The San Francisco call., 1906-10-28
HA@BaT
By Hanna Astrup Larsen

-EE Alaska boundary commits
sion has now returned from it
summers work marking the boun.
dairy lire between the Unite,
States and Canada. The last division
OF the American party reached San
francisco a few days ago. Each party
had a certain strip Of the boundary TO
survey. and each returns with q rec
ORD OF dangers braved, of hardShips
endured and OF a more intimate ac-
ouaintance with ouicksands, glaciers.
freacherous streams. mountain slides
and breakneck scaling Of almost iIfac-
cessible peaks than would be agreeable
20 men OF less courageous mold. But
that Is all IN the days work. and the
members Of the commission DO not re-
gard the dangers otherwise than as
subject for Willing away an idle hour
Mr.. Fremont Morse, the leader OF the
expedition. IS the man who has con-
Quoted the work OF the Alaska boun-
dairy commission for the past two
wears. He is assisted by four expert
enced officers. two OF whom. A. Nos
helm and L. NetIano. have been with
him since the inception OF the COM
knission. The other two, TIL. Riggs
And F. Martin, have had abundant ex-
perience IN similar work in other parts
OF the country OF the men a number
ere old-timers. for the fascination OF
the adventurous outdoor life is strong
upon those who have once felt its
spell
Mr. Morse, assisted by Mr.. Mosheir.
personally conducted the surveying OF
the line following the highest peaks
Between Mount St Elias and Yakutat
Bay One party. under Mr. Netiand,
remaining parties. one under Mr.. Riggs
and one under Mr.. Martin. surveyed
the peninsula between Yakutat Bay
Q and Alsak River.
Each party had its special difficulty
70 contend with, varying with the na
ture OF the territory The party under
AIr. Morse found glaciers the greatest
bugbear. The boundary line runs from
mountain top to mountain top, taking
in the highest peaks. but 1t was found
impossible TO scale the almost vertical
cliffs, rising straight out of the ocean
10 a height cf fifteen or eighteen thou
sand feet. IN many cases the attempt
would have been worth a mans life,
and modern science steps in to prevent
such Wanton waste. The exact locs-
fion Of the boundary peaks is accurate
ly determined by triangula tion. though
II was necessary TO take many hazard
ous climbs over glaciers and moraines
fn order TO get near enough TO take
observations.
I'VE got so used to mountains that
a last they die not look so very big
said one member of the expedition.
- It when you think or putin three
rf les on end. and looking up. it knocks
the breath out Of you. ] have been in
= good many places, but I have never
seen anything 20 equal ia
from these sky-cleaving peaks the
So Al nd
then freezing again, form the mils-wide
rivers Of fec called glaciers, and these
move BY innnitesimaI stages TO the
ocean
Hanging in an Ice Crack.
Sometimes the ice opens in cracks
50 deep that il is Impossible TO see the
bottom. and such. a crack may open
most suddenly and unpleasantiy under
the very feet Of the traveller Theirs
were many narrow escapes, the closest
call probably being that Of the man
who found himself hanging over bot
toraless chasm with his fingers clutch
sng the sharp slippery edge Of ice.
LUCKILY his companions were near and
rushed 10 his assistance before his
numb fingers gave way
The sound OF water trickling hun
6reds Of feet below may often be heard
upon a close approach 10 tho cracks.
Walking across the rough ice might
he thought unpleasant enough, but
srlesab bers or the expedition cheerfully
affirm that the ice is nothing to the
-,orzfueS. To save you the trouble of
hunting for your dictionary, ] viii re-
peat the explanation given me-; Mo-
frames are the accumulation OF debris
Tormed bv crumbling rocks which
gather on top Of the glacier. Immense
powders. worn slippery with their
progress down the mountain, angular
chunks OF granite, bits OF rock shivered
tnto fragments Of needle-like sharpness
combine to make path that is worse
fhan thorny. A five-mile walk is enough
10 reduce pair OF ten-collar walking
shoes TO tatters, which makes expen-
sive walking.
Sometimes a little soil gathers on the
rnoraine. affording foothold for Ger
tain hardy forms Of plant life, partic-
s,larlv the alder tree Often the ice
which forms the foundation Of it all
will melt and the whole thing Will turn
over. exposing TO view ice, rocks. soil,
and ,-eeetation. making one OF the
strangest freaks OF nature.
Mr. Netland and his party, TO whose
lot ii fell to explore the Alsak River,
ere voted by all 10 have had the most
Interesting part OF the summers work.
Che river has never been explored by
white men. nor. so far as could be
learned. even by Indians For good
and suficfent reasons. it seems. for
81 is q place where al the powers that
dwell IN the center OF the earth seem
40 break loose and belch forth with
r.urobIfngs and breaking up OF the
earth's crust that would put any earth
Quake to shame.
The party took 2 launch into what is
practically the delta OF the Alsak Riv-
er. though II is called Dry Bay, and
was rechristened Wet Bay, because Of
tbe fabulous rainfall OF the region.
Anter entering the river, canoes were in
orler. but how TO get in without being
crushed by the masses Of rock and ice
fhat were constantly being plunged into
che river was the question. Talk about
the devil and the deep sea- The mem
hers Of the boundary commission would
have greeted the deep. blue sea with