The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-03
SCHWATKA is DEAD.
Found in a Stupor on q Port
land Street at Night.
TOOK LAUDANuM TO ALLAY PAIN
Miserable End OF . Famous Explorer
What Drink and the Kelley
Cure Did for Him.

PORTLAND, Nov 2-Lieut Frederick @.
Schwatka, who made his name famous the
world over by commanding an 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 this
morning lying on Front street. near Morrison.
by policeman. BY his side was half empty
bottle of laudanum. He was in q comatose con-
diton and was Immediately removed to the st.
Charles hotel, where he was placed in a chair.
The superstition at first was that the lieutenant
was intoxicated, but, as bis condition grew
alarming at the end OF an hour, patrol wagon
was called for and the sick man was taken to
the city jail telephone message brought DR..
Wheeler, the city physician, and he discovered
that the Lieutenant was suffering from what APP
pesred to be narcotic poisoning. From the Jail
the Lieutenant was Immediately sent to Good
Samaritan hospital, where everything possible
was done for him, but in vain, and at O'Clock
this morning he died.
Lieut. schwatka had been suffering from q
complication of troubles and had shown symp
toms OF apoplexy on numerous occasions. His
life had been marked by such q degree of con-
yivfality that his stomach had of recent years
given him much trouble, and for the purpose of
finding relief he used a small quantity of lauda-
mum, usually taking from fifteen to twenty
drops. Last evening MS stomach trouble came
on with such severity that he complained Bit
terry and sought relief. Going to drug store
he asked for two ounces of laudanum. The
druggist asked him If he had prescription. He
replied that he had not. out AS he was a gradu-
ate OF medical college, he could soon write
one. The druggist replied that it was not ne
eessary, and gave Lieut.. Schwatka the drug He
went away, and after visiting a political club,
he was not seen alter o'clock until picked up
on the street
Dr. Nicklin. an intimate friend of
myself took dinner last evening together
about O'Clock. He was in his usual
ioyial mood, but complained some about pain
ia his stomach. His prospects were very en-
coursging, and he expected soon to perfect
engagements for going TO Mexico. where he had a
gigantic scheme with some Mexican land CON-
pany. He was also very enthusiastic about his
plans for having the government make ma
tioual park of NJ ,unt Hood. He seemed to feel
highly encouraged. and believed all OF his plans
would materialize. He was intending to speak
at political meeting last night, but the pro-
granme was changed. During the evening w.
Z. Pullman, drug clerk, saw the lieutenant,
who told him his stomach was giving him
much trouble, but that he had taken some
laudanum and was feeling much better"
The most careful inquiry failed to reveal any
indications, the doctor SAID, that Schwatka had
been drinking. His most intimate friends az
sert that he had not taken drop OF liquor since
months ago. The lieutenant came from the
East last May, leaving his wife and 6-year-oId
daughter at Rock Island, Ill, with his wife's
parents. He then went to Coos bay, and on his
way met with all accident which caused him
soma trouble. After his return he went to the
Sound and made short trip to Alaska, and
later made q tour of the Northwest He re-
turned 70 Portland on September Is.
DR.. Wheeler held a post mortem examination
this afternoon. After saving open his skull the
brain was taken out intact and registered a
weight of hfty-four and one-half ounces. The
tissues were all in very healthy condition
with slight traces of alcoholic congestion and
slight adhesions to the membraueous lining OF
the skull There was nothing TO indicate apo
plexy. and the only assignable cause for his
death IL that deceased took an overdose of
iandanum Tor the purpose of relieving pain in
his stomach. No arrangements have been made
for the funeral.
sALEx, Or. Nov 2-Lieut. Frederick Schwatka.
whose death al Portland is reported this morn
ing, was well known In this city, where his
early life was spent He came here with his
parents In the year 1882 receiving his early edu-
cation at Willamette university. He then
learned the printers trade in the ofiee OF the
Statesman He worked at the trade until the
year lo67. when he received appointment to
West Point. His life here was uneventfui His
father, Frederick Schwatka, was a cooper and
worked at his trade while living here. His
father died several years ago, shortly after the
death of the iieutenant's mother. Two sisters,
Mrs. Thomas Reynolds and Mrs. J. d. Jordan,
still reside in this city. An uncle, Ned schwat-
ka lives In Yreks, Cal.
TACOMA, Nov. 2-Ispecial. l-Lieut Frederick
schwatka, who died at Portland this morninL,
stayed in this city month or more during the
present autumn. He had undergone the BIZ
chloride OF gold treatment, and made q heroic
attempt to stop drinking While here he did
not drink drop, and some who did not know
of the mighty struggle the man was making to
abstain from the vice of intoxicating beverage
unmindfully invited him 10 drink. He refused
However. 1t 10 thought his sudden breaking
OF from the drink habit killed him.
While here he made repeated lectures on his
famous Arctic exploring tours, the finding of
the Franklin relics, etc, but his efforts did not
result in drawing very large crowds. On the
whole, II Is understood that he was pecuniarily
embarrassed and discouraged. Just prior TO
leaving here he submitted to the Commercial
Club a proposition TO care ully explore Mount
Rainier and write full report Of it, which he
agreed, Tor certain stipulated sum. to have
published in book form. His proposition was
accepted, and he was to have returned from Ore
gon To undertake the work
OLYMPIA, Nov Especial l-Lient schwatka
took the Kelley treatment at the institute in
this city a few months ago. His taste for LIQUOR
required mora radical treatment than almost
any OF the patients that have been treated here
Frederick schwatks was born at Ga,ena, H.
September -, 1913, and Was graduated al West
Point In 1871. Ii . first service IN the army was
against the Indians IN Arizona Then he stud
led law and Was admitted 10 practice in Ne
braska, and turning from law to medicine, he
was graduated In the latter profession at the
B.lievue Hospital Medical college in is76 sub
ssquently he returned to his reg inent the Third
cavalry. On hearing the story of Capt Thomas
r. barry, who, while on whaling expedition
=. Ia T-t~ff nv
msux who described strangers that had trave. ed
through that region several Years before
he in 1875 obtained leave OF absence in order
10 take command OF q party sent 10 the Arctic
ocean il search OF traces If sir John Frsustiu
The vessel IN which the expedition was maize
was Il schooner, the Eo;hen. specially repaired
and s;Se0gthsncd ID meet the requirements of
Arctic ycyaging she was commanded hy Can't
l. +. Barry. Lieut.. echwstka. who had charge
@ tie searching narty, was a rcompsuied by Coz
W II Glider, cary Kat -ch1s. s drauchts-
man; f. Milens. whaieman, and J. Ebar-
bling, "EsQuimAux joe" The exnedltion which
sailed from New York on june IS. ISIS, returned
September p, lsSo. Many skeletons oil sir john
franEiln's party were found and properly
1 buried. and the mystery that had sur
rounded the fate OF the exped ton was to s.
iares extent dispelIoi. Schwatka fouad the ,raye
of Lieut. John irv ug. third officer oi the Iar-
Ter, and IN addition 10 many interesting relics q
Taleg which was a cosy q. tue Crozier record
ho9sou, Of sir Leopo NcCtntock sexpeaiitiou
aud which contained two records. the latter
under date OF pril Is, ISIS. stating the death ii
sir John Franklin On jane :. lsi7 This sxo2.
dltiou also MAJ Sed BY the longest sic 20
journey on record-S,25i statute miles. dulsHx
whlCn branch al BACK 5 IlYSr Was GiscpYere +
which Lieut. echwa.Aa named T.. President
Hayes, AtterwErJ lie explored the course OF
tae Yukon river n Alaska SChwEtka reiolned
his gSgiueat II July, lSss. Ia August al taat
wear he resigned tae commissioned first lieutea-
aGt, Ehlfa cavalry, 10 which ha had been ar
lated il March, 1873 lie coruiaRReea tEe
New AoTk 3sHsos !asEsn exploring ex SC itioa