The Cordova daily times., 1921-06-24
Blazing Northern Trails RECONNAISSANCE THE YUKON RIVER, CHARLES p.
 RAYMOND, CAPTAIN OF EN elNEERs IN 1869.

agent of the Hudson Bay Company at the station, and by the Rev. Bumpus, a missionary of the Church of Eng land, lately arrived from Fort Simp- son, on the Mackenzie river. Mir. Major and I were speedily estab- lished in one of the comfortable log buildings which compose the fort, while the remainder of the party were domiciled in the steamer or en- camped on the shore nearby.
 As the river was rapidly falling, it was necessary that the steamer should start on her seaward journey as soon as possible Il was anxious to make an approximate determina- tion of our geological position with out delay, in order that my compan- ions might make their arrangements accordingly, and carry back the in- formation to the coast A week of unfavorable weather entirely prevent ed us from obtaining suitable ob- servations; but on the Eth of Au- gust we obtained good observation of the solar eclipse, from which we were able to compute an approxi- mate longitude, sufficiently accurate to set at rest the question at issue, and inform our traders that they were in American territory.
 On the 9th of August, at 12 m., notified the representative of the Hudson Bay Company that the sta- tion was in the territory of the Unit ed States; that the introduction of trading goods, or any trade by for eigners with the natives, was illegal, and mustcease, and that the Hudson Bay Company must vacate the build lngs as soon as practicable. I then took possession of the buildings and raised the American flag over the fort.
 Early on the morning of August 10 the steamer started on her return trip down the river, leaving Mr. Westdahl and Moses in charge of the trading station which had been es- tablished at the fort. I also re- mained, with MT. Major and Private Foley, in order to obtain observa tlons for more accurate determina- tions. The night were so light as to greatly embarrass astronomical ob- servations, and I desired, therefore to remain as long as possible.
 In the latter part of August the river commenced falling rapidly. This, we presumed was occasioned by the freezing of the tributaries near their sources, and it was regarded as an indication that the season was near it's close. We reluctantly decid- ed that it would be unsafe to delay our departure longer, and made our arrangements to leave the fort early on the 27th.
 l was anxious to employ the bark canoes of the country for our jour- ney, as they were considered by far the best boats for that kind of travel, and this opinion was con- firmed by my subsequent experience; but none could be obtained. The in- genuity of Moses had, however, de- vised and, with our assistance, con- structed a small skiff of wellsea- soned timber sawn from spruce drift logs. She was calked with rags, and finally coated thickly with pitch. Moses called her the Eclipse.
 On the evening of the 18th she was completed, and we placed her in the water, fastening her with a strip of moose hide. On the next day we in- tended to dismantle our observatory and toward evening begin our jour- ney. But in the morning we dis