The Washington herald., 1910-02-17

Numbered among countless souls who
have gone to frozen death in the bar
ren ice wastes Of the far North. mourned
by a sorrowing wife who believed she
would never again gaze upon his face,
given UP for dead by relatives. and count
ed among the lost by host Of friends,
Arthur T. Leith, explorer, geologist, and
hunter. whose hazardous venture into the
land OF the Eskimos was watched by all
Washington. has returned unhaTmed TO
his home In this city.
Heralded by brief massage in a tele-
gram which brought the gladsome tidings
that he lived. to his grief-stricken wife.
Leith reached Washington at Il o'clock
on Tuesday morning and made his way
eagerly to his waiting wife. who met him
on the stoop of their home. 1851 Chaplin
street northwest.
Friends Offer Congratulations.
Somewhat uncomfortable because Of the
humidity of the National Capital after
months in a land where he constantly
guarded against the loss Of an ear or the
nose by frost-bite but happy in the con-
gentality of his home. Leith yesterday
held sway at an impromptu reception, at
which there were nearly all his friends.
eager to press their congratulations on his
return and laud him for his feat Of sue
cessfulIy exploring a land where few
white men have placed foot.
Leith started for the far north last
summer with his brother. Dr. c. X Leith,
professor Of geology at the University Of
Wisconsin: F. S. Adams. geologist. of
Duluth. and Hugh Roberts. geolOgtst, Of
Superior Wis.
The party assembled at Missanabe, on
the north shore OF Lake Superior, where
they gathered provisions. weapons and
the necessary paraphernalia for the dash
nOrthward. The object of the venture was
the investigation Of reported iron forma-
tions on the coast Of Labrador
On the morning Of July l the four men
entered canoes and padded 375 miles 20
Moose Factory, a Hudson Bay Company
post. They hugged the coast around the
western edge of Labrador. steadily push
ing nOrthward. stopping for rests and
provisions at the various trading posts
on the route They visited Rupert
House, East Main, Fort George, and then
set out for the northernmost post Of the
famous trading company, Great Whale
Nerve and Endurance Tested.
A rest of a few days, and Great Whale
was left behind. the party embaTking
in a thirty-five foot sailboat, manned by
two of the most famous Indian hunters
and trappers In that section. Braving
stormy wave and other obstacles. which
tested the nerve and endurance of every
man in the little party, the boat was
pointed northward for more than $50
miles. They were then IN a country
where even the Esquimos were few, and
the white men who had been there can
be numbered.
On August Is the party reached its
destination. They landed and for nearly
two weeks searched for the evidences OF
iron deposits reported on the rocky coast.
They found iron, but in such small guam
titles as 10 have little or no commercial
value TO the civilized world. After re-
loading their small craft with provisions
obtained from bags Of game shot by the
white men. the party embarked on Au-
gust 8 and started homeward
Midway between the farthest point
north reached by the party and Great
Whale, the sailboat ran into a storm
The frail craft was tossed about BY the
waves for hours, every man aboard ex-
pecting TO go to the bottom before the
wind subsided. Fortune was with them.
for the gale shifted and the saiIboat was
sent at terrific speed toward the coast. 1t
was driven on the rocks and a hole stove
in the bottom.
Washed on Rocks,
The Indians leaped overheard. They
were followed by their white COMPANIONS.
Luck was again with the men. They
gained footing on a rocky ledge a few
feet below the surface. By dint Of hard
struggling every man reached shore. The
wind took the empty boat in its teeth
ana carried it high and dry on the rocks.
saving the provisions and guns. without
which the party would have been doomed
TO a slow death by starvation.
Nearly leo miles from the habitation OF
man the party set out afoot. Forging
steadily ahead, day by day. they finally
hove in sight of Great Whale, and a
shout of triumph went up when they
sighted the group Of shacks composing
the little post.
For three weeks the party attempted
10 leave Great Whale IN canoes, but were
confronted by obstacles which forced
them to put back to the trading station
after every attempt. In November Prof
Leith and Roberts started afoot leaving
their companions behind. This was done
as the accommodations at Great Whale
were not so cOmmOdious that four men
could winter there in the event they were
unable 70 leave. All the Indians had LEFT
the post to return to their trapping and
Continued on Page g, Column 8.