New-York tribune., 1907-11-15
ABOUT ARCTIC CANADA.
Mr.. SETON'S EXPLORATION
1uthOr Sees Also What He Calls
"White Mans Last Opportunity.

Ernest Thompson Seton the author. returned to
the United States yesterday from his exploration
trip ot months through Northwest Canada
into the great plains OF the Arctic region. When
seen yesterday at his home at Cos Cob. Conn, he
very enthusiastic that part os Canada
below the Arctic zone. calling it the white mans
last opportunity" Settlers by the thousands. he
said pouring into the enormous area of high
class agricultural band which has been lying IDLE
for so many centuries and the rapidity with which
it is being developed. he said, is marvellous
Mr.. Seton canoed in this and the Arctic region
two thousand miles during his seven months trip,
having one very narrow escape from losing not
only his diaries and all his drawings and maps
hut his life when his canoe upset In the
Athabaska River He has brought back with him
many botanical and geological specimens, with
original maps OF the country he traversed- lie also
discovered a number of lakes and rivers IN the
Arctic region which he is naming in cOniunc-
tion with the Geographical Survey of Canada
My expedition was for four different kinds OF
explorations" said Mr.. Seton. geographical bo-
tanical, geological and agricultural. A. Z. Preble,
of Washington, and I went west the Canadian
Pacific months ago TO Edmonton. in AL
berta and from there We drove one hundred miles
north TO the Athabaska River. carrying with us our
canoe. provisions. camera etc. We canoed up the
main course of this river to its junction with the
Slave River. which is in reality the Mackenzie
River, continuing UP It until to Great
Slave Lake. From there struck off into the
@h'''N ASSIOH' gums SIN iuiieS u
east into the Barren Grounds.
"All of this country IS most remarkable and teem-
Ing with interest" he continued. "'There are many
wide and long stretches the Mackenzie River
where you can see no horizon az all ahead. I came
into contact many times with the Hudson's Bay
Company. and must say have profound respect
for its work in those out of the way regions. For
29O years It has maintained high standard IN
trade, has always assisted the missionaries, and in
all things stood for high standard OF civilization.
Tha ,Nzgl,.
marvellous in the respect for the law which they
have instilled into the hearts of the Indians and
white men alike"
Mr.. Seton's expedition the fifth on record TO
go on so far 10 the north in this region and COW
cred much territory which no other expedition had
been over. During the seven months he was trav-
cling he said yesterday. he slept indoors only two
night, and those were the most miserable Of his
life. He was unable to sleep a wink and felt as
II ne were sitting 70 death, but unable to get
out Of doors because he was at a Hudson Bay fort
and dogs by the hundreds covered all the grounds
outside Aside from these two nights the most
unfortunate time he and Mr.. PrebIe had on the
whole expedition Sunday October 20 when
has canoe upset I'm the middle rapid of the Atha-
baska River According 70 his journal which he
was kind enough 10 show 20 a Tribune reporter
this was day of horrors and mercies''
We started out up the river about o'clock.
said Mr. seton Mr. Preble and myself in the canoe
with my three journals and all our provisions and
IN
ming along the shore pulling the canoe up the rapid
with ropes, when suddenly the water caught rs on
the wrong way. and the next thing I knew was
under the canoe I'm the ice cold water Nv, to,r
nais' which contained all my maps and over five
hundred drawings. and all the inforr,atfo, T had
collected on the trip were tied yp in a canvas boe-
with coTks around Il. and as soon as 7 could pet
my head out OF the water I yelled 70 the hove ~
save it. They ran down the rocky shore for four
teen miles. and naly rescued it by pIunging into
md time
two logs together with the sashes thew wore aro,5
their waists and polling out TO the bag
The canoe upset about O'clock and one n,
the boys did not get back until O'Clock I'm the
afternoon and the other not until s. was afraid
until the first got back that had lost the whole
fruit OF the expedition and that maybe the bors
had lost their lives trying TO save the bag Mr.
Preble and rescued grub enough for that dav and
got out one Of our beds and most of our specimens
The next day trader came down the river in q
scow with several voyageurs and supplied US with
enough provisions
AIr- Seton brought home a great collection Of
botanical specimens gorgeous Arctic flowers and
dwarf shrubs of every description. The so-caued
barren lands barren OF timber onlv he
said. and contained many different kinds of fruits
The fruit. curiously enough. not dwarfei
while the plant which bore it was. one berry ont
weighing frequently. he said, the whole plant He
also gathered large collection of skins mammals
and birds Mr.. Seton said he discovered a number
or pirds nesting. the nests or wnlcn mad never ,u.
fore been found, but not yet ready 20 an
nounce which birds they were. He will be assisted
by the Smithsonian Institution In classifying his
botanical collection.
Among the animals which he studied especisu,
during his trip and obtained pictures of were the
Barren Ground caribou. the lynx. the musk nv
wolverine, white wolf. Arctc fox and wild buffalo
MT Seton expects 10 have his book on the Barren
Grounds. giving in condensed form the diary he
Kept during his seven months there out within tho
next year Meanwhile. he says the different dis
coveries and additions which his explorations have
made TO science will come out in reports from the
Geographical Survey of Canada, the Smithsonian
Institution and other scientific societies
-.