The morning call., 1893-07-27

NEW YORK. July 26.-Dr. John Rae,
the Arctic explorer, died at London Mon
day.
John Rae probably ACCOMPLISHED more
with the means at his command than any
of the Arctic explorers. He was born on
one of the Orkney Islands eighty years
ago. He was educatec as physician and
soon after graduating accepted position
as surgeon of a Hudson Bay Company's
ship. In June. 1916, he began his career
as an explorer, leaving York Factory, on
Hudson Bay. in command of party OF
ten men in two small boats carrying only
four mon this provisions, but no fuel,
reaching Repulse Bay after dangerous
voyage of some 900 miles.
Early the following April the coast line
survey, covering over 1900 miles, was ac-
complished. thus uniting the surveys Of
Ross with Parry's explorations at the
Strait of the Fury and Hecla.
Shortly after returning to London, Rae
joined Sir John Richardson in the search
for Franklin. leaving England in the spring
Of 1S4S. They found no trace Of him. and
year later Richardson returned to Eng
land. Rae. when navigation permitted.
descended the Coppermine River in
single boat with a crew OF i've men, the
object being to cross to Wollaston land.
In 1850 he was given the command OF an
other search to the Arctic for SIT John
Franklin Rae and two men on this expe-
ditiou made a journey to and along the
coast, thoroughly searching the shore OF
Wallaston Land. More than 1000 miles
were travelled over. the average days
march being twenty-five miles. Rae him.
self hauling sledge of from fifty to sew
enty-five pounds in weight.
In early winter snowshOes were mounted
and hauling provisions on sledges. the
party marched 1850 miles to Fort Winni-
peg. Thence Rae and two of his men trav
eled to Crow Wing. in the United States.
a distance of $50 miles. in ten days,
having thus been eight months at hard
work Safeguarding. travelling by boat
and sno wish oes. making distance OF $3.50
miles. only 700 of which was new dis
covery. For this service the founders
gold medal of the Royal Geographical
Society was awarded Rae in 1852.
In order to traverse the still unexplored
portion of the Arctic Coast of America
Rae took command of another expedition,
leaving England in the spring of 1853. He
travelled in canoe through the rivers an d
lakes, reaching the west coast Of Boothia
in time to take advantage of the first
navigable sea northward.
On this expedition he was entirely sue
cessful Sledge journeys of over HOO
miles were made. 400 of which were new
discoveries.
The work done on these two expeditions
and those of 1S4S and 1850 consisted of
over $1,000 miles of journeying by lake
and river, along the coast and on foot,
either sledging on the ice or on snowshoes.
Of this distance between 100 and 1900
miles were new discoveries.
In 1864 Rae began a second survey for a
telegraph line from Winnipeg across the
Rocky Mountains through the Yellow
Head Pass. Sol hundreds of miles of
the most dangerous part of the Fraser
River were run down in small dug-out
canoes without guide. most perilous
undertaking.
Rae's publications were very few. con
sisting of short papers on the EsquimauX-
and kindred subjects, brief narrative of
his Arctic and other expeditions and re-
ports to the Royal Geographical Society.