The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-17
THE RUSSELL PARTY SIZE.
His Wife Receives the First Letter for Over
Four Months.


WASHINGTON. D. c., Oct 16.-A lettor was
received yesterday from Professor Israel Rus
sell, the Alaskan explorer by his wife in this
city, which indicated that the rumors of
disaster to the party, sent out by the Geo
graphical Society, in the region of Mt. st.
Elias. Alaska, are wholly unfounded His note
was a briel one. dated At akutat bay on the
28dOf Sel tember, and stated that h. had had
difficulty IN obtaining passage back 10 Sitka
and thence TO the nIted States. A passenger
steamer had touched there. but II was so
crowded that the captain could not give him
berth lie was therefore waiting for another
steamer DO sibly n cruiser of the navy which
would get there IN a few more DAYS. This is
the first note Of any sort that Mrs. Russell
has had from her husband for over four
months, and. though brief IL was welcome
beyond any degree of expression especially
in view of the gloomy reports that have been
received from time 10 time, and more 50 on
account OF the unfortunate circumstances at
tending the landing OF the party at lakutat
bay on their arrival in Alaska which were
given a tinge OF foreboding OF evil by some
writer's at the time.
According TO the dates in the note. Mrs.
Russell thinks that her husband is now al
Sitka and az he said that be would lose no
time in getting home she expects that he
may It III NAsAlUElJu III u iuiIul. Ilere
was no mention Of any further casualties at
tending tho expedition.
Ii is not understood how the captain Of the
cutter Corwin should have made the error OF
supposing that Professor Russell and his
party were TO have met him at akutat.
as this was not part Of the programme
al all The COrwm folks may have
touched at the bay, thinking TO meet the
party by chance. and failing 70 do this
Jumped 10 the conclusion tAat something was
wrong. The date of Professor Russell letter
shows that Yakutat bay was reached after the
Corwin touched there, for the dispatch in re-
gard 10 her mentions September lst as the
date Of her arrival at the bay.
Mr. Grove h. Gilbert. chief geologist of tie
United States geological survey. said to a re-
porter to-day
a dispatch from San Francisco which-ap-
peared in the press dispatches ia evening.
stated that anxiety was felt in regard 10 the
party and that the revenue cutter COfwin. hav-
ing an appointment 20 meet the party at ak
utat on September lst. proceeded 10 the rem
devious but obtained no news OF the party. Il
point ol fact the programme OF the party did not
include returnlng 10 lakutat 40 ear as Sep
tember st. and il had 10 appointment to meet
the Corwin. The party did reach iakutat
about two weeks later and sent letters by the
mail steamship touching fakutat on sep
tomber 23d which letters have reached
Washington. BY the courtesy IF the
Secretary Of the Navy Il was arranged
that the 'nited States steamship finta should
transport the party from akutat. and they are
doubtless now en- route from Yakutat To
Sirka or from Sitks to Port Townsend. Tho
letters state that the party is IN good health
and has suffered 10 disaster since the unfor.
tunate accident at the time of It's landing
In ley Bay It's work has been. IN
general. successful. The Ma aspina gla-
cier was surveyed reconnolsances
were run in several directions into te ritcry
unknown and the height of Mount
st. Elias was determined by trianguatlon.
but the attempt To ascend the peak was again
the party being driven back, as
before. by storms. IL is expected that Mr..
Eusseii II arrive in Washington about No
vember Ist-"