The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-05

The expedition is HEADED by Capt Be-
gardus Eidridge, Fourteenth infantry, and
includes three other officers and twenty
enlisted men OF the Fourteenth. 1t was
detailed TO 80 over the Dalton TRAIL using
reindeer teams as means of transporta-
ton, 10 Belle Isle, Alaska, there 10
tabllsh military depot and camp. The
ultimate object of the expedition vas 10
explore routes across the DIVIDE frs. Ihe
Yukon TO the Tanana river. Capt. FL
bridge was ordered 10 communicate with
the other two government survey ex-
petitions. commanded by Capt. W. Il.
Abercrombie and Capt. +. L. Glenn.
Capt. David L. Brainard, who was COM
m:ssary and quarJermaster OF the orig
nal Dawson relief expedition. and Capt.
George Ruh.en, OF the quartermaster's de-
pertinent, who was quartermaster OF the
Eldfidge expedition, returned yesterday
from Haines on the steamer City OF Sc
attic and left ii o'c.ock for the East.
After the abandonment OF the Dawson ex-
petition Capt. Brainard was detailed as
commiSSaTS of subsistence of the E!dridge
expedition and Capt. Ruhien was made
auartermasteg in the. same party. Both
have been ordered 10 report 10 their SUI
rer.or officers az Washington ard both
viii probably he ordered TO the front IN
The war with Spain.
Capt. Brainard reports that the herd OF
reindeer which was 10 have supplied the
Elcridge expedition with means of trans
por,at!on are dying rapidly on the ChN-
SIt mountains. The deer are useless for
the work for which they were procured.
capt, Eldfidgc and his men are still al
iiaines. They cannot make progress into
the Interior. because they have no means
Of transportation. The return OF the gov
srawen; pack train took away the last
resource OF the party. and ia view Of the
fact that \ geological surveying party
from Washing on. under the direction OF
\. l. Barnard. has crossed the Whiga
pass and is now started down the Yukon
in the same general direction As ina. which
the Eldriage party was 10 have followed,
It Is r garded as almost certain that Capt
Eidr,dge and his men VIII be recalled.
The reindeer have proven a complete
failure said Capt. Brainsrd yesterday
They are dying rapidly every day and
got more than hall Of the original herd
now survives The trouble has baen tina;
there il not moss for the animals 20 SUBJ
s-st upon in the eouniry adjacent 10
Hainss. The calculations made to the
contrary nave proven unfounded.''
Originally ths government purchased 50
head OF reindeer n Norway, acting I'M
der the advice Of DR. Sheldon Jackson,
the United States superintendent OF
schools for Alaska pr. Jackson recon-
ineuded the transportation Of the deer 20
HalneS. aud it Was believed that they
would lind plenty % moss on ihe ChIscat
mountains IN ble them 10 I've. Evil
IDENTITY Or Jacksous informa zion concern
ing The food for the animals In South
eastern Alaska was not OF A trustworthy
Kind. The I-aplanders that accompanied
ire herd found. after considerable foyas-
to eat hstt rat.onS for ten days after ar
irving a, Pyramid hsrbog. Then they We're
driven slowly up the mountain sides 10
tue summit. II here X WAS understood There
existed p2ssUrage suitable 10 the animals
On ApTil y "A corporal attached 20 the
where the reindeer were supposed 4, ~
Nf3"SiHg on the moss half way Up the
summit @ the DIVIDE He returned 10
camp and reported that the herd had been
dT9Fen ny easy stages. made necessary ~
faflr eHacgAted condition - Doiut
t"e1'y-siX miles rem Ha.res. Only -
81 iHe criElfai herd had survived. and
he corporal Tepctted that tweutv would
PROBABLY die that night
ssreat patty is expressed nv khe army o.
1c~rs for TIRE suferlngs ~ these hardy
Aad useful aaiElai& They are benz