Evening star., 1897-05-28
MIDWINTER ALASKAN TRIP
Experience Of Explorers With Thermometer
Registering rs Below.
Men stood the Ordeal Better Than the
Dogs, who Had to he Warned
Back Into Life.

William A. Kjellmann, superintendent of
the reindeer station at Port Clarence. Alas
ka, made a thousand-mile journey with
trained reindeer In December, and the
United States bureau Of education has just
received report of the expedition from
the Industrial School at Port Clarence.
Superintendent Kjellmann left Port Clar-
ence December 10 with nine sleds. seven
teen reindeer and two expert Lapp team
sters, his purpose being to explore that
Fart Of Alaska lying between Bering straits.
the lower Yukon and the Kuskokwim riv-
ers, and to demonstrate the practica bility
of communication between Arctic Alaska
and civilization, even in the depth of win
ter. December % the SwediSh-Lutheran
mission station at Golovin Bay was reach
ed, five days having been spent In explor-
ing the region between the Goweerok and
Fish rivers The reindeer herd at Golovin
Ray was found to be in splendid condition
and well cared for. December 30 the frozen
waters of Norton sourd were crossed:
hummocky ice was encountered; here and
there the ice was very thin and the way
had to be chosen with great care.
January the party arrived at the mis-
sion station of Unalaklik. Here the pro-
visions left last. summer by the United
States revenue cutter Bear for the projected
exploration were received. The country
around Unalaklik Is reported by Mr.. kjeli-
mann as exceptionally adapted for reindeer
herdiEg; there are sheltered Valleys dry
brentwood for sled and canoe-making and
driftwood for fuel. At Unalaklik Mr. David
johnson Joined the party.
Thermometer Registered 73 Below
Zero.
The journey between the tradins, post of
st. Michael and the Russian mission at
Icogmut, On the Yukon. was a most ardu-
GUS one. Barren mountains, whose rocky
sides had been swept bare, but whose
vyiv, l,1I<1
crossed. the icy waters of mountain tor
rents had to be forded: sometimes a way
through the tangled underground had to be
made with axes. The Geld was intense, the
thermometer registering 73o below zero:
but even then the men found their fur
clothing sufficient protection and rested
comfortably in sleeping bags of reindeer
countered; the wind was too strong for the
reindeer to stand UP, and the men also had
to lie down fiat and let the blast sweep over
them for hours.
ary 12, at the Moravian mission station at
Bethel. on the Kuskokw.m river The dis
tance Travelled. including detours, was
about $50 miles. His intention was to re-
turn to headquarters at Port Clarence
through another section of country fol-
loving the Yukon as far as the Roman
Catholic mission station at Nulato, then
turning westward to the Norton sound re-
gioD.
Reindeer moss (Cladonia Rangiferina) had
been found in sufficient quantity along
almost the entire route, although at one
time, when stormbound on the mountains.
the deer were thirty-six hours without
food. However, the hardy animals suffered
no permanent injury from this long fast.
and their skins. thickly covered with long
hair, enabled them to Withstand the in
tense cold.
From Bethel. Mr. johnson, carrying the
mail, proceeded south with dog teams. his
| objective point being Katmai. on Shellikof
strait, where 1t is possible to communicate
with the mail steamer between Sitka and
the Aleutian Islands.
Warmed Dogs Into Life.
/ On the mountains just before reaching
/ Katmai one of Mr.. Johnson's dogs was
| frozen to death. In order to save the re-
naming ones, a large hole was dug into
| the side of snowdrift, the ten dogs that
| seemed to have little life in them, but
.'stif as pokers," were pushed into it, and
| Mr.. Johnson and his native assistants sat
| on the cold bodies of the dogs and warm
I ed them into life.
| At Katmai Mr.. johnson went on board
T the mail steamer for Sitka. This successful
| trip proves the practicability of communi-
/ eating with Arctic Alaska even in the
/! depth of winter. The route followed was
| the one recommended by DR.. Sheldon jack
| son In his report on the introduction of
| reindeer into Alaska, 1894.