The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-23
WHAT sCHWATKA HAS DONE.

WHAT SCHWATKA HAS DONE.
Practical Results of ths Recent Pcrilou
Journey In tho Far North.
One remarkable feature OF Lieut.. Sohwat
ka's expedition, just completed, was tn,
large number OF new mountains discovered
several OF which will rank among the high
est in North America, says the Victori,
Oolonist. The region traversed was full o
interest, and. altogether, 75O miles of total,
now country was opened up = about Al
large an area AZ Pennsylvania and Ohio
Lieut.. Schwatka has taken an enormous
number OF notes, and DR.. Hayes has al
ready started writing his material for tht
governments. The passage OF the ranges OF
st. Eliza mountains took i've days and Ii
the fret record OF white men having ac-
complished the feat. 1t was discovered
that the glaciers on tho north side Of the
range were much smaller, though far
more Numerous than those discovered on
nearly 10000 feet high was named
Powell peak, after Major Powell, OF the
geological survey. MANY others are not yet
named. DR.. Hayes has brought maenid-
cent sRecimsns Of remarkable fossiliferous,
crystalline marble. which resembles the
= AAAO 4ANA ~ ShA Aa0VAA
handsomsr. Flo states that he came across
whole ranges OF the same stone. Many
copper and crystalline rock specimens were
also brought down. The specimens Of fora
consist mostly of MOSES, over \ hundred
varieties Of which were discovered. Vege-
tation in the new country is reported as
very scarce. The trees are stunted and the
hills covered thick with MOSES. The larg-
est timber yet met with was along White
river, but only fourteen inches thick. The
heights of mountains were NIL taken by
barometer readings. The most remarkable
deposits of volcanic ash met with. spread
all over the country, under one foot of
earth, from two to three inches thick.
AZ tho party proceeded it got worse, until
near Mount st. Elias, when 1t was in parts
100 feet thick, and the travellers sank in at
pumice stone, and proves that in prehis-
torio times the most fearful eruptions must
have occurred in the st. Elias ranges. The
discoveries of Schwatka, taken in conneo-
ton with Dawson n Russell's exploration
to the borders of the new country, dissolve
at last the old theory that a great ice belt
extends from Mount st. Elias to the Arctic
circle. Schwatka has definitely fixed its
as forty miles above these ranges. the
beyond that being in several
of the year quite free from ice and
snow. The warmest weather experienced
during the trip was eighty-seven degrees,
and no frost was e%ncounte. ed till Copper
was reached.
At Fort Selkirk. seven men, four from
New York and the rest from New Hamp-
shire, were discovered on a small farm,
all kinds of vegetables were growing
freely. The party met a multitude of Carl
boo, moose and bsar, as we'll as numerous
birds, but nc new kinds. DR.. Hayes has
a valuable lot of fossils, scientif-
cally of great interest, and has secured
material for an exhaustive mapof the coun-
try explored. From Fort selkirk, Schwatka
hired a band of Indians to help them across
The unknown country to the foot Of the St.
Elias ranges. The Indians went with them
Tor several days. but when they got in sight
the mountains, warned the party that
hey would never return alive if they at
to cross the ranges. When they
look no heed the Indians laft them, and the
balance of the perilous journey was made
~ Schwatka, Hayes and a white hunter.
took them five days to effect a passage of
we're nearly bare of clothings and shoes.
The most hazardous piece of the whole trip
vas the voyage through What will nov be
Snown as the greatest canyon in North
The sides are iearfully steep and
:or seven milss the party. went in a small
dayes was thrown out twice. and it was
only the narrowness of the canyon that
'aved his life. It took them less than
eighteen minutes to 70 six miles. On emerg-
ng from the canyon into daylight they
got into the midst of a large tribe of
Indians who had never seen white men.
They landed among them and found
hem vnry timid and frightened. The In
lians were puny in stature, but of remark
IDLY fine features and intelligent looking.
! was the only tribe found in the unex-
'lored country that had a permanent habi-
alton. All the other Indians discovered
vere nomads. Among one wild tribe
found a white man who had lived
With them for ~twenty-six years. He had
orRotten his native tongue and was COM
savage, but kept the Indians from
the exploring party. He could
'niy say a few words, from which Schwatka
that he was a Spaniard and about
S years of age. 1t was the first time he
lad seen whites for twenty-one years.
Seth Hayes and Schwatka describe the ex-
as a complete SUCCESS from every
tandpoint. The photographs alone will
orm q magnificent collection. Over 700
we're taken. ..