River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-11-10
DEATH OF LIEUT.. SCHWATKA.

conscious Condition on the Streets of
Portland, Ore.-He Had Taken Lauda- |
mum, but whether Medicine with
Suicidal Intent Is Not Known-His Nota- |
BILE Career.
PORTLAND, Ore. Nov. Silent. Fred |
sriek G. SchwatlSa. who made his name
famous by commanding the expedition
to the Arctic region in search of the
records of the lost Sir John Franklin
party, is dead. The lieutenant was
found at o'clock Wednesday morn
ing lying in First street, near
Morrison, by police officer.
BY his side was a half empty bot
tie of laudanum. He was in a COM
atose condition and was Immediately
removed to St Charles hotel, where he
was placed ia a chair. The SUPPOSE
ton at first was that the lieutenant
was intoxicated. but as lis condition
grew alarming at the end of an hour the
patrol wagon was called and the sick
man was taken to the city Jail. DIR.
Wheeler. the city physician, at once
discovered that the lieutenant was suf-
fering from what appeared to be mar
cotic poisoning. From the Jail the
lieutenant was Immediately sent to the
Good Samaritan hospital, where every
thing was done for him, but he died at
5 o'clock q. m.
Lieut.. Schwatka had been suffering
from a complication of troubles and
had shown symptoms of apoplexy on
numerous. occasions. His life had been
marked by such degree of convivial-
ity that his stomach had of recent
years given him much trouble, and
for the purpose of finding relief
he used small quantities of laud-
anun, usually taking from fifteen TO
twenty drops Tuesday eveninghis stom-
ach trouble came on with such severity
that he comp aimed bitterly and sought
relief. Going to drug store he asked
for two ounces of laudanum. The
druggist asked him if he bad preserip-
ton. He replied that he had not, but
as he was a graduate of medical col
lege he could soon write one. The
druggist replied that it was not neces-
Ary, and gave Lieut.. SchwatEa the
drug. He went away, and after visit
ing a political club he wsS rot seen
after o'clock until picked Up on the
street
DIR. S. Wheeler held a post mortenn
examination Wednesday afternoon.
The brain was taken out intact and
registered weight of 54lS ounces.
The tissues were all in healthy condi-
ton, with slight traces of alcoholic
congestion and slight adhesions to the
mem branous lining of the skull. There
was nothing to indicate apoplexv, and
the only assignable cause of death is
that Schwatka took an overdose of
laudanum for the purpose of relieving
the pain in his stomach. No arrange
ments have been made for the funeral.
Lieut. Schwatka was born in Galena, Ill, on
September %, 1919. After graduation at the
United States Military academy in 1871,
he was appointed second lieutenant in
the Third cavalry and served on garri-
son and frontier duty until 1871 He studied
law and medicine and admitted
70 the bar in 1875 and received his medical de-
gree at Bellevue hospital, New York, in 1876.
He then resolved 70 search the Arctic regions
for traces of Sir John Franklins party, which
had been lost. and obtaining leave Of absence
in 1873 he fitted out an expedition and Sailed in
the Eathen for King Williams land
On September % 1880, the party returned
having discovered and buried many OF the
skeletons of Sir John Franklin's party and re-
moved much OF the mystery Of that expeditions
tate. Lieut. ScDNathd lOunu lnc grave VI
Lieut. John Irving. third officer Of the
Terror and, in addition to many interesting
relics paper which was copy OF the Crosier
record that was found in 1889 by Lieut. William
r. Hobson, OF Sir Leopold McClintock's ex-
petition, and which contained two records
the latter, under date of April %, 1913
stating the death of Sir John Franklin on
June 7, 1877. This expedition was also noted
for the fact that he made the longest sledge
Journey on record, having traversed Isl stat
ute miles During the trip he discovered
Books river, which he named in honor OF
President Hayes. Lieut. Schwatka was led 10
make this trip by reading the story of Capt
Thomas +. Barrys whaling expedition in
Repulse bay in 1s7l-'T3 Capt Barry met
with Esduimaux who described strangers who
had passed through that region several years
before, and who had buried papers. silver spoons
and other relics in the cavern. The result OF
Lieut. Schwatka's explorations created great
sensation at the time Throughout the civilized
world.
He afterward explored the course of the Yu.
kon river in Alaska. and in July, 1891. he re-
Joined his regiment. The August following he
resigned the commission of first Lieutenant
Third cavalry, which he had held since March
IS, 1879 Two years later the New York Times
fitted out an exploring expedition and placed
Lieut. Schwatka in charge
Nearly three years ago, w. d. Boyce, Of Chi
cago, sent him 10 Mexico to discover and
bring back 10 civilization a race Of peo-
nile known as the cave dwellers." He
succeeded in getting three different
bands or families OF these people, Dut
all got away from him except the
last family, which he took 10 Chicago and
put on exhibition at Central Music hall
under the management and financial backing OF
w. d. Boyce, of that city. After exhibiting
these people there for several months. he sent
them back to Mexico
Lieut. Schwatka received the Roquette Arc
tic medal from the Geographical Society OF
Paris aud medal from the Imperial Geograph-
ieal Society of Russia He was made an
honorary member OF the geographical So
cieties Of Geneva, Rome and Bremen. Among
his most noted writings are along Alaska's
Great River and "Nimrod in the North" pub
lished IN 1885. and THE Children Of the Cold,
published in 1886.