The “Times” in Alaska by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 38.

The “Times” in Alaska.

By Editor

THE New York Times has manned an exploration party, at the head of which is Lieutenant Schwatka. The goal is Alaska, and if the expedition is conducted with anything like the inherent enterprise of the Times, the record of results achieved will be eagerly received by men of science, and we dare say, that from a commercial point of view also these results will be important. We quote two paragraphs from an article in the Times on the subject:—

“Lieutenant Schwatka is an experienced and well-seasoned explorer, who has already won deserved renown in arctic travel and research. In 1879 he led an expedition over the route of Sir John Franklin’s party and brought to the world its fullest and final knowledge of the fate of the Erebus and Terror. Again, in 1883, he explored from its source to its mouth Alaska’s great river, the Yukon. It was in returning from this trip, that Lieutenant Schwatka conceived the desire to visit the mountainous and forbidding southern coast of Alaska and tell the world something of its Indian races, of its forests, its soil, and its glaciers. The Times has given him an opportunity to undertake this voyage of discovery and description, and it hopes in due time to lay before its readers such additions to the world’s present slight knowledge of this region, as will amply justify the effort and the expense involved.

“The most interesting of the numerous objects coming within the scope of the expedition will be the ascent of the altogether unexplored St. Elias range of mountains; and as its most tempting and perilous feat the expedition will, if practicable, try to reach the lofty top of St. Elias itself. This great peak, the highest on the North American Continent, reaching the altitude of 19,500 feet above the sea level, has been an object of fascination and of wonder to the seafarers of the Northwest from the days of the earliest navigators; but no white man has ever yet set foot upon its slopes. The snow line begins some 3,000 feet from the foot of St. Elias, leaving upward of 16,000 feet of eternal frost. But its summit is believed to be above the limit where snow falls. Of the nature and covering of the upper reaches of the mountain’s sides nothing can be known until Lieutenant Schwatka has set out to reach its summit, and it may be that an icy coating on its precipitous paths or some other natural barrier to the curiosity of man will prove to be an insurmountable defense against the invading party. If Nature intended St. Elias to be climbed, and has made suitable provision for the task, it will be accomplished by Lieutenant Schwatka and his party. If it shall appear that she was of quite the contrary mind, and took effective measures to make her will be respected of mountain climbers, the Times’ expedition will contentedly betake itself to the other and really more practical and profitable fields it has determined to explore.”—N. Y. Observer.