Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-03
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
Schwatka, the Arctic Explorer,
Suicides at Portland.
FOUND DYING IN THE STREE 7
An Empty Laudznum Bottle Fsund al
His Side Tells the Story.
His Career.

PORTLAND. Ore, Nov. 2.-L:eutensnt
explorer, IL dead. At O'Clock this
morning he Was found by the police
lying in First street. lie was uncon-
scious, and beside him Was picked up
an empty bottle that had contained
laudanum. A patrol wagon was called
and he was removed TO . police sta
ton, still without revlving. At the sta
ton It was believed that the lieutenant
had attempted suicide, owing to the
fact that the laudanum bottle was
empty, and some efforts were made TO
bring hlm back To life. 1t was found
10 be extremely difficult, however, TO
rouse him from the stupor that had
fastened its hold upon him, and he
died while under the hands of the at
tend ants.
Lieutenant schwatka's Career
Lieutenant Schwatka was born In
Galena, ILL.,. on Sept. %, 1919. After
graduation at the United States Mill
tary Academy in 1871, he was appointed
and served on garrison and frontier
duty until 1877. He studied law and
medicine and was admitted 10 the bar
IN 1879 anu received his medical degree
at Bellevue Hospital. New York, III
1876. He then resolved TO search the
arctic regions for traces of Sir John
Franklln's party, which had been lost,
aud obtaining leave or absence IN 1878
h.ah tod ~ 81 M lAd
IN the Eathen for King Williams 5 land.
On September D., 1880. the party re-
turned, having discovered and buried
many of the skeletons of Sir John
Franklin's party and removed much of
the mystery of that expeditions fate.
Found Many Proofs.
Lieutenant Schwatka found the
grave of Lieutenant John Irving, third
officer of the Terror, and IN addition
to many interesting relics, paper
which WAS copy of the Crosler record
that was found in 1859 by Lieutenant
William X. Hobson of Sir Leopold Nc
Clintock's expedition, and which con-
tanned two records. the latter under
date OF April %, lS4S, stating the death
OF Sir John Franklin on June Z, lS47.
This expedition was also noted for the
fact that he made the longest siedge
journey on record, having traversed
1851 statute miles. During the trip he
discovered Books river, which he
named IN honor of President Hayes.
Lieutenant Schwatka was led to make
tins trip by reading The story of Capt.
Thomas +. Barry's whailng expedition
in Repulse bay IN IS7l-73. Captain
Barry met with Esqwmaux who de-
scrlbed strangers who had passed
through that region several years be-
fore and who had buried papers. silver
spoons and other relics In a cavern
The result of Lieutenant Schwatka's
explorations created a great sensation
at the time throughout the civilized
world.
Explored Yukon River
He afterward explored the course of
the Yukon river IN Alaska. and in
July, 1884, he rejoined 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 ex-
petition and placed Lieutenant
Schwa:ka in charge.
Lieutenant Schwatka received the
Roquette arctic medal from the Geo
graphical society of Paris ard 8 medal
from the Imperial Geographical So
clety of Russia. He was made an hon
orary 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" Published IN
1850. and "The Children of the Cold {"