A MIGHTY HUNTER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 2

A MIGHTY HUNTER

COLONEL ROOSEVELT AS A NATURALISE

THE RIVER OF DOUBT

11 was among explorers and/iiaturalists thut the late Colonel Roosevelt could count upon loyal friendship and unstinted' admiration. By natural inclination ho was first of all .nff out-of-door man. Ho would, perhaps/ have risen to eminence us a-scientist had ho followed his naturalbent in this direction. As it was, natural history was with .him hugely a diver- ; s'ion. lie acquired a.great reputation, > however, as a hunter and explorer. IMir. 'Carl Akcley, head of the elephant-hunt-ing expedition in Africa for ttie American." Museum of Natural History, and now connected with the Elephant Hall; of the museum,, encountered the Roosevelt expedition'in the African wilds, and together they had several days of hunting. ■ , .

"Colonel Roosovelt was not α-ecientiet by profession," said Mr. Akeley. "Hβ was an amateur naturalist, and yet , he w'ns «, naturalist of splendid training. No trained observer of- nature could be more painstaking and accurate than, tho colonel. Scientists never . doubted his statements, ; Ho, had the keen eye and mind of the ideal naturalist, and he was further added by a phenomenal memory such us foil , men posscsa . "I remember I once received a letter' from a scientist who- accompanied 'him on his African expedition; This man hud specialised on rodents. He' told me tint he was'astounded by the range'of the colonel's knowledge on his own, spec-' inlly. One day when ho was (diking to II colonel the latter mentioned a small, rodent—it whs either a mouse or a. rat— . which-had;been discovered a few years previously in the northern part of the North American continent.- It'was by no means an important animal, and itV discovery was not of great moment. But it had been described' at, sonic length at the time, it was first found, and mostpersons, even most naturalist?, had forgotten all -about it. But Colonel Roosevelt ,kne«' ; ..nll abciit it. It «wnis that lift-had read all there was ever written-, on this Ijtflp animal, and he remembered all.of it.'•- .'. ... ... „• "I found Colonel Roosevelt one-of the most refresliin«T and ■ delightful companions I ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was as'ideal ,ind keen a. sportsman as ever lived. The least of his pleasure, was,in.thekilling of animnls. '.He found infinite' joy .in studyjnsr. wild animal' lifein its native hnunts.' His greatest plens- . ures lay in seeing and learning, thereby, proving, himself an ideal naturalist. -. The River of Doubt. "He contributed an important diwow ery to .the.science of geography by tracing the River of Doubtnoy, officially named the> Theodore River, in his hon-. om—from near" its source to its?, con-rlu-Jiice with tho- Amazon. It was'a very difficult and hazardous trip, and those of us who knew him best are convinced that ,the hardships of this journey led to his early death. ' "Many, of his statements on the subject . of. his explorations'and discoveries were ■ twisted and ridiculed by a hostile and .ignorant Press., His enemies made toa't fun of the Iti'ver of Doubt. But the fufit remains that Colonel Roosevelt rendered' a great, service to the science Of geography by locating it exactly. . Other explorers had ' discovered its source, but they did not have the forti-.-tule to follow it to its moiith. It was ■a.r.eul.Kiver of Doubt, because, nobody ■ knew .where it led till Colonel Roosevelt cle-ii'.sd.up its mystery.'■" "Ho never laid, any claim to having discovered tho famous fish which attacks huinan beings and all ed animals, but his description ,of this fish, -which was scientifically correct in every detail, was distorted. by our ; so-' oallail humourists to the extent that one would have thought that Colonel' Roosevelt did not know whereof he was speaking. I believe that his exposure and truls on.tfc Brazilian trip, led to his death. I remember he was warned by , his physicians against going, but- his .re'rtly ! "wns characteristic. 'I liave had more than my share' in the world, and I can afford'to take chances, , said Colonel Roosevelt. His death touches me more deeplv than I can say in words.' He was an inspiration- of rxmrage and faith. Fortunately, hie-life record remains with us. He will be acknowledged, now.that he is dead, to have been one of the greatest men this country ever produced, one of the very groat men of his time in the. worldl" • ■ " .•■■-.- . : Another Appreciation, :. .. Henry i'airfiejd Osbor'n. president of the American. Museum of Natural History, also discussed Colonel Roosevelt's activities in tho field of natural history.. He. said: '".' '.'...'. ' "Colonel Rooseve.lt's death is a very great loss to the world ond to natural history, and ho will be mourned by hundreds of ..friends in North and .South America and. Europe, us well- as in Afri:«i,, where this side of his reiaarkablo' personality was known... Natural I history was his first love,' and while for many years of his intense , political life it became an avocation, iit was a striking fact. tiiftt on "stepping out of the Presideiier hn.entered it as a real .vocation.

"Jle threw, himself heart' and soul into African, expedition. I. happen to know that ou this expedition lie took nothing but natural history books with him.. Hβ carried not even .memoranda of the addresses ho had engaged to deliver in Berlin. Paris, and Oxford on his return. In fact, some months.before he left the' White House ho became absorbed in the zoology:ot Africa, and in the' few months thiit'intervenod bet«-ced Icnviiif Washingion and his.departure on his journey he reitd'ftml nifirilered the entire literature lyhiclrthtt American -Museum afforded on tin* subject. ' "'• . '

"similarly, * when lie returned from his triumphant tour abroad and re-en-tored political life, he sought the first opportunity-to tnko up natural history again, as was shown by Ms trip to South America under the-auspices of tlie"American Museum. Tins lime he desired to enter a particularly (longerons region, wliolly unexplored, wliero tho Indinns had iiever- been subdued.. When I told liim that I did not approve of his going into the region under tlio American Jluseitm flag, he flashed back one of his characteristic replies: . : 'v "'I have already lived,ns much of life as nine other'-men I know, and I am quite ready to die in South' America if it is necessary;' ' ' . '

"The routo selected' was' less dangerous than that proposed. Nevertheless • he very nearly lost his life. The expedition to South America was extremely successful from a purely zoological point of view, (|liite apart from the widespread famo. of the discovery of tho new river. It led to tho continuation of α-serics of special expeditions , into the'interior region which were known as the Boosevclt expeditions; . ■■ " ' , "While gifte<] with a marvellous memory for scientific names, and perfectly familiar with all the birds and mammals iii tho eastern 'United States, Colonol Eooßßvclt was more deeply interested in habits than eystemutje zoology. It was his assistance on this side which led to tho unique record of the African journe.v ontilled 'Life History of African Gnmo 'Animals, by TJooscvolt and Heller,' and which lias led to far more intense study than hitherto nf the hubils of anininls in South America ami in Africa than the ninre collsction of their skins. "Colonel Koosnvell's life in the White House marked the roMoii iiro of zoology in this country. Since tho time of Thomas" 'Jefferson, no President has been known to talw U.e Brightest, interest in animal life. Naturalists nnd exnlorors from all.parts of the world were always welcome thore. 'Men lilce Sclous. John Burroughs, and F. Jf. Chapman formed part .of tho intimate social circle. His sons and daughters vrre brnnght up in an atmosphere of iintnral history. 'J'he colonel especially distinguished himself as nn observer' and collector in (ho great African jungle."

The Camp Commandant at Treiillnim acknowledges: receipt of the following Kifts for the hospital: Y.M.C.A.. gifts distributed at own request; Salvation Army, gifts distributed lit own request; lied , Cross Society, creqiiet .vet. books; hoi- ; diers' Comforts Fund, fruit; also books, magazines, gramophone records, collected > , by Miss Butler, Wellington. ,-\