Yukon Valley News

For Geological Surveyors' Abandoned Outfit and Horses.

C. F. W. Cassidy expects to set out in a few days on a second trip in an attempt to bring in a part of the abandoned outfit of the geological survey party, and will probably be successful this time. Only the instruments and specimens will be brought out. Camp equipage and all articles that may be readily replaced will be left where they are.

Sept. 23 Mr. Cassidy left Fort Hamlin and spent nine days in locating the cache and looking out a suitable route for its removal. The condition of the snow was such at that time that it was useless to try to move it. The cache is located at the head of Fish creek, a tributary of Mike Hess river. Mr. Cassidy found four abandoned horses there, and put them into a heavily timbered place, where he believes they can get grass enough to keep them alive. He will take in feed on dog sleds, and if he gets them out he will be four horses ahead.

The geological survey party included half a dozen men under D. C. Wither-spoon. They had fifteen horses, eleven of which became exhausted and were killed. The party started from Circle early in the summer and worked around the headwaters of Beaver and Mike Hess rivers. They expected to finish at Fort Hamlin. Aug. 22 snow began to fall and gradually became deeper till progress was very difficult. The horses could not hold up under the heavy burdens. Sept. 6 everything was abandoned. With canvas bags drawn over their feet and tied around their legs, the men plowed through the snow and finally reached Fort Hamlin Sept. 12. There they disbanded.