Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1909-01-14
ALL READY FOR HUNT
OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARD
ING AFRICAN TRIP.
Roosevelt Will Spend Year in Country
Expedition to Be Led by British
Guide-Those Who Will
Go Along.

WalcOtt of the Smithsonian institu-
ton, has made his first official an
nouncement regarding the hunting trip
to Africa on which he will start with
in two weeks after he retires from the
presidency.
The expedition is to be outftted by
the Smithsonian institution, the presi-
dent defraying his own expenses, and
will gather natural history materials
for the new national museum. Nom
bassa 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 Khar-
tounl, where, it is expected, the party
will arrive about April, 1910 The Off
cial statement follows:
"In March, 1909, Theodore Roosevelt
will head scientific expedition
to Africa, QUILTED by the Smith
sonian institution and starting from
New York city This expedition
will gather natural history mate
rails for the government collec-
tons to be deposited by the Smith
sonian institution in the new United
States national museum at Washing
ton.
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: Mai. Edgar
A Mearns, rediCal corps, u S. A,
retired; Mr.. Edmund Heller and Fir. J.
Alden Loring On arriving in Africa,
the party viii be enlarged by the addi-
ton CT ]. Cunningham. who is now in
Africa preparing the presidents outfit.
He viii have charge Of a nu"ober of
native pcrtars who, with necessary
animals, will be formed into small
caravan.
"'Mr. Roosevelt ard his son viii kill
the big game, the skins and ekelatons
of which VIII be prepared and shipped
to the United States by other mem
bers of the party. Kermit Roosevelt
is to be TIE official photographer of
the expedition.
"The rational collections are very
deficient in natural history materials
from the dark continent and an eff
fort viii be made by the expedition to
gather genral collections in zoology
and botany to supply some of its def
ciencies; but the main effort will be
to collect the large and vanishing AT
rican animals.
"R. J. Cuningharae, who is now
engaged in assembling the materials
| for Mr.. Roosevelt's use, has been en-
ployed to act as guide and manager Of
! the caravan.
"Mr Cuninghame also is an expe-
rienced collector of natural history
specimens, having made collections for
he british museum in Norway and
Africa. He is an English feldman
who has guided numerous hunting par
ties in Africa, and who was chief
hunter for the Field Columbian expo
sition
Edmund Heller, q graduate of Stan,
ford university, class of 1901, is a thor
oughly trained naturalist, whose spe-
ciaI work will be the preparation and
preservation of specimens of large ami
mails. Mr.. Heller is about 50 years
old. HIS experience, when asso-
ciated with Mr. Eliot and Mr. Ackley
OF the Field Columbian museum, in
collecting big game animals in the
same portions Of Africa in which Mr.
| Roosevelt viii visit, will be a valuable
| asset to the expedition.
81 Alden Lcring is field naturalist
whose training comprises service in
| the biological survey CT the depart
! ment Of agriculture, and in the Bronx
| Geological PARK, New York city, as
| well as On numerous collecting trips
through British America, Mexico and
| Inc United States. He is about So
years 3D. of ardent temperament and
intensely energetic.
Mai. Edgar A. learns, a retired Of
| fcer OF the medical corps of the army.
about SO years old, will be the physi-
| clan Of the trip and have charge OF the
Smithsonian portion CT the party He
! has had 25 years experience as an
army doctor, and is also well known
as a naturalist and collector of nat
ural history specimens.
mo fears need be entertained for
the presidents safety from the attacks
! ct man Ut PSGSI, rs every men Der OF
the party is al excellent rife shot
''The party will reach Mombassa in
April 1909. No detailed itinerary
I has been decided upon, but the gen
eral route viii be up the Uganda rail
way to Nairoai and Lake Victoria Ny
aaza. a distance OF about $50 miles by
1 rail, thence crossing into Uganda,
and finally passing down the Nile to
Cairo. Much of the hunting will be
/ done in British East Africa, where the
Jgsnda railroad can be used as base
of supplies. and means of ready trans
+ poTtaticn. st least one great noun
tain. possibly Mount Kenia. will be
! visited.
''Khartoum viii be reached, if ali
goes well, abept April, 1910. The ex-