NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2435, 8 December 1892, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

San Francisco, Nov. 13. Lieut. Fredk. C. Schwatka, who made liia name famouß the world over by commanding the expedition to the Arctic region in search of the records of the lost Sir John Franklin, died in Portland, Oregon, on November 2nd. He was found at three o'clock in the morning lying on First street, near Morrison, by a policeman. By his side was a half empty bottle of laudanum. He was in a comatose condition, and the supposition, was at first that he was intoxicated but as his condition grew alarming at the end of an hour he was taker to the City Gaol, and subsequently + ' o t j ie Good Samaritan Hospital, w *" iere ne " died at five r B' after being found. beh- watka had been in the habit Siting laudanum to relieve a stomach trouble, and the supposition is that an overdose caused his death. He leaves two sisters, an uncle and a brother, A. C. Schwatka, who works in the composing room of the San Francisco Call. Arrangements have finally been made for the establishment next spring of a line of steamers between St. Louis, Missouri, and Mexican and South American ports. A company has been organised under the laws of Illinois, with 5,000,000 dols capital and the construction of the first ship has been commenced. It is on a design patented several years ago by a St. Louis inventor, and has a remarkably small draught to enable it to steam up and down the Mississippi river during comparatively low water. The vessel is being built of steel, and if it proves a success will largely revolutionise freight traffic between the United States and the Spanish American Republics. St. Louis is the actual head of navigation of the Mississippi, on the right bank of which river it is situated, and possesses an immense population. The Mississippi runs through 3200 miles of country before it disembogues into the Gulf of Mexico.