Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-09
BACK FROM ALASKA.
Schwatka's Party Returns After a
Bold Trip Of Exploration.
OPENING UNKNOWN TERRITORY.
A Large Collection of Very Valuable Sreci-
mems Was Made.
THE SHOOTING OF DANGEROUS RAPIDS

VICTORIA, B. c., Oct. 8.-Lieutenant
Schwatka has just returned from Alaska
and gives the following account of his trip.
''We struck Lake Ahklain June 16
up to which point information has al
ready been given. We found the lake to
be SO miles long. 1t is drained by the
River Newbery, which is 145 miles long.
We shot the Rink Rapids with waves run
ming eight feet high in canvas boats. At
Fort Selkirk we hired Indian packers to
take us to the Copper river country. We
traversed about 225 miles and reached the
foot of the st. Elias Alps, which are from
1900 to 5000 feet high. Glacial ice
stretched as far as the eye could see from so
to 60 miles on each side.
"Here the Indians left us. The white
men of the party then took 75 to. 80 pounds
each on their backs, abandoning all other
property, including scientific instruments.
In a march of about 80 miles we managed to
break through the st. Elias Alps on q
glacier, which brought us to the east fork;
of the Copper river. This stream is q
perfect boiling mountain torrent, impeded
by glaciers every few miles.
SHOOTING DANGEROUS RAPIDS.
sThe last days march, from 4 in the
morning to at night, was only IN miles,
and so fatiguing as to almost exhaust the
party. With the canvas covers of our bed
ding we built boat 16 feet long, with ribs
of willows. In this we started down Neese
Omar, a fork of the Copper river, hoping
that few miles would take US out of the
enormous rapids. The rapids, however,
proved to be 35 miles long. The boat upset
several times and the men were nearly
n al
dangerous waterfall.
Give miles of this stream ran through
an enormous canyon with perpendicular
walls from 900 to 800 feet high. We were
not more than two hours making these rap
Ids. The speed was very great. 1t con-
tinued to be rapid for another 60 miles until
we struck the Indians BY this time we
were out of food completely, having for
long time had only -four and tea. The de-
scent down the Copper river was much
easier. We got to the mouth of the Copper
river about the middle Of August. The,
men were almost shoeless and without
clothes. This really completed the expedi-e
ton, striking white men for the first time
since May.
UNKNOWN TERRITORY OPENED.
"We opened about 500 or 600 miles of,
totally unknown country, and, of course, a;
good deal each side. We have secured a
thorough map, which was taken by DR..
Hayes, of the Geological Survey at Wash
ington. At the back of the st. Elias Alps
were over 80 peaks from over 10, 900 to 49,
600 feet high. All the upper fords of the
White river were mapped out, and many
signs of mineral were observed, especially
copper We saw So lakes in one day, from
to 100 miles long.
"a large collection of botanical speci-
mems was made and photographs taken of
everything of interest. The most important
feature of the whole trip was the successful
breaking through of the st. Elias ranges, a
feat never before accomplished by man. All
the pa-'y are we'll. The journey was haz-
ardou in the extreme and full of great
danger at times"