New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20
ALASKAN EXPLORATION.
LIEUTENANT CASHIERS PERILOUs JOUR-
NEY IN THE YUKON COUNTRY.
rrpp1prp uARpsHIps SUFFERED BY THE LITTLE
PARTY-sU BsIsT1NG on MULE FLESH
AND WOLF MEAT.
tpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrBuNE.l

fBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBuNEl
Washington. Feb 1.-THE rgors Of the Alaskan
climate IN the fall months and the difficulties which
ATTEND "Reminiscences in the Yukon country are
set forth In q report which has been received AT
the War Department from one Of the exploration
parties sent out to secure more accurate informa-
ton regarding the most northern territory OF the
United States A number OF such expeditions are
now making surveys but nothing had been heard
of them for several months. until Captain r. r.
Glenn 25th Infantry sent In report OF the ex-
periences OF Lieutenant J. c. Cashier. ith Infantry
AT the head OF one OF the small parties under his
command This report. dated october 13. details
the experiences OF Lieutenant Cashier since leav-
ing Captain Glenn at Camp Separation. on August
30 last, until his return to the mouth OF enema
River on September 30 during which period nearly
one hundred miles Of territory were covered In an
effort to reach Circle CITY.
The trip was abandoned on account OF lack OF
food and the great privaiions encountered by Lieu
tenant Cashier and the two enlisted men who ac-
companed him The supplies. consisting of twenty
days short rntions. blankets. axes, ETC. were car
RED two mules. named Weyler and JACK Inc
party met with many obstacles in crossing the
Delta River. and narrowly escaped being dro"nop
several times in the glacial waters The mules
were really an lncumbrance much of the time, ana
they were taken across the streams with great
djdlcultv on one occasion one Of the mules was
used as means Of propulsion for raft but the
animal was soon overcome by the cold and became
a dead weight. causing the raft TO be whiried
round and rounu by the currents. The party was
compelled to camp many nights without protection
other than afforded by the blankets. and the trail
followed led the men numerous ravnes,
canyons and fallen timber Weyler failed rapidly
and delayed the party. and II was finally decided 10
abandon him. and part Of his pack was transferred
TO Jack.
on September Cashier found his own strength
hara anna
more serious when 1t discovered that the
maps carried afforded little accurate information
OF the country. Eleven grouse killed on the 9th
furnished food for the two succeeding days Al
this time Lieutenant Cashier made an erort 10
ford the river. but he was carried on his rect
by the swift current and lost valuable tools He
was able TO land the shore about three-quarters
OF a mile from where he started to wade. on Sep
temper 10 Jack showed signs Of bnd-stasgers. and
II was decided TO kill him. Some OF the meat was
packed up and carried b. the men. The tran
continued across streams and over the toughest
kind Of roads which apparently had never before
been travcrsed. the party much or the time beihs
compelled 10 make a trail.
on September 10 the streams swelled TO the pro-
portions of mountain torrents full or long rapids
the strength OF the men dwindled, and 1t was de-
cided TO abandon everything except the food and
firearms. On September Il the party made eleven
miles over messy roadways which impeded their
progress greatly The next day the men walked
With bleeding feet over rough rock suffering pain
al every step. The supply of food was reduced 10
two weeks stock OF tea and coIee a siIce ol Ddcol
for supper and another for breakfast. Ahead OF
the party was a mountainous country There was
no sign OF a divide and no evidence or tne YUKON
waters while If the men had been In the pest
have gone the hills then there was the FISK
h1t be eSy gSqa a na e TO 5s h@ Steps
with the hope OF reaching the body OF the mule
which had been killed on September - the party
was ithout a particle OF food coffee constituting
the morning meal Fortunately Cashier Killed TWO
ducks and these served as the food for supper
on September II the party subsisted IN the morn
ing on coffee and later In the day one or the SOL
dicrs encountered three wolves. lie Hred SIX shotS
before he killed one Of the animals. which proved
TO be a young Yukon wolf. the meat OF which was
speedily cooked and proved most welcome 70 me
tired and hungry explorers Lieutenant Cas'her
SAYS II tasted much Ike mutton.
on September IS the party became DISCOURAGED az
the slow progress made. and Cashier determined
to build raft. The blankets which had been
abandoned were recovered. and ribbons from them
were used tie the logs together. Cashier being
without an axe. the roots OF the trees used were
burned. The next day the party embarked ana
mcndous velocity. ON suddenly rounding curve
I'm the river raft and its occupants were thrown
I'm and under a huge timber jam everything the
men possessed being lost ana one or thtil cam"
near drowning. They reached the shore with great
difficulty and walked ten miles In their stocking
feet ON September 20 the dead mule was round,
party subsisted for "A few days From TINS UNI
until September 80 these three men lived on berries
and roots and slept without cover walking with
bleeding feet sixtyivc miles IN SIX days uhtll they
reached an Indian encampment.
Lieutenant Cashier says 1t will be months be
fore he will be able to wear shoes lie frels greatly
extracts satisfaction from the fact that he ana the
two soldiers were the first white men TO 20 from
end TO end Of the slough around Bates Rapid, n
discovery Of considerable importance.