upper
end of Lake Arkell the native packers were
all discharged save the Indian and returned
home.
"E. J. Glave and John Dallon we're then
detailed to do exploring work on the un-
known Altzek river, supposed to be close at
hand. They successfully accomplished the
undertaking, and we saw them no more.
Glave's narrative has already been pub
lished.
"The main party continued explorations
on the lake and then on the Talk river,
which was mapped. The severe sickness of
A. B. Schanz next necessitated a change of
plans. He was left at Surveyor McGrath's
camp on the Yukon river, in care of the
doctor. then enlarged the party by adding
two white miners, Dehaas and Leggitt, and
started on long contemplated journey
overland into the interior of Alaska, march
ing through an unmapped region for several
hundred miles.
*, Scenes in the Heart of, Alaska.
"The scenery was chaotic, grand and DESC
late. The moon seemed to have photo
graphed an impression Of itself upon the
face OF the earth. LeggItt went back to bis
gold claim. The four of us remaining
pressed on and were finally reduced to des-
perate straits by starvation.
mountains enclosed US in their gloomy
silence. We blazed large fir tree and
wrote our names, the date and directions
as to our intended route, so that our fate
might perchance one day be known if
We failed to escape. Baff1ed in one direc-
tion we hoated down hitherto unexplored
river for 160 miles amid exciting adventures
and hairbreadth escapes from death. We
finally struggled 700 miles to a trading
post. With five men made journey of
! 300 miles on the cold days of fall and
winter, using dog teams and sleds for 500
miles through snow. We reached the
southern coast Of Alaska in safety, having
fortunately been rejoined by Schanz. whose
labors in the interim had been important. ..
'1t appears that after he recovered from
his illness be left Surveyor McGrath's camp
with two men, undertaking skiff journey
boat and took passage at St. MichaePs. He
ascertained that no ship would call before
July, 1891, and supposed his associates on
the expedition would be out of Alaska long
months before he could get away.
Taking the Census of Alaska.
IAN opportunity offered for doing special
braced 1t, undertaking with Census Agent
Greenfield an adventurous journey OF 900
miles, and doing geographical work of i'm
portance on the way. Finally Schanz went
into winter quarters, while Greenfield kept
on to Kodiak. Schanz then prepared for q
Shedding journey. with white trader for
q companion and a number of native
assistants. When his preparations were
nearly completed the otncr explorers OF the
expedition suddenly appeared, taking every
body by surprise. Schanz made his journey
as planned in the coolest months of winter
and endured hardships, but was successful
in mapping, among other features OF the
country. the second largest body of fresh
water in Alaska.
"In the interval I journeyed on to the
coast with men and dog trains, having AZ
ranged a meeting point with Schanz, and in
10 days of February I travelled 300 miles
over q snow-buried country. crossing a
mountain range. Schapz finally arrived,
and the party was eventually transferred by
a chartered schooner to Sitka, Alaska,
where we took the mail steamer SOUTH
Messrs. Wells and Schanz proceed East
in few days