The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-12
HOW TO REACH Ii.
Miner w. Bruce Would Seek
the North Pole With Dogs.
WILL PURCHASE
REINDEER.
Schooner Ella johnson Sails North To-
morrow With 100 Tens of Trad
ing Merchandise.

Miner w. Bruce, known in Alaska to
almost every person, native or white,
within that vast region. will sail for the
north in the schooner Ella Johnson, or
Cook inlet fame, some time tomorrow.
Miner Bruce has been in Alaska Tor good
many years, and is as familiar with the
geography and customs or the country as
the merchant IS with the interior or his
store. He has written a book on Alaska
which has been perused by thousands OF
people in the United States. ana has pre-
pared an excellent map of the coast OF that
country and Eastern Siberia {.
When the Ella Johnson sails tomorrow
she will have ten men aboard, besides the
leader, about 100 tons of merchandise for
trading and some lumber. She will go first
to Unalaska and from there 10 st. Law
renee bay, Siberia. AT East cape, the most
eastern point OF Siberia, two men will be
left who will gather a herd Of reindeer to-
gether, TO be called for on the return OF
the schooner. The lumber going up is for
the construction of their winter quarters,
and two years supplies OF food VIII be left
with them. From East cape Mr.. Bruce
will go TO Cape Hope, at which point the
merchandise aboard will be traded on TO
the natives. He viii then return TO East
cape and taking on the reindeer gathered
by the men left there. will proceed up the
far northern point, Cape Onman. which
lies in e6 deg 20 min. north latitude, about
the crossing OF the Arctic circle On the
way he will stop at Cape Serdze and viii
enter Kolinchin bay.
This bay on the Siberian coast Is as great
in extent as Cook inlet. and has probably
never been entered before by a vessel
manned by whites. This is the very heart
of the Siberian reindeer country. The
reindeer taken will be brought to the
United States reindeer station at Port
Clarence and put off. Mr.. Bruce VIII then
go back 10 Siberia in the Ella Johnson ana
remain until driven out by the Ice. He
expects TO pass through Boring straits on
the return before the middle of September.
In 1898 he took fourteen deer from that
side and they were taken to San Fran
cisco in A little schooner, seven dying dur
ing the three months at sea. OF the seven
that reached San Francisco only one is
now living. II is now at Leschi park in
this city. quantity Of moss on which the
animals feed was gathered, but ran out
after month. and during the remainder
OF the voyage the 5rutes sustained life on
cabbage and bread.
This Is the only instance where rein
deer have been bought from the Esklmos
by private parties" said Mr. Bruce at the
Occidental hotel last night. The natives
are very superstii!ous and seem 10 think IL
Will bring disaster on the rest OF the herd
If A few are sold 70 white men and taken
out of the country. They VIII Kill the
deer and sell the meat, but not the 1--we
animal so ! can't tell about the success
OF this expedition. am fearful OF not be-
ing able To buy them. For that reason
zlu establish the station at East cape 10
gather reindeer NJ during the coming win
Ter ard spring so as 20 have them ready 10
bring across next summer. This Will be
the first time have ever gone into the IN
terror. The deer men come 10 the coast
and beard the ship 10 barter. They never
fse money, and / will take a lot Of VIM
caestars along ~ exchange. Through the
Russian envoy at Washington City ] have
obtained the permission OF that govern
ment to trade IN Siberia.
II wish You would particularly impress
on peoples minds that l am not going np
Z, look for hansen. I was offered 1900
yesterday by a prominent newspaper 70
send them news as 70 Nsnsens wners-
abouts and whether ne had reached the
pole. ] am rot going 70 look for him, and
win make every effort 10 get down again
hv next fan OF course. 70 I should hear
81 him I would make an attempt 10 reach
him.
.Nansan will. IN my opinion. be first
heard from IN Eastern Siberia He went
up on the Atlantic side In June. 1855 wiki
twelve rnen IN his THrtg. hts ioe1 was %
get as far north as possible in rhslr vss-
sci. get frozen fn the ice and - carried oy
the currents right ever the pole. He based
MS theory on the and.ng OF some throw
ing sticks picked up in 1859 on the north
ern coast OF Greenland. which were proven
10 Sa those used BY ihe Alaskan Eskin1os.
They we're thought 20 have drifted ali the
way over from Alaska Ny theory IL that
they dropped OF some whz!er. ! don't
take much stock in the theory % currents
drifting over the pole. but believe Nan
sens expedition 20 De the best that has
ever eft for the pole. II Is thoroughly
ettea out. and Nsnsea - a man wei fitted
mentally and physically for the undertak-
tnx. About April I last. Il vas reported
that hansen Vas returning, bat e was
n~ovsa 20 De without foundation De
f.onK. MO got the farthsst north, vas
stuck IN the delta % she Lena river. II ne
had come down through Eastern Siberia
he vrould have come out al rsEas $arsen.
pho = xeii acquainted with taA history
or former expeditions. vii probably take
that course
4 xIu notify az the Eskimo % Eastern
SIBERIA ard Alaska, 50 Tar "a 7 an able.
% look oat for Andre, th@ FrSnch-nsa.
who Is g1sng TO attempt the finding - me
north pole In 4 balloon. He Is ncw Sitting
oat IN France. / understand several E1-
ropean governments are saexiax him. He
all "a "a szr north as co&SsHfA In a vessel.