Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-19
EXPLORERS At NONE
Three Parties Which Have Been
Surveying Gold Country Meet
at Nome.
Men Who Have Braved Many
Dangers in Mapping New
Country.
Uninhabited Country Penetrated
Uninhabited Country Penetrated
for Many Miles..Telloi Their
Experiences.

Seattle. Wash, Oct. 1s.-The twenty
seven bronzed and beared men compos-
ing three of the parties sent by the
United States geological survey into the
wilds of the arctic circle arrived from
Nome on the st. Paul and will proceed
Immediately to Washington, where the
data and information secured on the trip
will be embodied in government statis-
tics, maps and reports.
The three parties operated in as many
sections of Alaska north of the artic cir
Gle; one, under the leadership of r. G.
Gerdine and A. j. Collier, surveyed the
region north of Nome, mapping topo-
graphically an area of about 5000 square
miles in the north half of Seward penin-
sula. The second. headed by w. j.
Peters, made an investigation of the al
most unknown district lying between
the Kolukuk river and the artict coast
at Point Barrow. The third party con-
fined its attention to portion of the.
lower Yukon river, Little Koyukuk. Dali
river, Old Man creek and kobuck river.
Rivers hundreds of miles in length
were trayersed and unknown and dam
gerous rapids were encountered. The
party led by 7. G. Gerdinc and A. j.
Collier had by far the easiest trip.
The Peters party reached the scene of
operations over the snow of last spring.
The first objective point was the Koy-
ukuk river. This It explored for short
distance and then started north towrads
the shores of the Artic. Upon reaching
a tributary of the Colyille river the
party descended the the stream to the
coast. A complete exploration was made
of the immediate vicinity.
The Peters party, upon reaching the
coast. worked along the shore until they
struck Point Barrow. When Point Bar
row was reached the members Of the
party were well nigh exhausted. From
Point Barrow they continued along the
coast until they reached Cape Lisbon,
where they caught the steamer Artic
and proceeded TO Nome.
BY far the longest and most arduous
trip was that assigned to the Menden-
hall party For months at time 1t
traversed desolate stretches of river and
mountain north of the Yukon river and
below Rampant and Fort Hanlin. Early
last May the Mendenhall outfit left
Seattle. The Yukon river from Fort
Yukon to Fort Hamlin was surveyed
and statistics as to depth and flow of
water were secured. From Fort Hamlin
the marty worked thru the country to
Little Koyukuk, then to the head of Old
Man creek. Old Man creek was found
to be treacherous stream. A distance
OF; over 200 miles was traversed by the
creek. Several times boats with provi-
sions were upset and several OF the men
narrowly escaped drowning
Owing to the loss Of a good portion OF
their supplies by overturnlng OF boats
in the rapids, the party was almost en-
tirely out of provisions when 1t finally
mdnaged to reach Bergman.
At Bergman the party began the as
cent OF several of the northern tribu
taries of the Koyukuk river in an effort
to locate a good portage from the trib-
utary to the Kobuck river. On Aug.
the party reached the portage and found
an easy route, only five and one-half
miles in length. The route was located
plainly for prospectors.
After crossing the portage the party
took up work on the Kobuck river. The
first fifty miles of the upper course was
found difficult to navigate. There were
four series of rapids in that distance.
Below the last series or rapids the river
was found easy OF descent. The stream
gradually wldens out and grows deeper,
and few sandbars were encountered.
During August the party managed to-
make its way down the Kotzebue Sound,
from which point 1t succeeded in getting
passage to Nome.
The actual distance Travelled in Alaska
and British territory was over 5000
miles. Complete statistics were secured
OF ! 100 miles of territory.
All three parties reached Nome within
the space OF a week and came back on
the st. Paul together.
Among the members ~ the expedi-
.tions now In Seattle are the following:
w. j. Peters. G. p. Phillips, F. c. Schra
der, T. G.. Gerdne, w. c. Mendenhall,
d. L. Reaburn. Al. Collier, d. G. With
erspoon and j. G. DeForest.
The fourth party, led by A. r. Brooks.
who was assigned to the SOU western
Alaska district, has not yet returned.