The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-08
PRESIDENTS TRIP
Will Be Quilted by SmithsO-
nian Institute
Main Object Of Exhibition to Obtain
Natural History Specimens From
Dark Continent.

Dark Continent.
Washington, Dec S.-President
Roosevelt today in statement pre-
pared by Secretary Walcott of the
Smithsonian Institution, made his first
Official announcement regarding the
hunting Trip to Africa on which he
will start within two weeks after he
retires from the presidency The Of
fetal statement follows.
In March, 1909, Theodore Roose-
welt viii head a scientific expedition
to Africa QUILTED by the Smithsonian
Institution and started from New York
City This expedition win gather net
ural history materials for the govern
ment collections; to be deposited by
the Smithsonian Institution I'm the new
United States National Museum at
Washington.
Besides the President and his SON,
Kermit Roosevelt. The personnel of
the party on leaving New York will
consist of three representatives Of the
Smithsonian Institution: Major Edgar
A. Mearns, medical corps, U S. A.. ere
tired Edmund Heller and j. Alden
Loring On arriving In Africa the
party win be enlarged by the addition
of Il j. Cunninghame, who is now in
Africa preparing the presidents out
it,. He will have charge of a number
Of native pOrters who with necessary
animals, viii be formed into a small
caravan
Mr. Roosevelt and his son will kill
the big game, the skins and skeletons
of which will be prepared and ship
ped 10 the United States by other
members of the party Kermit Roose
welt is TO be the official photographer
of the expedition.
THE national collections are very
deficient in natural history materials
from The Dark Continent and an effort
will be- made by the expedition TO
gather general collections in zoology
and botany to supply some of its de-
ficienCes; but the main effort will be
to collect the large aud vanishing
African animals. r. J. Cunnnghame
who s now engaged in assembling
the materials for Mr. ROosevelt's use,
has been employed to act as guide
and manager of the caravan Mr..
Cunuughame Is also an experienced
collector of natural history specimens
having made collections for the Brit
ish museum in Norway and Africa.
He Is am English heldman who has
guided numerous hunting parties and
who Has chief hunter for the Field
Columbian exposition
Edmund Heller a graduate of Stan
ford university class ul 1901 De- thOr
ouehly trained naturalist. whose spec
ial work win be the preparation and
preservation of specimens OF large
animals Mr. Heller 's about thirty
years 0f age His former experience
when associated with ID. O.. Eliot and
Mr. s Mey of The Field Columbian
movement in collecting big game ami
mails 300 the same portions of Africa
which Mr. Roosevelt viii visit. will
bee q valuable asset 90 The expedition.
Mr. Heller has had large experiences
IN animal collecting in Alaska. Brit
| ish Columbia. United States, Mexico,
| Central America and South America.
In 1895 he made collecting trip OF
| eleven months to Galapagos Islands,
| starting from San Francisco. He is
a born enthusiastic collector, as well
as q well equipped naturalist He is
| also the author of scientific papers on
mammals. birds. reptiles and fishes
/ At present he is assistant curator OF
the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Of
the University of California
81 Alden Loring is "A field natural
list whose training comprises service
In the biological survey of the depart
ment OF agriculture and in the Bronx
geological park. New York city. as
! well as numerous collecting trips
through British Africa. United States
AMI Mexico In 1898 he made the
highest record for q travelling collec
tor. having sent into the United
States National Museum 900 we'll pre-
pared specimens OF small mammals IN
the three months journey from Lon
don through Sweden. Germany Swift
cortland and Belgium.
Major Edgar A. Mearns a retired
officer of the medical corps OF IN,
army. about hftythree years OF age
will be- the physician OF the trip anI
have charge OF the Smithsonian por
ton OF the party He had twenty.hv,
years experience as an army docto
and Is also we'll known as naturalis
and collector Of natural history speci
mems.
mo fear need be entertained 10
the Presidents safety from the at
tacks Of man or beast, as every mem
Der OF the party is an excellent ril
shot
THE party will reach Mombaza Il
April, 1909. No detailed itinerar
has been decided upon but the genera
route will be- up the Uganda railwa
to Nairobi and Lake Victoria Nyanzf
"a distance Of about $50 miles by raj
thence crossing into Uganda. anC
finally passing down the Nile to Cair,
Much OF the hunting Will be done {
British East Africa where the Ugai
da railway can be used as a base q
supplies and means OF ready tram
portaiion. AT least one great moui
tain possibly Mount Kenia. win D
visited
"Khartoum will bee reached. n "a
goes we'll. about April. 1910 TN
expedition may be expected as spcn
about one year on African soil.