New-York tribune., 1891-05-03
ALASKA EXPLORERS RETURNING.
Eu>T. WELLS AND HIS PARTY -THINK THEY
FOUND TuG 1auE SOURCE Or rnr>
YUKON RIVER.

YUKON RIVER.
-ort Townsend, May (spcclal.-The members OF
The ALASKA Exploring Expedition, sent out over year
ago by Messrs. ArkeI and Harrison, propretors OF
.Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper" have arrived
in Port Townsend on the steamer Mexico. Recently
newspaper reports were aGoat that E. II. Wells, the
chief and one man had probably perished of starva-
lion. Lately the sGpposition has been that the men
would escape. This the true theory Mr. Wells
and his party of three men did have thrilling eA-
pcrience last in the far interior of Alaska
barely escaping with their lives. one man, W. a.
Dehaas an old mOnntalneer, afterward left at a
trading post suffering prOstratiOn from the Journey
The men who have returned f. II. Wells the leader
A. e. Schanz, scientist, and Frank Price. The Chlkat
Indian was left at sitka, Alaska He accompanied
Wells through all his travels. The other men, whites
and natives employed in the work of the expedition,
we're discharged in Alaska. Altogether $50 men
saw service at different times retainers Of the ex-
pIorers. Mr.. Wells says:
"None of us attempted to travel beyond the River
of Jordan, as newspaper reports imply We paused
on its bank TO correct fancul statements that had
been published. I briefly present some facts prior
to the publication of the illustrated narrative and geo
rraphcal rep0rts The expedition originally consisted
Of five white men and twenty nine Chilkat Indians.
We left the Pacific coast at kOckwan, Aaska May D.
1890 to cross the Chlkat Mountains by aroue never
before traversed by white men. Dr. kralse, OF Der
lin had previously ascended by another route to the
looked of into the country beyond, but had returned
without penetrating it. Our party was the nrst 10
descend the far side Of the divide. After march OIL
ll2 miles across the mountains a large lake was
found and named 'Arkell,' and smaller laSe haneu
Maud Lake Arkeil proved to be the mann Feser-
vOir Of the Tank River and we claim that IL Is inc
source of the Yukon River. The headwaters OF the
Yukon were supposed by schwatka to be in the
Chllkat Mountains further south. AT the upper END
Of Lake Arke the native packers were all ciscsed'
save the Indians, and returned home
@E J. GIaye and John Dalton were then detailed 10
DO exploration work ON the unknown Ahsek RIVER
supposed to be near at hand. They successfully ac-
oomulisbed the undertaking. Mr.. Glave's interesting
narrative has already been published. The main party
continued explorations on the lake and on rank klVer
The severe sickness of a. Il. SchanZ next hecesUteu
change Of plans lie was left at surveyor Me"i"'h ,
camp on the Yukon, in care OF doctor. linen l en-
lsrged my party by adding two white miners W. A.
Dehaas aud uillom Iegitt and started on the long
CONTEMPLATED tourney overland into the interior OF
Alaska marching through unmapped region for
several hundred miles. In the meah"hIe had ~
part with Leggitt as he only agreed 70 heIp Us Pdch
outfit for 125 miles. lie returned 10 MS so'u
claim The four of Us remaining presseo OIL anu "eio
finally reduced 10 desperate straits Dy s''i, "Uou
Nevertheless 1 mapped the hitherto uneApiofeo IVer
for 100 miles We had many exciting adventures mar
breadth e.capes and finally struggled 700 miles 10 d
trading post subsequently,, VITA hve men tn h9ue "a
journey 200 miles IN the cod da{s & on ny te
winter using dOgtrlins and seds Tor 1OO mile tniou5
deep snow Ne reached the southern coast Oh Aasha
having fortunately been reIOned by Mr. SchanH, wosS
kbors in the interior had been important IL appear @
that after ne recovered from his Illness ne eI. J.
yeyor NcGratb,s camp with two men and undertook a
tkf Journey down the Yukon lie hhaly le' a VSE sS
Ing boat at ST. Mchaels and aScertained that no snip
would call before July, 1891, and supposed ms 1
soeaies on the expedition would be out ol -i.
months before he could get away An oppclpdibs nnd bs
offered for doing special independent WORK anu nc
promptly embraced IL, undertaking with census AkenO AknO
Greenfield an adventurous bidarky Journey ol & VOo
miles ard doing geographical work upon the way
Finally. Schanz went into winter quarters WINE peun re-
field kept on 10 Kodiak. Schanz soon prcpaien loI a
shedding i0arncy with willie trader for companion au
nearly completed the other explorers OF the eAPsui
ton suddenly appeared taking everybody 6y surPisJ
Sehanz made his journey, as planned endured ihu,n %
hardship, but successful in~s'apphE new ,n, 1tn
tory including the second largest body OF freh "'e
IN Alaska. i'll,
In the interval journeyed on TO the coast WIN
men and dog teams. having arranged mectinR-p pOnt
with schanz and in ten days travcrsed 800 mics on
snOwburied country. Schanz finally arrived, ane the
party was transferred by chartered schooner to sitha
Alaska, where we took the mail steamer SOUTH -,
Messrs Wells and Schanz proceed east In rev 1aa
70 prepare illustrated narrative and geoeraphicai H.
ports.