New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31

The rsport the other day Of the death Of Leon
SEA. Hubbard. jr.. In the interior of Labrador,
from starvation while conducting an exploring eX-
petition across that inhospitable country. empha-
szss the fact that there is almost at the doors OF
Nsw-York peninsula having an area equal 10 that
Of the Middle and South Atlantic States. OF Eng
land France and Austria combined, the interior OF
which is almost unknown. This country the hrst
on the mainland Of the Western Continent TO De
discovered is only little better known than the
region about the North Pole. 1t is one Of the
largest unexplored tracts in this hemisphere
Hardly a score Of white men have ever visited any
portion OF the tableland which comprises at least
a part OF the heart Of the interior and down whose
precipitous sides pour large rivers to every point
OF the cou1pass-to the east into the Atanuc
Ocean TO the north into Cngara Bay, TO the west
into Hudson Bay, and 70 the south into the Gun
Of ST lawrence The only human beings known
70 dwell IN Labrador. aside from five thousand
Fsouinlaus, half breeds and whites living on the
coast. are two clans OF the Cree Indians the Mon
tagnafs, or Mountaineers. who are found as Tar
west as Lake ST. John, in the Province Of Quebec
and the Nascopies, or Nascaupees, as some spell
their name a less numerous tribe, who live on
the barren country extending to the far north.
Comparatively few of the latter have ever seen a
white man. They are said TO be the last tribe OF
Indians in North America living in absolutely prim-
five conditions. IL TO study them, their prin-
tive methods Of hunting and fishing and their GUS
toms that Mr.. Hubbard primarily planned the ex-
petition which TO take him seven hundred
miles beyond any trading post Of the Hudson's Bay
Company
Naturally there were reasons for the limited
efforts TO gain information Of the interior Of the
peninsula Perhaps they are well illustrated by
the opinion of writer, who declared that when
the Creator finished making the world He dumped
the refuse down as Labrador. An English mis-
sionary who has done much for the welfare Of the
people Of the country heroicaly endeavors to draw
the sting by saying that Labrador is not so desc
late as some think" And. continuing bravely, he
enumerates Of the attractions fer the visitor
10 Labrador. follows: THE romance OF cruising
along the inlets and visiting places where possibly
human foot ever trod. For artists. there the
exquisite and artistic icebergs whose unique beau
ties often heightened by the splendid sun
rises, magnificent sunsets by color plays of the
by no means rare aurora boreals. For the anti
quarry the remains OF q recent and almost present
day Stone Age-stone kettles. saucepans. knives.
arrows, etc.-are TO be found in abundance. For
the geoogist there are problems of ice movements.
For the sightseer. cliffs which eclipse the glores
OF a Geiranger ford. For the botanist and zoolO-
gist. there is almost virgin soil For the pros
pector huge continent. which has not yet yielded
the mineral secrets il undoubtedly possesses
And. although the writer referred to does not
mention this Labrador affords the man ambitious
90 be remembered by future generations a splendid
chance TO have river. lake. bay. island waterfall
mountain named after him. its discoverer
Commercially. there is no sufficient reason for
breaking into the interior for its only product is
furs, and the Indians bring these out Hence SCI
ence and pleasure are the only two reasons for
going in behind the barren and forbidding coast
hne and up TO the present time the world has kept
busy in promising fields, and pleasure has
not plucked UP courage
Labrador externally. is forbiddng and discour-
aging She is not ell moss covered rock however
From scenic point Of view she has something to
offer that will interest the world. Unfortunately,
only four months OF the year. Dog sledges and
snowshoes are the medium Of travel the remainder
OF the year. There are no roads
The interior Of Labrador has been found 10 be
tshleland. about fifteen hundred feet above sea
level the foothills OF which reach down 10 the
Atlantic Coast Piercing these foothills at intervals
along the 200 miles of coast line are deep inlets,
some Of which resemble Norwegian fjords or
these, perhaps the most picturesque is Nachrach
Bay, i.Ieo miles north Of ST. Johns Il is a mile
or more wide and twenty miles long Great shout
cering cliffs. than 1890 feet high tut out into
the water or either side gstening cascades tumble
over their sides. and mystifyng sea caverns lure
one 20 explore them Fifteen miles from the mouth
Is g waterfall Of tremendous height Its altitude
has been variousy estimated at from 400 TO GOO
feet Tumbling over the edge OF the cliff In a
cascade. It takes this great leap and then dashss
along on ite toamy way down several hundred feet
until 70 drops into the hay
This is by means the largest waterfall IN
Ar COA4iNte- 4Aeic ~ one on 0lanC River about
200 miles southwest OF the route Mr. Hubbard
planned TO take going into the country II ranks
with the great waterfalls OF the world and IN ons
respect-heizht-'t is superior 70 Niagara. Perhaus
not more than half dozen white men have ever
seen IL The southern portion OF Labrador espe-
ciaiy on the plateau, Is jeweiied with lakes which
glisten resplendentiy in the sunlight reflect the
floating clouds and the one cheering element
OF the scenery. Those the plateau find their out
lets in rivers OF great volume. which plunge over
the steep sides Of the plateau their way to the
sea The Grand River Is such a stream In 1871
r party OF three, having read OF such a fall IN an
Sccount written by a white man who had .een g,
more than generation before determined 70 visit
u FOR scientific and other reasons After long and
nrcuous tourneying. part Of the way bv schooner
up Hamilton Inlet and the remainder by Ynearz
OF large boat slowed with provisions nho,o-
sfapn-e apparatus. etc. and a canoe one AFTER
noon pillar OF rising mist revealed 10 then, the
object OF their search. Owing TO the strong err
rent IL was impossible for them TO tske the no..
10 their Destination, and the lap had TO ba r.
py only portion Of the party, carrying wien IT,
a weeks supply OF provisions. the photozra r,c
paratus, an anerod and ball Of weighted strive -
measure the height OF the falls IL was a rel,s, -
mem 70 see the pillar OF mist for they had beer ev
Gays on the way after leaving the boat ara h.a
only two days supply ot provisions remaining
Inc stream a mile shove the falls was 7oo o.,
VIDE Descending over four RAPIDS. ths ch.-ra,
compressed IL TO 80 feet the centre higher g. ,,
cages scurrying past and over the edge ~ 49,
precipioe into ar abyss more than three bundr.d
feet below with e that could be heard tr,.,,,
miles away Then the water swept 1t a ma dd.n,ns