The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-05
Axoxo TEE wrrps OF rnr xonrnrnss
Owslvse Makes . Great Journey IN an Almost
Unknown Part or Canada.

AM0NG TIE wTLDs OF TIE NORTHWksH
Oxslvse Makes . Great Journey In an AimosS
Unkuown Fart or Canada.
OTTAWA Jan. mfr. William oeilvie. Domin.
ion land surveyor. who during tho summer
and fall has been exploring on behalf OF the
Dominion Government in the Mackenzie
River country. has arrived in the city from his
northern trip I've left Calgary" said Mr..
Ogilvie. ION July last for Athabasca Land
ing. The descent OF the Athabasca River was
begun on the morning OF the 18th In large
Peterborough canoe. The permanent party
consisted OF myself and two men. The descent
OF Grand Rapids. about 1853 miles. was made
In about two days. Below that the eighty
miles OF RAPIDS to Fort McMurray occupied
about two and q half days. and from Fort Nc
Murray to Fort Chippewayan. on Lake Atha-
basca. 1876 miles. the time was nearly thrcs
days. and Fort Smith. on the Great Slave
River, was reached on the Doth Of July. From
this point the descent Of the Great Slave River
was made by the Hudson Bay ste mer wrlg.
ley to Fort Resolution. on the Great Slave
Lake. near the mouth Of the latter river.
AT Resolution q stop OF several days was
made At Chippewayan. on Lake Athabasca,
the headquarters Of the Hudson Bay Company.
district Of Athabasca. wheat was grown by the
Roman Catholic Mission which in 1876 was
exhibited at tho Centennial Exhibition In Phil.
adelphia This post is in 81 10 n. lat. Dur
ing the past summer plague OF grasshoppers
destroyed everything grown around the post
AT this point the Mackenzie River Is up-
ward OF mile wide. with good depth OF watcr
and n moderate current A survey was made
along the Lizard River to the mouth OF what Is
locally known as the Nelson River. Fort Lard
is 1876 miles above Simpson. on the Lizard River.
which ut this point Is about COO yards wide.
and is in low water ten feet deep in midstream.
Here also the Hudson bay Company has a
said. too, that wheat can be grown here
Up, the, Nelson River q survey, was con-
tho s' coniluencc With the Lard. There Is, a
Catholic mission here. but in July last all tho
Ters swt sy Ht to h
ground back from the river A few potatoes
were planted In the spring. but werc DESTROYED
potatoes for the use Of the officers, in charge
and their servants, As the route to be tray.
river from this point for upward OF 200 miles.
Snd e t Ct yysp thrEa S sns
were engaged to assist tho party on tho, Jour:
ncv. But. Indian like. ut. the expiration OF
four DAYS they got home5 7 md md. deserted in
could to tho Peace River; The ascent was con.
the current became SO strong, and the. water
shallow tint it Vas labor get up at
iition ofthings Became, 50 bad that one or two
miles was a hard days work As tho, point
where the to pc %nds could mot
as the provisions were running short, deter
mined to, abandon the canoe and, start over
Of t2e had at at tSe er Pack As q
about seventy;;fye. pounds weight. a course
THE country for twenty-five miles proved
which IN hiftpn1f n m n
to make his way. and very diiiicult with one:
the consequence was that slow progress was
covered by ear party could n1t have been les:
the Journey tho members Of the party were on
IN allowance of provisions. all tho store they
tec TR lad to ps Rms
such partridges rats. and squirrels as were
seen n, which UNFORTUNATELY proved very few
leaving the Nelson me RiSer st JOHN Wss
reached. much to the surprise Of the Indians.
from her hunt ntpr oD
eessary outfit for the fall and winter hunt:
a%as at a% R pSy sr TSa had had
their way 50 well without Q guide. l then
bye BY encs ef but the DAY aeg
my departure severe snow storm commenced.
ST. Soh the
lSO miles below fOrt JOnn. " stay OF CnE60
days was made taking observations. and the
Journey to the crossing. sixty-four miles
further down, was made overland. At the
crossing 1t was found impossible to cross the
river on account Of the drift Ice. so the party
had to remain there for nearly two weeks.
Company post and q. Protestant and Roman
Catholic mission. all Of which grow large
quantities Of potatoes and garden stuff To-
| matoes here also ripen and pumpkins fully
| mature. Cabbage and caulilower grow to
| tremendous size. One cabbage exhibited.
stripped OF all loose leaves and left At for cook
| ing. measured fifty three inches In circumfer.
| ence and wei ghed twenty-cight pounds Car
| rots and beets grow to an extraordinary size.
| as also do turnips.
Twelve miles above the Peace River cross
| ing shaftesbury Mission is situated. Here the
Rev. j. 4 Brick is farming. He is surrounded
| by quite a number Of Indians. whom he tries
| to teach to farm. His principal hope for the
| benefit OF the natives lies in his school
From Athabasca to Edmonton the journey
| was made by horse. team. and Sleigh The
| distance covered from the time Of leaving
| Calgary was about 1900 miles. OF which about
1000 was made In our canoe. M nervous
| signs OF moose. deer. and bear were seen on
tho Lizard and Nelson rivers. hut none OF the
animals was seen. Through this country the
wood buffalo roams. but none OF the animals
| cane into view. Several bear tracks were
| crossed. but no bears were seen. A few fur
bearing animals were seen at q distance. but
iii Had