The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-07
A VARIED CAREER.
The Remarkable Experience of
Brave Capt. Herendeen.

From the Washington Star.
One of the greatest attractions at the
Smithsonian Institute has no label or sign
to designate it. The thousands of persons
who have passed this real feature Of the
place have done so unconsciously, and per-
haps with no more than a glance, wholly
unaware that they were in the presence of
not exactly the greatest feature, but of
one of the most interesting objects of the
institution.
Many of those who have passed the door
keeper at the main north entrance have
doubtless remarked his gigantic proper
tons, mild manner and evident wish to
accommodate. This man, or rather giant,
for he is of hercuiean proportions, who
guards the door. has had experiences which
few men might have passed through and
lived to tell the story, and yet he is as hale
and hearty as he ever was. A careful
scrutiny of his figure will impress one
that he is no ordinary man, and he is not.
The massive features are framed with a
heavy beard while pair of kindly blue
eyes peer sharply out from underneath
shaggy eyebrows. The head is covered
with a luxuriant mass of hair, which might
belong to a man of 80 years, but which in
reality il took go years or more Of a most
, exposed life to whiten
Capt. Edward p. Herendeen, for that is
the name of the doorkeeper. has a remark
able history. He is too modest a man TO
relate II himself in detail, but Il was
gathered from his lips almost without his
knowledge, bit by Bit by the Star re-
porter, and it is worthy of narration in
every particular. Capt Herendeen, form
ery whaling master, Of New Bedford,
| Mass, has chuInmed with the Esquimaux
| in their frozen nuts in the north; he has
| thrown the harpoon al the leviathan Of
the deep sea; has dug deep down Ia the
| bowels Of the New Zealand mother earth
| and California too, for the yellow metal;
| has killed the seal and walrus. hunted the
polar bear, fought starvation and disease
| on an isolated island IN the Indian ocean;
| has kept a sharp watch for pirates In the
! China sea: has tasted the salt water when
| he thought il would engulf him forever,
! and has passed through as many advcn-
lures, or more, than are in the ordinary
| course OF events allotted to a dozen men.
Now that II is all behind him like q show
| that Is gone, Capt. ierendecn guards me
front entrance 10 the institute and .ga1es
as placidly out on the green eypanse as n
his eyes had never traced the course Of
| tile harpoon. maddened whale or tracked
the polar bear to its lair.
Cant. Heicndccn was born sixty-seven
years ago come September, In New Bed
| ford, Mass where his "torebears' had fol-
/ lowed the sea for generations Since then
| he has Deo1 around the world several
| times and n1s spent between five and six
years an Alaska.
IL was on an expedition there that he re-
coived an unusual ttle. IN this wise: he
was q member Of the lnterpolar expedi-
ton OF 1881 under Lieut.. Ray, which went
| 10 Point Barrow lie was put down on the
roll as interpreter, quartcrmastor. and
| so forth" Since that he has had the title
Of Capt. so Forth" applied 10 him. We
speaks Esquimaux almost like native
and Is deemed invaluable as an inter
prefer Of the language.
The captain modcstiy narrated some Of
/ his adventures. to-day to the Star reporter
/ Ho said
II think II was in 1870 or 1877. Just abou,
| nny years ago. when ! was prentice boy
on n sailing vessel. that 4 had my nrai
glimpse into Davy Jones locker. ana ]
thought 1 WAS bound for % for good and
| 40 time. We were going around Cape
I Horn, 10 a heavy gale when ! went over.