The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-06
FROM THE RUGGED OLYMP|CS
MANY RICH SPECIMENS FOR THE
FIELD MUSEUM.
Prof. Elliott and Mr.. Akeley Return
From Three Months Tour of
ExplOration-NO Rougher Noun

Special Dispatch 70 the Post-Inteiiigencsr.
PORT ANGELES. Wash. Nov. 5.--What
IS probably the most important expedition
in the history Of the Pacific Northwest has
come TO close with the return 10 Port
Angeles OF Prof. .. CT. Elliott and his
sstant. {. F. Akeiey. after three months
among the peaks and valleys OF the OlyH-
pic mountains The expedition was a sig
nal success and the TWO hardworked natur-
ahsts are greatly pleased with the results
obtained.
Professor Elliott IS at the head OF the
department OF Zoology N the Field Celum-
bia Museum. OF Chicago. established
through the generosity and public spirit OF
the great merchant Of Chicago, Marshall
Field. The museum IS an outgrowth % tho
Worlds Fair, and is destined TO become
one Of The famous. II not the most famous.
museums OF the world. Prof. Exiiotl was
selected 10 preside over his department,
because OF Acknowledged attachments as
most profic-ent scientist, and the LABOR per-
formed on the present expedition Is bound
TO enhance his reputation.
Entering q Trackless Wilderness.
Prof. Elliott and Mr.. Akeley reached Port
Angeles early in July last. They came
quietly into town without any announce
ment or flourish and set 10 work 70 pre-
para for their difficult task. Elaborate
preparations were made. Their outfi; was
complete for making observations and
preparing and preserving all sorts OF speci-
mems. When the party was ready to move
it resembled a small army on the march.
The route taken Was up the Elwha river
valley and thence westward into the heart
Of the Olympic mountains. As this was
the first expedition OF any magnitude to
pierce these hitherto unknown regions. the
difficulties encountered can be well ina
gined.
toughest Mountains I'm the World
Prot. Elliott says that he is familiar with
al. the mountain ranges in North America.
Europe and Arabia and that for their
height and SIZE the Olympics are the
toughest and most impa sssahie in the world
Nowhere else he says, are there to be
found such narrow. PERCEPTIONS and broken
ridges. He further states that he believes
no white man, nor Indian either for that
matter. had ever been through the real
snow ranges of the interior. In places the
ridges are absolutely perpendicular. forming
massive walls two thousand feet high.
A ridge or hogs back may be followed
for few miles. when it breaks short off
with no slope nor possible way of de-
scent. Some of the ridges are actually so
sharp that 20 stand on them one foot must
be placed on either side OF the comb. When
Il is remembered that the expedition was
made up of some eight or ten men with
horses enough to carry an outfit to Las;
three months. besides all the instruments
and chemicals for preserving specimens,
the undertaking was one 10 make an Or
binary man quail.
Rich Specimens for Field Museum.
Prior to Prof. Elliott's visit the Olym-
pics were an absolutely virgin territory TO
the naturalist, none Of It's fauna being In
the cases OF any museum in the world
When the professor gets back TO Chicago.
however, with his big collection OF barrels
and boxes and bags. the Field Museum will
be enriched by some five or six hundred
specimens. all OF them valuable and many
of them rare. and some new classes VIII
be entered upon the geological! records
Prof. Elliott and Mr.. Ake,ey have sue
ceeded In obtaining specimens of every
animal known to exis. in the region and
many queer customers, whose exact place
in the great scheme Of life has not hereto
fore been identified. Among the walking.
creeping, crawling, flying and swimming
things that have yielded up their hides and
horns and pelts and bones and skins and
feathers to enrich the worlds knowledge
are bear elk. deer, wild cat, lynx, beavers.
squirrels, chipmunks. rabbits snakes. birds.
fishes, frogs agd insects beyond number
and description.
Antlers Nearly Five Feet Across.
During September. Prof. Elliott and Mr.
Akeley separated. the professor going to
Lakes Crescent and Sutherland for fishes.
while Mr.. Akeley went deeper into the
recesses OF the mountains for large game.
With three companions he made his way
up the SoIduck river to the headwaters
Of the Bogachiel river in search OF elk.
They were compelled TO leave their horses
and without even blankets prosecuted the
journey and hunt for five weeks. The elk
rewarded by capturing five magnificent
specimens. The antlers OF two out OF the
fye are the moSt extraordinary pairs or
horns ever brought out Of the Oiymplcs
Prof Elliott says he has seen thousands Of
specimens but that nowhere Is there any,
thing to equal them. They have nine
prongs each. and a spread OF 81 inches
across the tips, and for symmetry and size
cannot be equalled.
Giant Trout of Lake Crescent.
At Lakes Crescent and Sutherland, Prof
Elliott put in three weeks OF what any one
but a naturalist would can sport In that
tks,,A ~ NO ,s4Fta
Of every known variety OF feb in the lakes
He says there are from five TO seven dis
tinct varieties in the two bodies of water
and that they are differen; in each. He
takes home with him altogether thirty
eight specimens. The Sutherland variety
he thinks has not been classified In
Lake Crescent he found the Beardsiees and
crescents as classified by Prof. Jordan, OF
Stanford. OF the BeardSIee he has one
specimen. weighing 1919 pounds. and GAYS
that nowhere else in the known world do