The Monte Vista journal., 1900-02-17
CARRIERS LIFE WORK.
COLLECTED MOUNTAIN FAUNA.
kssw. ~ the Log Gaia. Naturalist. Ne
Devoted His Easirs rtas to Ahs Chossa
Wosk-Specinsn - he Aoved to Dea-
voe.

Known ~ the Log Cabia Naturalist. he
Devoted tiis Easirs Ttas to Hs Chossa
sk-specinsn y he Moved to Dsa-
The Denver correspondent of the Chi.
cngp 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 ssate. IL the only one extant.
Professor Carter devoted his life to
the collection and preservation Of types
Of the animals and birds Of the Rocky
mountain reRlou-in fact, he sacrificed
his life to his work. a. his death. which
occurred recently, was caused BY ar
senical poisoning. due TO the handling
OF poisOns In stuffinG and mounting
bis Thousands Of specimens.
In humble log cabin At the foot Of
snow-cnpped mountain and COM
mandinx q superb view Of the entire
valley of the Blue river ID stored the
Carter collection. which has been vis-
world. and by many curious tourists,
and which has been pronounced the
finest private collection Of fauna In ex-
isteuce. Thousands OF dollars have
been offered for the rarest specimens
which were secured by the indefatiga-
bic naturalist. but Professor Carter re-
fused to part with anything that be
could not duplicate. his object being
to found = Rocky Mountain museum to
be located At Denver. Now his dream
In to be realized after his death. A.
John F. CampIOn, one Of the wealthiest
mine-Owners Of Colorado, has taken up
the matter and has interested other
capital, 10 the Carter collection will
soon he removed from Breckenridge to
q 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 guich. the kIoudike OF the
West, In 1859. In 1850 he Joined 4
party bound for California gulch.
where IRadville now stands. He took
up 4 placer claim. which he finally
sOld. and then nro~pected over the
state Of Colorado with varying success.
finally locating at Black Hawk. where
he engaged as assistant to 4 furrier.
In order to learn the rldlments 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 1888 and then settled down to the
accomplishment Of theone object which
., a.. L.. ~,t. IA III
ing interests, which were 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 aud work valuable
claims. preferring TO wander over the
mountain ranges. rife In hand. study.
Ing the habits Of animals and birds
and bringing to his log cabin such
specimens MS he lacked. When his
cabin was filled with mounted slsci-
mems and hundreds of carefully pre-
served pelts he built 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 ts.-
come entirely extinct In the last few
yenrr. The bIrsis Of the state. too.
have betN ruthiessly slaughtered aud
the wisdom Of Professor Carriers early
start In his work Ia now apparent, az
there are hundreds Of specimens In the
log cabin hat cannot be duplicated.
In order 10 secure enough money to
enable hime To pursue his life work.
Professor Carter sold many duplicate
specimens to naturnlists In all paris
Of the world and most Of the Rocky
mountain fauna In the great museums
Of this and other countries came from
his cabin and were mounted by his
hand. lie also purchased Of other
tsxidermlsts and collectors specimens
that hts collection lacked. and In this
way he made his exhibit well nigh
perfect. He had \ marvellous knowl.
edge OF the habits Of the birds and
animals Of the Rockies, and. ms an In.
stance OF the thoroughncas which char
acterixei his work. his collection OF
ptarniKans 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 ~ \ taxi.
dermis, and his art In iinparting life.
like poses 10 stuffed animals eQualIed
his gifts Of observation, and the
houuttuk va HE pIHNtuteue ~ k8lu 10
be unexcelled. Professors Of learned
societies In all parts Of the world
Travelled to visit the Carter museum.
In order to gnin knowledge In the fast
disappearing fauna of western Ameri.
ca. They were always treated with
distinguished courtesy by the modest,
retiring naturalist. who sC~msSi almost
. part OF the grand, inspiring wilder.
ness which he made hia haunt. No tu-
formation was withheld. and . couver.
sstiou with Professor Carter on his
favorite theme was regarded as equal
TO . course In text b0oks OF nntuari
history.
The museum at breckenridge prs.
sents hewilsicring sight as the visitor
enters. stuffed bufysloe~ and rrixxiies,
brought down with CRricr'a own ride,
occLpy the cnter of the room. whiIr
around them on every side arr lifc-like
mountain lions. strnngc-color,sl birds,
nest1 full Of rnr and beautiful eggs
and piles of vnlunbi" and skiilfuliy
tam ID pcl,s. The loft IL full Of skins
and plumaRr. aud there iu hardly 4
foot Of vacant spacr In the building. 10
closely arr the valuable specimens
packed. Professor Carter was unable
TO make nm estimate of the number Of
sIsrIMcns he had gathered. hut the 10.
tai will mount lnto ii,c tens 0f ihou.
sands. lie MAS engaged In the work of
classification when h~ dLcd. nnd this
work slonr will require years of effort
Nh the l'nrt Of ihe experts who will take
II up.