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

The expedition il headed by Capt. Bo-
yardus Eldridse, Fourteenth infantry. and
includes three other officers and twenty
enlisted men OF the Fourteenth. 1t was
detailed to go over the Dalton trail, using
reindeer teams as means of transporta-
ton, TO Belle Isle, Alaska, there 10 es-
tabIish a military depot and eatnt. The
ultimate object of the expedition vss to
explore routes across the divide fc,--- The
Yukon to the Tanana river. Capt. Eli
bridge was ordered 10 communicate with
the other two government survey ex-
petitions. commanded by Capt. w. II.
Abercrombie and Capt. +. +. Glenn.
Capt. David L. Brainard. who. was COM
mssary and auartermasler OF the orig
mai Dawson relief expedition, and Capt.
George Ruhien, OF the quartermaster's de-
pariment who was quarterHaster OF the
Eldridge expedition, returned yesterday
from Haines on the steamer City OF Sc
attic and left At O'clock for the East.
After the abandonment OF the Dawson ex-
petition Capt. Brainard was detailed as
comm.ssary of subsistence OF tho Eldridge
expedition and Capt. Ruhien was made
qus:termaster in the same party Both
per.or officers at Washington and both
Will probably be ordered 10 the front in
the war with Spain.
Capt, Brainard reports that the herd Of
reindeer which was 20 have supplied the
Eidridge expedition with means OF trans
poriat.on are dying rapidly Oh the Chu-
eat mountains. The deer are useless for
the work for which they were procured.
Capt. Eidridge and his men are st!n at
30 fs1fa
the interior because they have no means
OF transportation. The return OF the gov
eminent pack train took away the last
resource of the party. and in view OF the
fact that geological surveying party
from Washington, under the direction of
\. l.. Barnard, has crossed the White
pass and ia now started down the Yukon
in the same general direction as that which
the Eldridge party was 10 have followed.
II IS regarded as almost certain that Capt.
Eldr.dse and his men VIII be recalled.
The reindeer have proven complete
failure" said Capt Brainard yesterday.
They are dying rapidly every day and
not more than half Of the original herd
now survives. The trouble has been that
there is not moss Tor the animals TO sub
s.st upon In the country adjacent 10
Hainss. The calculations made to the
contrary have proven unf09nded,"
Originally the government purchased $50
head Of reindeer III Norway. acting un-
der the advice OF DR. Sheldoa Jackson,
The United States superintendent OF
schools for Alaska. nr, Jackson rcCsm-
mended the transportation Of the deer 20
Haines. and il vas believed that they
would ind plenty OF moss on the ChLcag
mountains % enable them 10 1--we. Evil
IDENTIFY DIR. Jackson's information concern
ing the food for the animals in South
Eastern Alaska WAS not OF a trustworthy
kind. The Laplanders that accompanied
tae herd found. after considerable forax-
-1g. enough moss 10 enable the animals
10 eat AA.f ys;ons for ten days after ar
irving at Pyramid harhor. Then they were
dfiVen slowly up the mountain sides To
zee summit, where X was understood there
existed Pasturage suitable 10 the animals.
on April y a corporal attached 10 the
b-aildge expedition was sent 10 the spot
WHERE The reindeer were supposed 20 BE-
browsing On the moss. half way up the
summit q the divide. He returned to
camp and reported that the herd had been
driven ny easy stages. made necessary by
fheir ernaclatsd condition. 10 point
iWsnty-siS miles f:cm Hsines Only 81
or me original herd had survived. and
the corporal reported that twenty would
PROBABLY Ole that night.
Great pity is expressed By the army o.
Scers Ter the suffsrings Of these hardy
saa uss<1 AnimaiA Thee are hs1Aa