The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-14

Cooks Inlet, not a single specimen of
the animal had been obtained for
mounting, nor did any of the existing
natural histories contain a comprehen-
sive account of this peculiar variety of
mountain climber.
Resolved to obtain one or more of the
sheep, or to prove their existence but
another of the many Indian fables,
Malterner FASTENED to Sitka prepara-
tory to pushing further north into the
mountains of Alaska. Fortune favored
him at the outset, for, in Sitka he found
Professor L. L. Dyche of the Kansas
state university, who had heard of the
white sheep, and had gone to Alaska
to obtain, if possible, a specimen for his
collection. Joining forces, the two pro-
ceeded northward to Cooks Inlet. The
success which attended their efforts is
told by Mr.. NIalterner in the following
story. the notes Of which he made while
on the trip:
LOCATING THE WHITE SHEEP.
On the tenth day after our departure
from Sitka, on the steamship Dora, we
reached TyOnic, $50 miles north, and
situated upon the Turnagain arm of
Cooks Inlet. Here we embarked in a
fishing slOOp for Knik station, a soli-
tary trading post 125 miles southeast
from Tyonic and lying near the base of
formed, the sheep were to be found.
Remaining for two days at Knik. we
procured the services of an Indian
guide, and. taking such provisions as
were required for the expedition, en-
parked in his canoe for our destination,
the plain lying at the base of the Knik
mountains.
Fifteen miles from the station we
put inShOre that we might pitch our
tent for the night, and on the following
morning began the tramp across the
plain to the mountains beyond
Through my glass the elevation ap-
peared plainly before me, a range of
somber mountains. covered with
patches Of snow and ice, scanned with
assures, rock ridges and belts of tim
Der.
It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon
when. having tramped for hours
through the tall grass of the level
plain, over aggressive rocks and
treacherous depressiOns, we reached
the timber line which ran parallel with
the base Of the mountain as far as the
eye could reach. We were completely
used up by the e2,ertions OF the day,
and at Dyche's suggestion that we go
into camp, I threw down my 15-pOund
pack with a sigh of relief Not so our
indian guide. He pointed out to US
that Yet another two-hour tramp was
necessary to bring us to point
whence the feeding ground of the
sheep might be easily reached in the
morning, ii being our purpose to gain
position as far UP the mountain as
possible, so that at daybreak we could
begin the hunt without miles of walk
ing and climbing before U.S.
Making our way through The belt of
timber, we continued climbing upward,
the slope becoming more and more pre-
cipitous until it lay at an angle of 45
degrees The Indians two hours
stretched themselves into double that
number, and it was close upon dark
ness WREN we reached a small plateau,
less than = feet square, but which
afforded sufficient room for sleeping
place
FIRST VIEW OF THE QUARRY.
As We rounded the rocks which
fianked the edge of this shelf. a cIat-
ter far up the mountain drew our at
tention. Looking in the direction from
which the noise came, saw a score of
white animals running along the rocky
ridges 1000 feet above our heads: thew
were the famous sheep OF the Knik
mountains, who gazed for a moment
Upon us in alarm, then, taking to their
legs, vanished among the distant
boulders.
Exhausted by the days tramp.
slept Soundly until morning. to awake
sun WIN the cOIu Tor the wind pierced
my blanket like q knife and the first
light revealed the mountain side 500
feet above, covered by a thin layer of
snow, which had fallen during the
night. Arousing my companions, I set
about making preparations for ascend !
ing to the spot where we had seen the
sheep on the previous evening. Des-
patching a hasty breakfast, we started
on a tiresome climb of :. 600 feet which |
brought US within sight of the quarry.
but so far away were they still that it |
was o'clock before we reached a I
rocky ledge from which the Indian said |
we would probably have the chance /
of getting a shot at them.
Wishing to hunt alone, I asked |
Dyche and the guide to go on before /
and I would make for point some 40 /
rods to''nly right, where it seemed to I
me shot could be obtained. Five /
minutes later heard the report of the /
Indians gun. This was followed by 4
bait dozen more, and, looking over Z
the cliff. along the dangerous edge of |
which i was climbing, 1 could see a |
sheep rolling headlong down the steep