The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-19
ELEVEN TONS OF CURIOs.
Brought From Frozen Alaska For
Pennsylvania University.

Newark, Ohio, Oct. 19.-Norman G.
Buxton has just returned to his home in
Johnstown, Ohio, after IA months expe-
rience in Alaska. Mr.. Buxton, with
E. A. McIlhenny, of Avery Island, La,
and W. E. Snyder, of Beaver Dam, Wis,
went to Alaska under a contract with
the University Of Pennsylvania to Sc
cure a collection of chronological and
geological specimens.
Contrary to reports published upon
their return to Seattle, Wash, the party
was very successful in pursuing their
scientific investigation, bringing home
1900 birds, 5000 eggs, 1, 700 chronological
specimens, 900 mammals, a large cOllec-
ton of insects, plants, fishes and marine
invertebrae. and about 600 splendid neg
atives of photographs of natives, ami
mails and Alaskan scenery. In all they
brought home 1900 specimens weighing
1112 tons as result of their trip to the
far north.
The young men brought back II vari-
cites of birds that were missed by the
government expedition men in 1881-S3,
and secured three mammals that are
common in that country, but which
Lieutenant Ray failed to procure in 1881.
Incidentally, the men brought home
1900 pounds of whalebOne, which, at
$3.50 a pound, will go long way toward
defraying the expenses of the trip.
The three young men left San Fran
cisco July 1, 1897, on the Pacific Steam
They reached Point Barrow, the most
northern point of American soil, Au-
gust 8, taking along an outfit consisting
of 20 tons of provisions, 80 tons of coal
costing $50 ton delivered, 600 gallons of
oil, II 600 rounds of gun cartridges, 5000
rounds of rifle cartridges, etc, and inn
mediately upon their arrival set to work
collecting birds, as the feathered tribe
leave that country by November l, and
are not seen again until the middle of
the following May. With the assist
ance of IS natives, whom they secured
for a trif1e, the scientists soon had an
icehOuse well stored with a variety of
specimens, upon which Mr.. Buxton, as a
taxidermist worked during the winter.
Some of the natives Travelled many
miles inland in search of material for
preservation.
On September 20 last year the Belve-
dere the Jessie H. Thomas and the Or
ca left Point Barrow, but the following
day the latter two boats were crushed
in the ice, the BelVedere narrowly eS-
Gaping a like fate, but getting safely to
shore. By October 1 the crews of the
two wrecked vessels returned to Point
Barrow, and, thanks to the stores of the
scientists, were saved much suffering.
After their arrival the three men and
the one hundred ship wrecked men
lived on two short meals a day not
withstanding the fact that l, 900 head of
reindeer and large quantity of white
fish were secured near Point Barrow
for their sustenance.
Last winter was called a mild one at
Point Barrow, the coolest registered be-
ing rs degrees below zero, but as the air
was dry, and as each man was clad in
deerskin clothing, they suffered little
Forty below in Alaska is no colder
than 10 below zero in Ohio says Mr..
Buxton, one deerskin keeping as much
warmth in the body as 10 wooden blank
cts. The warmest it reached at that
point during the past summer was 55
above zero, but snow began to accumu-
late as early as September 1.
The boys had some rare sport part of
the time in Alaska whaling and hunt
ing. On September II, 1897. one of the
trio shot 430 ducks, not one of which
weighed less than six pounds. They
had 5000 ducks in the icehouse at one
time last season, just after the 100
ship wrecked sailors arrived. Forty
whales were killed at Point Barrow last
season, which yielded about $4,000
worth of bone and 120 barrels of oil
worth $3.50 a barrel
On August 10 last the party left for
home on the Jennie