Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
PRESIDENTS PLANS
FOR HUNTING TRIP
List of Those Who Go With
Him to Africa.
ALL ARE "GOOD SHOTS"
Expedition to Be Fitted Out BY
Smithsonian Institution.
COLLECTIONS FOR MUSEUM
Skins of Big Game to Be Sent Here.
Start From New York
ALL ARE "GOOD SHOTS"
COLLECTIONS FOR MUSEUM

President Roosevelt last night, in a
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 expedition is to
be QUILTED by the Smithsonian Institu-
ton. the President defraying his own ex-
penses, and will gather natural history
materials for the new National Museum.
In the party, which is officially announced
for the first time, will be. besides the
President and his son Kermit, Maj. Edgar
a Mearns, Edmund Heller. ]. Alden Lor-
ing and r. ]. Cuninghame.
No fears need be entertained for the
Presidents safety, the statement de-
clares, because every member OF his
party is an excellent rifle shot. Mombasa
will be reached in April. next year. but
no detailed itinerary beyond that place
has been made. except the general route
TO Lake Victoria Nyanza, and thence
down the Nile to khartum, where, it is
expected, the party will arrive about
April 1910. making the Presidents stay
on African soil about one year.
A Scientific Expedition.
The official statement follows:
In March. 1909. Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt
will head q scientific expedition to Africa.
Quilted by the Smithsonian Institution
and starting from New York city. This
expedition will gather natural history ma
terials for the government collections. to
be deposited by the Smithso4lan 1nstitu-
ton in the new United States National
Museum At Washington. D. c.
Besides the President and his son.
kermit Roosevelt, the personnel of the
party on leaving New York will consis,
of three representatives OF the Smith,
sonian tnssaauEssnsvAaaj. EDGAR A. Mearns,
Meo4cal Corps. U. =. A. rellred); Mr. Ea-
On arriving In Africa the party will be
enlarged by the addition OF Mr.. X. j.
Cuningname, who is now In Africa pre-
paring the President outnt. He Will
have charge Of a number OF native porters,
who. with necessary animals, WILL be
formed into a small caravan
Mr.. Roosevelt and his son Will XIII the
big game. the skins and skeletons OF
which will be prepared and shipped to the
nited States by other members of the
party Mr.. Kermit Roosevelt is to be
the official photographer of the expedi-
ton.
The national collections are very de-
ficient 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 sup
ply some of its deficiencies. hut the main
effort will be to collect the large and van
ishing African animals.
Those in the Party.
Mr.. +. j. Cuninghame, who is now en-
gagged in assembling the materials for
Mr.. Rooseyelts use, has been employed
10 act as guide and manager OF the cara
van. Mr.. Cuningi.ame is also an expert
enced collector of natural history specl-
mems having made collections dor the
British Museum in Norway and Africa.
He is an English field man. who has
guided numerous hunting partles IN
Africa and who was chief hunter Tor the
Field Columbian exposition.
MIR Edmund Heller, "A graduate OF
Stanford University. class OF 1901. Is
thoroughly trained naturalist. whose spe-
ciaI work will be the preparation ana
preservation of specimens of large ami
mails. Mr. Heller is about thirty years
81 age His former experience. when as
sociatcd with Mr.. d. q. Eliot and Mr..
AckIey OF the Field Columbian Museum
in collecting big game animals In the same
portions OF Africa which Mr. Roosevelt
will visit will be a valuable asset to the
expedition. Mr.. Heller has had large ex-
perence in animal collecting in Alaska,
British Columbia. United States. Mexico
central America and South America. In
the year lS.,s he made collecting trip of
eleven months to Galapagos Islands
starting from San Francisco. He is n
born and enthusiastic collector. as well
rs q well equipped naturalist. He Is also
the author of scientific papers on man.
mails. birds, reptiles and fishes. At present
he is assistant curator OF the Museum of
Vertebrate Zoology Of the University of
California.