The Springfield herald., 1900-02-16
CARRIERS LIFE WORK.
COLLECTED MOUNTAIN FAUNA.
Rnewn as the Log Cabin Naturalist, He
Devoted His Entire Time to His Chosen
Work-speclmons to He Moved to Don
vef.

The Denver correspondent of the Chi
cago Record sent to his paper the fol
lowing very interesting account OF the
life and work of the late Professor Ed
win Carter:
Hunters and scientists in every part
of the world will deplore the death OF
Professor Edwin Carter, ''the log cabin
naturalist" whose collection of Rocky
mountain fauna, at breckenridge, in
this state, is the only one extant.
In humble log cabin at the foot OF
a snow-capped mountain and COM
manding superb view of the entire
valley OF the Blue river Is stored the
Carter collection, which has been WIS.,
itcd by scientists from all parts Of the
world, and by many curious tourists,
and which has been pronounced the
finest private collection of fauna in eX-
istence. Thousands Of dollars have
been offered for the rarest specimens
which were secured by the indefntiga-
bic naturalist, but Professor Carter re-
fused to part with anything that he
could not duplicate, his object being
to found a Rocky Mountain museum to
be located at Denver Now his dream
is to be realized after his death, as
John F. Cnmpion, one of the wcalthiest
| llue-o"ueIs VI Noloihu', ilds 'HAS' NH
the matter and has interested other
capital, SO the Carter collection will
soon be removed from breckenridge to
a suitable building in Denver
Professor Carter gave up wealth and
fame for the sake of science. He came
to Colorado in the Pixies Peak gold
rush, being one OF the first-comers in
Russell gulch, the Klondike OF the
West, in 1859. In 1860 he Joined
party bound for California gulch,
where I.cadville now stands. He took
up a placer claim, which he finally
sold, and then prospected over the
state Of Colorado with varying success,
finally locating ut Black Hawk, where
he engaged as assistant to furrier,
in order to learn the rudiments OF taxi
dermy. His curiosity and interest were
aroused by the pelts which he handled
| and he determined TO devote his life to
the gathering of all the specimens OF
birds and animals Of the Rocky noun
| tain regions. He went to Breckenridge
in 1868 and then settled down to the
accomplishment of theOne object which
he had in view. He sold out his min
ing interests, which We're considerable,
and, In spite of the fact that he was
deemed one of the finest Judges of
| placer ground In the state Of Colorado,
he refused to locate and work valuable
claims, preferring to wander over the
mountain ranges, rifle in hand. study
ing the habits of animals and birds
and bringing to his log cabin such
specimens rs he lacked. When his
cabin was filled with mounted speci-
mems and hundreds OF carefully pre-
served pelts he built n larger structure
and kept on with his work. Owing to
the fact that Colorado is the sports
mems paradise and thousands Of hunt
ers come to the state annually In quest
of big game many animals have be-
come entirely extinct in the last few
years. The birds of the state, too.
have been ruthlessly slaughtered and
the wisdom of Professor Carter's early
start in his work is now apparent rs
there are hundreds Of specimens in the
log cabin hat cannot be Duplicated.
| In order to secure enough money to
enable hime to pursue his life work,
Professor Carter sold many duplicate
specimens to naturalists In all parts
of the world and most Of the Rocky
mountain fauna In the great museums
of this and other countries came from
his cabin and We're mounted by his
hand. He also purchased Of other
tax1dermists and collectors specimens
that his collection lacked, and In this
way he made his exhibit we'll nigh
perfect. He had a marvellous knowl-
edge Of the habits of the birds and
animals of the Rockies. and, as an in
stance Of the thoroughness which char
acteriZed his work, his collection of
ptarmigans includes one for most
every day of the year, thus enabling
students of natural history to note the
many changes which occur in the
birds plumage. His skill as taxi
dermist and his art in imparting life
like poses to stuffed animals equalled
hts gifts of observation, and the
mounting of his specimens is said to
be unexcelled. Professors Of learned
societies in all parts of the world
Travelled to visit the Carter museum,
in order to gain knowledge In the fast
disappearing fauna Of western Ameri-
ca. They were always treated with
distinguished courtesy by the modest,
retiring naturalist. who seemed almost
part Of the grand, inspiring wilder
ness which he made his haunt. No in
formation was withheld, and a conver-
sation with Professor Carter on his
favorite theme was regarded ns equal
to a course in text books of natunrl
history.
The museum at Breckenridge pre-
sents bewildering sight as the visitor
enters. Stuffed buffnloes and grizzlies,
brought down with Carter's own rifle,
occupy the center of the room, while
around them on every side are life-like
mountain lions, strange-colored birds,
nests full of rare and beautiful eggs,
and piles of valuable and skillfully
tanned pelts. The loft is full of skins
and plumage, and there is hardly
foot Of vacant space in the building, so
closely are the valuable specimens
packed. Professor Carter was unable
to make an estimate of the number of
specimens he had gathered. but the to-