The National tribune., 1888-08-02
JAMES STEVENSON,
Late Executive Officer United States
Geological SurVey---A Noted Ex-
plOrer and Collector.

In the death of James Stevenson at the Gill
sey House in New York city. on Wednesday of
last week, the public lost the services of one
of the most active and indefatigable ethnolo-
gsts of the time. Certainly, so far as knowl-
edge of the aboriginal American race habits
and customs is concerned. lie contributed more
than any predecessor, and by his keen appreci-
alton of the subject and tireless investigation
be saved from irreparabe loss much of the
evidence upon which must stand all we know
of many OF the ancient peoples Of this con-
tinent and their polity.
He was born at Maysville, KY, in 1910, and
his life was devoted to the one passion of geo.
graphical and chronological research, except
when interrupted by the war.
He went West first when quite boy several
years prior to the rebellion, with Prof. Hayden,
TO the Missouri River country, making unofficial
observations of Indian customs and learning
their dialects. Upon the breaking out of the war
Prof. Hayden entered the service as Surgeon,
and young Stevenson enlisted as a private, and
became Second Lieutenant of the 18th n. 7.
He was at the second Bill Run, and was an
important witness il the famous Fitz- John
Porter case.
In 1866 he resumed his explorations, going to
the Bad Lands of Dakota with Prof. Hayden, as
his assistant in the Geological Survey. Being
q warm personal friend of the late Gen John
A. Logan, young Stevenson aroused in him
deep interest in the subject of developing bet
ter knowledge Of our Western lands. Logan,
at Stevenson's suggestion, conceived the idea of
establishing such q survey as distinct and re-
sponsible branch of the General Government,
and from his place on the floor of the House. in
the Winter of 1866267, he offered an amend
ment to the Sundry Civil Bill appropriating the
sum of $1,000 for such an investigation to be
made by ID. +. Y. Hayden This was adopted
aftera warm debate, and from this small begin
ming the present extensive and efficient organi-
zatiop known as the United States Geological
Survey took its origin, and its growth upwards
was due almost wholly during 1868 to 1872 to
Stevenson's careful management. In 1867
and 1868 he again went with the annual expe-
ditions, the work during these two Summers
being chiefly in Nebraska. In 1869 he took 3
trip along the eastern slope of the Rocky
Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico. In
1870 the party went out on the Platte and into
the Green River basin.
In 1871 Prof. Hayden's party made the first
geological surveying trip into the Yellowstone
Park, and Stevenson, as usual, went along, act
ing as executive officer and general manager as
well as collector in his own field. They took
pack train at Bozeman and an escort of cavalry
from Fort Ellis. In 1872 the Hayden survey
again went into the Park in two parties this
time. They rendezvoused at Ogden and di-
Vided, the main party, under Prof. Hayden,
going in from the north by Bozeman as before.
Stevenson went to Fort Hall and organized
the Snake River expedition, which entered
the Park from the south by way of the Teton
Mountains. On this expedition he assembled
the great Teton and nearly lost his life through
slipping and falling several hundred feet on
the snow, but miraculousiy escaped, and per-
sisted in an effort TO reach the summit, which
he accomplished. II is not known that any
other white man ever set foot upon the peak
He verified an Indian tradition by finding on
the mountaiu-tOp an ancient stone altar.
He joined Prof. Hayden's party at Yellow
stone Lake, after which they again separated
each going out in the direction by which they
had entered.
The season of 1873 again found Stevenson in
the field, collecting and acting as executive
officer for Hayden's surveying party in Colo
RADIO; and for the three following years his
work was repetition of this experience and
in the same field. In 1877 they vent to Idaho,
Wyoming and Utah, and in 1873 in Yellow
stone Park once more.
On this trip Mr. Stevenson made most COM
plete collection Of those specimens of the phe-
nomcna of the Geyscrs, which may be seen at
the Smithsonian and National Museum in
| Washington.
In this connection it is worthy Of mention
that the first photographic survey of the Yell
lOwstone Lake, which was made in 1871 and
published by Henry. W. Elliott, assisted by
Campbell Darlington. United States Geological
/ survey names Jue ldESeSb iSIaHu III bldU re-
markable body OF water Stevenson Isiaud,'
and the loftiest peak that overlooks it " Mt.
Stevenson" This was done by Elliott in spite
Of Stevenson's strong disinclination to have it
so recorded. lie was always modest and retir-
ing in so far as his own individuality was con-
cerned. Thus his name is perpetuated by the
largest island in that beautiful lake and one of
the highest peaks on the east side of that
famous park.
In 1879 the Hayden Survey was disbanded
and the Bureau of Ethnology was organized.
Maj Powell, the Director at once appointed
Mr.. Stevenson as q specialist in chronological
work, and he began an investigation which
has made him noteworthy, among the Pueblos
of the Rio Grande and at Zuni. During this
year and the next, and again in 1881, he made
an exhaustive collection of pottery, costumes
and ceremonial objects Among the rest he
secured from the Zuuis a complete collection
Of their animal fetiches held sacred by them
and never before allowed to go out of their
possession. During 1881 he also visited the
Moki Pueblo making vast collections Of objects
| illustrating both the ancient and modern life
| of the race.
| The annual report of the Bureau for 1881
contains an exhaustive descriptive cataog of
! his collections among these Pueblos.
| In 1882 he was of again. this time to explore
! the remains of the Cliff and Cave Dwellers in
| New Mexico and Arizona nj Canon dc CheIly
| and Cochiti, bringing back among other things
/ two perfect ancient skeletons found i'll the
largest of the cave dwellings of the pre- historic
| inhabitants. In 1883, 81 and 50 he continued
| in this work, and in 1886 he paid n visit to the
| Mission Indians Of California. By his familiar
| ity with the inner-Iife of these races he was
enabled to discover that, although these In
| dams had been ostensibly Catholics for two cen
turtles, still at heart they were yet Pagans and
worshiped and sacrificed to the gods of their
forefathers in secret.
During this trip of 1885 he contracted the
worst type Of that peculiar mountain fever u
which is so well known and dreaded in the
high mesas of Arizona and New Mexico. He
fought it off, however, after a severe siege oil
illness. 1t was the first real sickness that
he ever had in his life, for he possessed a fine
physique and was remarkably temperate and
regular in his diet and living.
Last year, however Inc returned to the New
Mexico region, exploring aud collecting, and re-
newed that wretched fever which finally de-
stroyed the tissues of his heart, so that when
he returned here last December he was literally
Frustrated. He made, however heroic strug
gle for his life, and growing worse as time pass
ed on he wagadvised to go 10 Gloucester, Mass.
to spend the Summer, and was on his way
back from there, accompanied by his wife, wher
overtaken by death III New York
49, =. 4