408 DISCOVERIES OF ARMY OFFICER 



River country. This break is known as Simpson Pass, and is the gateway 

 that leads to the gold fields beyond. 



"This report," Captain Herron said in his official report of his expedition, 

 "represents the earnest efforts of a small party in unknown regions, against 

 extraordinary obstacles, deserted by guides, caught by winter, deprived of 

 transportation, and hampered by scarcity of food. 



COMMENDS AIDS IN HIS TRIP. 



"I take pleasure in commending to the adjutant general the men of my 

 expedition. Acting Assistant Surgeon Henry R. Carter, U. S. A., a young 

 physician of ability and attainments, who, in addition to conscientious pro- 

 fessional work, did duty at all other tasks assigned to him with pluck, zeal 

 and energy, and contributed much to the success of the expedition. Privates 

 Sam L. Jones and Gilbert Dillinger, Fourteenth United States Infantry, 

 proved themselves on every occasion magnificent soldiers in every respect. 

 Packers E. M. Webster and George Brown contributed greatly to the success 

 of the expedition by their ability as horsemen and packers, as well as by their 

 faithful, energetic and intrepid services throughout." 



The explorations that were to result in the discovery of the overland 

 route started at noon on June 30, 1899, at which time Captain Herron, in 

 his report, says that "the steamboat left us, six white men and two red men, 

 camped in a fringe of alder and spruce timber on the north bank of the 

 Keechatno River. The fifteen pack horses were fed their last ration of oats, 

 and over 3,000 pounds of our rations and impedimenta were piled up on the 

 ground." 



RECITES HARDSHIPS OF TRAVEL. 



The country where the route begins Captain Herron describes as wild and 

 overgrown; one that exacted from those in the expedition extraordinary 

 labor at every step. 



During the summer months. Captain Herron briefly recites, the daily 

 routine of his command was "a reconnoissance for the best route for the day's 

 march; a search for fords, crossings, detours around or passages through 

 ravines, swamps and other obstacles; the construction of a pack-train trail 

 by chopping out timber and brush in dense forests, blazing in open forests and 

 corduroying in soft mud and tundras; fording or swimming the pack train 

 over the rivers; the building of spar bridges where mud-bottom creeks inter- 



