The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-23


A MARTYR To Sc1EscE-His Wonderful Life and
Traq;c Deatk-From Boston letter we have the fol-
lowing interesting story Of the life and death Oh re-
markabe young man:
[ wonder, did you ever hear Of Robert kennIcott !!
Some one told me the brief story Of his lie the other
day. and it is well worth repeating, though can give
you but the merest skeleton Of a skeIch. He Has =
and resident of Chicago. In his boyhood he mani
tested an engrossing love of natural history gave MS
whole mind to its study and very powerful ana or
liant mind it was Il not well posted III the oates
of this subject but think he had passed but little be-
yond his majority say in 1850 Or 1861, when be set
forth on an exploring expedition through the wds of
the Northampton country. He assembled the Missouri
river to it's source travelled alone through regions
where white foot had SCARCELY ever trodden, thor
oughly explored the Russian and British possessions
in the Northwest and carried on campaln OF lnVes-
tigaon against beasts BIRDS reptiles and insects lie
visited Sitka then Russian post and remained there
for short time He innoeulated the Russian officers
there stationed, many OF whom were men OF high cul-
ture with his passion for natural history and taught
them to pursue the studies in which alone he found
happiness His experiences almost rival those of Mum
chausen in dangers and difficulties peril daunted
him; no obstacle discouraged him.
Once far in the wilderness, he found himself desti-
tute Of the. pins with which bugs and SIGH are I'M
paled and without moments hesitation ne set out
and made Journey OF five hundred miles through Ihe
snowy 5OiLuueS Oh obhA 10 TcPeAish ho osoSA. ~
ing of his visits to this place. think in 1863 he
heard Of the of the rebellion Instantly he started
overland for the East, made bis way to the army in
Virginia. associated himself with the Sanitary Commits
sion and abored faithfully in the cause OF humanity
till Lees surrender Without moments delay, al
that event. he turned his steps again to the North
west and buried himself in the wilderness. A little
than year ago travellers in that bleak re-
gion came upon the figure of man sitting, compass
in hand before map of the of his recent explo-
Iatons, which he had drawn with stick upon the
snow, dead. 1t was young Kennicott, who had died
as he had lived alone. His short life not without
fruits, however lie had established intimate con-
necon with the officers Of the Smithsonian Institute,
who filled with wondering admiration OF his en-
ergy and love of science. His contributions to the
cabinet of that institution were Of incacuable valve
and his good deeds live after him in the acts of 9TH
ers whom he taught to love science. Not long ago
before the Alaska purchase, hoWever-Prof Baird, OF
the Smithsonian, received string Of birds roma Rus-
sian officer stationed at Sitka-a gentleman whom
Kennicot had inspired with his zeal in the study
ofnatural history-which the professor affirmed no
European museum could duplicate. Prot. Baird has
been solicited to write biography of kennicott and
a review of his travels in Alaska but he declines the
task, pleading want Of time, and suggests that DIR.
Simpson, of Chicago, should undertake the work.