The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-07
Mariyred to Science.

Prof. Charles Gilbert, of the State University,
is in receipt of letter from Prof. Spencer Baird
stating that Mr. Charles L. Mckay, who enlisted
in the spring OF 1881 for three years In the
meteorological SERVICE and was located among
the islands of the Aeutian archipelago, was re-
Gently lost through the ice while hunting. Mt.
Mckay was a special student of Prof. Jordan's
at Butler University, and went with him TO the
State University, enlisting in the spring of 1881.
He received the degree of Bachelor of Science
with his class the following June. He was de-
voted student of natural history, having got
his first impulse in this direction from DR.. Jor-
dan when in the Appleton, Wis. schools. He
had made some special researches in the group
of suntishes, which are published in the ichthy-
illogical reports by the government Mr.. Nc
Kay was a genial and quiet student, favorte
both at Butler and the State University.
Alaska has proved hard country for the ad-
venturous naturalist. DR.. Bannister, of Chi
cago, now of Kankakee, H., had his face frozen
into permanent wrinkles while at st. Michaels,
Alaska. Robert KennIcott the ill-starred young
naturalist of Chicago, and virtual founder OF the
Chicago Academy of Sciences, died of heart dis
ease, alone on the sands of the Yukon, 500
miles from it's mouth, while making general
survey in the interest of an intercontnental
telegraph line via Behring's straits. The sue
cessful laying of the Atlantic cable of course
put an end to this frigid route. Poor Kenni-
colts companions followed out log and re-
turned with his body oy way of the YUKON and
st. Michaels, and brought his remains to his
friends, to be held in reverence by all American
naturaists. Mr. Edward Nelson, of Chicago
a well known OrnithOlogist four years at
st. Miohaels collecting meteorological data and
stud ying the habits of the natives, both
man and animal. He received his supplies and
mail but once year, and by way of the Alaska
Commercial Company. He reports that he
went to Alaska as a student of birds, but soon
became u student of men," He made extensive
sledge journeys seven hundred miles into the
interior, attending the "feast of the dead" only
celebrated by the natives once in each ten years.
and reported to be an obsolete custom The ma
tives were proud Of his presence and bestowed
on HIM a sledge load of the costly weapons and
raiment designed ostensibly for the dead but
really given to those named for the departed
Mr. Nelson made the finest and most extensive
collections, illustrative OF Eskimo and Alaskan
Indian ethnoloey ever sent to the Smithsonian
Institution, and eliclting the warmest commen-
dation of all American naturalists and ethnolo-
gists. But the prevalent pneumonia attacked
him, and he now finds that, with broken health,
he only live in passable comfort in the
mountain lands of Colorado. His report on the
1872 birds of Behring sea and tie Arctic ocean,
while attending the steamer Corwin on
her summer cruise, July and August
OF 1881, has just been published
by the Treasury Department. under the title of
"Arctic cruise of the revenue steamer CorwIn."
There are also medical and anthropological
notes Alaska by Dr. Irving C. Rose, ana bO
tanical notes by John Muir Nelson's bird