New-York tribune., 1903-05-01


Paul BeIloni Du ChaiIlu who first made the
gorilla known to civilized people. was OF French
parentage. and most OF the authorities say he was
born at New-O Orleans July 81, 1855. although
some say he born in Paris in 1885 and was
naturalized in this country after he came Of age
His father was a trader the West Coast OF
Africa, and the boy spent his early years in the
French settlement at the mouth of the Ga9oon
River. He educated in a Jesuit Institution
and early acquired great fondness for natural MS
tory. and learned the languages and customs OF
the native tribes. He to this country in lS02
on a vessel carrying e cargo of ebony and wrote
some newspaper articles about the Gaboon coun-
try which aroused discussion. In 1855 he returned
West Africa on an exploring expedition Wilch
occupied four years. in the territory lying within
two degrees of the equator either side. On this
trip ne travelled over eight thousand miles. with
only native companions. going into previously ua-
explored country and discovering many new species
of animals and birds He stuffed one thousand
specimens OF the former and two thousand OF the
latter, and brought the first specimens Of the
gorilla seen in this country and Europe, although
this species Of ape had been slain in 1851 by Dr
Henry A. Ford of the Gaboon Mission MI Du
Chaiu brought his many specimens TO this coun-
try and after they had been exhibited with col
lection of native arms and implements, he snla
many OF them to the British Museum
It was his vivid word painting OF the great man
like apes. of which he had secured specimens thaI
excited an almost worldwide discussion Ills ao-
counts of both goriIlas and the Obongo dwarfs
with whom he came i'll contact were conradlcled
by stay-at-horne scientists, and he was held up 10
ridicule as an African MunchaUsen, but he stead
fasty maintained his ground. ard the truth of his
assertions was fully confirmed atterward- ProreS-
sor Gray of the British Museum was one Of ais
assailants while he defended by Professor
Oliver and Sir Roderick Murchson The first ac-
count published by Mr., Du Chaillu Of his expIora-
tions was entitled Explorations and Adventures
in Equatorial Africa" In the controversy which
ragged around this the explorer had only hts com
pass bearings cCnfute the previously mace maps
and after equipping himself By further sclehtlnc
study he returned to Africa in lHs. ana spent d
period Of two years IN explorations. 1t was on
this trip that he had a serious delay, due TO the
upsstting of q the Osoiai River and the
loss of supplies, He also had an encounter Win
feroCious natives, in which he lost all save his
journals. The fruit OF his explorations appeared
in "A Journey Ashango Land French SCI
entfc expedition confirmed many Of hts d1scov-
cries and Captain Burton testified that his &C
count Of cannibalism practised by the Fan tr1pe
was correct
After his return TO this country the explorer teet
ured in many places and wrote series of books
for the young which included STORIES OF the
Gorilla Country Wild Life Under the Equator"
.. Z IN rhS a. {Pe T,tayfe In l872 and ISIS he
made an extended trip of exploration in Norway,
fRanI 4Re lana ado Of fhe Sdnsh sd Sun Sor the
Viking" and The. Viking Age" He spent In9Sn {,
coast Of Norway for relics Of the days 3f OF. the the
vised and condensed. being published under the ne
new names, Adventures in the Great Forest or
Equatorial Africa" and The Land of the Long
Night" He also wrote How Animals, Birds
IN 1891 MIR. Du Chaillu started for Russia, to ex-
pore and investigate the conditions Of that great
empire for the purpose of writing exhaustive
account of the same He had been ENGAGED IN this
work for about eighteen months when his death
occurred and intended to devote four or FIVE years
to It. Ee had the Russians. from the Gar
down to the humhest Of his subjects. in their
hefnes. Mr. Du Cheillu is described as having been
9 little but strong 1rnbed man OF indomitabIe en-
eTgy.