Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-20
A MARTYR TO SCIENCE.
BriefStOry of the Life of Robert
EennicOtt.

FROM q DOSlOu lSbttA Nc nave -
lowing interesting story of the life IA
death of a remarkable young man
[ wonder, did you ever hear Of Robert
Kennieott? Some one told me the brief
story Of his life, the other day, and 1t IS
we'll worth repeating, though l can give
Won but the merest skeleton Of a sketch.
He was the son of the well-knOwn editor
of The Prairie Farmer, and a resident
of Chicago. In his bOyhOOd he mani
tested an engrossing love of natural
history, gave his whole mind to its study,
and a very powerful and brilliant mind
it was. | am not well posted in the dates
of this subject, but 1 think he had passed
but little beyond his majority, say in 60
or 81. when he set out on an exploring
expedition through the wilds Of the
Northampton country. He assembled the
Missouri river to its source, travelling
alone through regions where awhile foot
had scarcely if ever trodden, thoroughly
explored the Russian and British pos
sessions in the northwest, and carried on
a campaign. of investigation against
beasts, birds, reptiles and insects. lie
visited Sitka, then a Russian post and
remained there for some time. he moe
| ulated the Russian officers there station
ed, many of whom were men of high
culture. with his passion for natural
history, and taught them to pursue the
studies which alone he found hapPl-
ness. His experiences almost rival those
| of Munchausen in dangers aud difficulties.
No peril daunted him no obstacle dis
couraged him. Once, far in the wilder
ness. he found himself destitute Of the
pins with which bugs and "sich are
impaled, and without a moments heslta-
ton he set out and made a journey Of
five hundred miles through the snowy
solitudes of Sitka to replenish his stock
| During one of his visits to this place, ]
| think in 1868, he heard of the war Of
the rebellion. Instantly he started
overland for the East, made his way tC
the army in Virginia, associated himself
with the Sanitary Commission, and Ia
bored faithfully in the cause of humanity
till Lees surrender. Without a moment
DELAY, after that event, he turned biz
steps again to the northwest and buried
himself in the wilderness. A little mOr'
than a wear ago some travellers in tina
bleak region came upon the figure of
man sitting, compass in hand, before
map of the scene of his recent explora
lions. which he had drawn with a sticl
upon the snow, dead. 1t was youny
Kennicott. who had died as he had lived
alone. His short life was not withou
fruits. however. He had established al
intimate connection with the officers o
the Smithsonian Institute, who were hlle'
with wondering admiration of his energ,
and love of science. His contribution
to the cabinet of that institution were 0
i~ncalculable value and his good deed
live after him in the acts Of others whom
he taught to love science. Not lon
aeo-before the Alaska purchase, how
eyer-Prof. Baird, of the Smithsonian
received a string of birds from a Russia
officer stationed at Sitka-a gentlema
whom Kennicott had inspired with hi
own zeal in the study Of natural histor,
which the professor affirmed no Euro
pean museum could duplicate. Pro-
Baird has been solicited to write a by
ography of Kennicott, and a review G
his travels in Alaska; but he decline
the task, pleading want Of time, and sug
gests that DIR. Simpson, OF Chicago
should undertake the work.