Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-11-05
SCHWATKA DEAD.
The Arctic Explorer Dies in Port
land, Ore.
A Bottle OF Laudanum Found By His
Side-Life of tho Deceased-lIls
Search For Sir John Frank
lln Relics.

PORTLAND. Ore, Nov. 3.-Lieut Fred
eerick Schwatlsa, Of Alaskan exploration
fame, died here ut 1850 o'clock this morn
ing. lie was picked up on the street
about 8 o'clock in an unconscious con-
dition. Beside him was found an empty
laudanum bottle and it is supposed that
he committed suicide.
BIOGRAPHICAL
Frederick Schwaikn wns born In Galcna Ill
September -, 1912 After graduating from the
United States military academy In 1871 he was
appointed second lieutenant in the Third cav
airy and servci on garrison and frontier duty
until 1877. lie also studied law md medicine,
was admitted To the lar in Nebraska In 1873
and received his medical degree nj the Bellevue
hospital New York, in 1876. In the year iS7
he determined 10 go in search OF traces OF the
Sir John Franklin exploring party and secure
the books and papers alleged 10 have been
buried in q calrn.
During the first ten years after the loss OF
the Erebus and Terror several iincly equipped
expeditions were sent out TO discover the fate
of Sir John Franklin and his associates. but not
a trace wns found until 1850 when Capt Nc
Cintock found clothes and other articles be-
longing TO the crew on King Williams land.
Capt Halls Two expeditions discovered tho
spot where the surviving members OF the
Franklin party had made their last camp on
their fatal attempt TO return 10 civilization
after three years amid snow and ice, and tho
skeleton OF Lieut. lie Vesconte, OF the Erebus,
In is7. and 1877 spoons bearing the Franklin
crest and other articles we're brought back by
whalers.
Obtaining leave OF absence. Schwatka fitted
out his expedition and June 10 1873, accom-
panied by William II Glider, Harry Slutschak,
Frank Melms and an EsQuimauX, sailed for
King Williams Land Convinced OF the i'm
possibility OF conveying stores for journey OF
thousands OF miles on slcdges, SchwatkA and
his companions spent the winter In becoming
Injured TO the life OF the Esquimaux and learn
ing the arts By which the latter are enabled TO
sustain life April the following year the
start across the land was made. In three
sledges drawn by forty.two dogs were
wares for barter and provisions for
three months, In case OF necessity They
depended entirely on the game killed
2or their daily food. Mav they discovered q
stream flowing norihward and named II Hayes
river, after President Rutherford d. Hayes.
Following the stream 10 its mouth they landed
at Cockburu bay Here they learned that about
thirty years before the Esquimaux had found
an ice bound ship on the west coast Of Adelaide
peninsula Journeying to this point Schwatka
found Esquimaux who remembered the Frank
lin expedition and had found skeletons of sew
, eral members OF the party. Many OF the bones
had been sawed, indicating that cannlbalism
had been resoried 10 by some OF the sufferers
Travelling onward Schwatka gathered sew
eral relics and learned Of u treasure OF papers
and books, taken from the ice bound ship hay
ing been destroye ed 0y Esquimaux children. AT
the site OF the camp occupied BY Capt Crozier,
after abandoning his ship on Cape John Prank
lin. many articles were found and in gave,
on the evidence OF medal inscribed with name.
were found the remains OF Lieut. Irving, third
ofhcer OF the Terror. On July the party
reached Cape Felix. the extremity Of the island
and the limit OF the land to be explored. On
their return journey they examined more thor
ou2hly the ground traversed the snow having
entirely disappeared Graves were found in
many places along the coast marked BY heaps
OF stones which the survivors had placed over
their fallen companions ~ monuments. Frag-
ments OF utensils and clothing were found, and
q copy OF the brief memorial left by Capt
Crozer when he set out with the crews OF the
Erebus and Terror, los souls In all, for Back
river, which was found by the McClintock exc
petition in 1883.
Schwatka's unexampled sledge Journey last.
ing from April l, 1879, 10 March 4. 1880, covered
$3.50 miles Important corrections were made
by Schwatkn and his companions In the map OF
she country traversed
The fate OF the Franklin party Is yet much Of
u mystery. The record can be read only by the
one reserved document and the graves OF the
members Schwatka returned to civilization in
September
Later Schwatka explored the course OF the
Yukon river in Alaska and reioined his regi-
Eaent In July, 1884. In August OF that year he
resigned the commission OF first lieutenant
:. bird cavalry He commanded the New York
Zines Alaskan exploring expedition In isS6.
January 81, 1891, SChwatko fell down the main
stairway OF hotel in Mason City, Ia, and was
severely injured. The report was sent out that
ne died the next morning. This proved CO.
nard. He had been on q protractcd spree. The
day Of the accident he took carriage ride
while intoxicated On his return he got out OF
the carriage only with assistance 1t was while
uassing 10 his room that he fell