The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-08
WHAT SCHWATKA DID
Several Mountains, Highest in
America, Discovered.
A VAST NEW REGION OPENED.
The Explorers Find q White Man Who
Had Seen None of His Own Race
for Twenty-one Years.

VICTORIA, Oct. 7.-[Special. l-Lieutenan
Schwatka and DIR. Hayes, of the United
States geological survey, who arrived here
this morning from their Alaskan expedi-
ton, today gave interesting details in
connection with their trip. Several times
they came near losing life, and all the
valuable instruments belonging to the
party were left behind at various stages of
the route. Of course the expedition was
full of narrow escapes and hardships, and
twice both the leaders were face to tace
with death by drowning, description of
which was published in the PosT-INTELLI-
GENCER of this morning. One remarkable
feature was the large number of new
mountains discovered several of which
will rank among the highest in North
America. The region traversed was full
of interest and altogether $50 miles
of totally new country was opened
up-about as large an area as Pennsylvania
and Ohio. Lieutenant Schwatka has taken
an enormous number of notes and DIR.
Hayes has already started writing his
material for the government. The pass
age OF the range of st. Elias mountains
took five days and is the first record of
white men having accomplished the
feat. 1t was discovered that the glaciers
on the north side of the range were much
smaller, though far more numerous than
those discovered on the side to the south.
One magnificent peak, nearly 5000 feet
high, was named Powell peak, afetr Major
Powell. of the geological survey. Many
others are not yet named. DIR.
Hayes has brought magnificent speci-
mems of remarkable fossiliferous,
crystalline marble, which resembles the
famous Tennessee marble, only much
handsomer. He states that he came across
whole ranges of the same stone. Many cop
per and crystalline rock specimens
were also brought down. Specimens
of flora consists mostly of moses, over a
hundred varieties of which were discov-
cred. Vegetation in the new country is
reported as very scarce. The trees are
stunted and the hills covered thick with
MOSES. The largest timber met with
was along White river, but only
fourteen inches thick. The heights
OF mountains were all taken
by barometer readings. The most remark
able feature of the whole trip was the enor-
nous deposits of volcanic ash met with.
spread all over the country under one foot
of earth from two to three inches thick.
As the party proceeded it got worse until
near Mount st. Elias, when it was in parts
100 feet thick, and the travellers sank
IN 1t at every step. 1t resembles fine.
powdery pumice stone and proves that in
prehistoric times the most fearful erup-
tons must have occurred in the
st. Elias ranges. The discoveries of
ochWatka, taken in connection with
Dawson and RusselPs exploration to the
borders OF the new country, dissolves at
last the old theory that great ice belt
extends from Mount st. Elias to the
Arctic circle. Schwatka has def
nitely fixed its limit as Forty
miles above these ranges, the country be-
yond that being in several months of the
year quite free from ice and snow, The
warmest weather experienced during the
trip was 81 degrees. and no frost was en-
countered till Copper river was reached
At Fort Selkirk seven men, four from
New York and the rest from New Hamn.
shire, were discovered on a small farm
where all kinds of vegetables were grow.
ing freely. The party met a multitude Of
carlboo. moose and bear, as well as nuroer.
Gus BIRDS, but no new kinds. DIR.
hayes has collected valuable lot OF
FOSSILS, scientifically of great interest, and
mas collected material for an exhaustive
map OF the country explored. From Fort
oeikirk Schwatka hired band of Indians
10 nelp them across the unknown coun-
try to the foot of the st. Elias
ranges. The Indians went with
them Tor several days. but when they got
IN sight of the mountains, warned the
! party that they would never return alive
II they attempted to cross the ranges.
When they took no heed the Indians left
them, and the balance of the perilous
journey was made by Schwatka, Hayes