The Detroit times., 1909-06-30
now ROOSEVELT
CAME IS SHIPPED
Specimens Shot by Ex-Prcsident VIII
Be Displayed at Smithsonian
Institute.
Nv wARRINoroN DAWSON.

NAIROBi. British East Africa, May
2O.--The arrival here OF the Roosevelt
specimens under the care Of Prof. Ed
mund Heller today established the hrst
Official link between Col. Roosevelt
and the capital OF British East Africa.
Ii was expected that me special
freight car IN which they we're packed
would come up attached 10 the ordln-
AIRY train from Mombasa. due al 1880,
and large part of the population had
planned 10 20 down 10 the station and
do honor TO the victims, since the
chief himself has not yet put in an
appearance.
But with characteristic modesty.
Heller had his car attached 10 a
freight train leaving Kapiii plains at
the unearthiy hour OF a. m. and so
he arrived in Nairobi at o'clock.
when the Inhabitants were sleeping
peacefully.
This Is an easy-going couatry. and
II was three full hours before Heller
: could find anyone at the station 10
have the car brought up where it could
be opened and unloaded. Perhaps the
station employees had taken a sniff Ut
the doors when he was not looking.
and SO were lodging further work in
connection with the collection.
The smell of brine, garlic and gamey
flesh when the seal finally was broken
and the car opened. would have been
enough to brighten on pretty much
anybody.
No Time for Repining.
But Heller was so eager 10 get the
work well forward before the sun got
any hotter. that the men called up to
help had no time for repining. The
doors of the car were opened and 4
sack containing the complete skin Of
one OF the CRATES was lifted out
II happens rarely that giraffe skin
can be taken off without beng cut into !
sections. for it is heavy and adheres
closely TO the flesh Prof Heller ac-
complished veritable feat in getting \
on intact two giraffe skins.
Col. Roosevelt killed his two and |
Kermit his one on the same day. and, |
owing 10 the heat Fastening decom-
position. the old hunter on the Safari |
said that not even one skin could be
saved But. by working with the |
rapidity and skill which have made his
reputation as a taxidermist. Heller
saved both of the eolonel's giraffes.
though all of Kermits was lost except
the head and feet
A delicate case containing the bones
OF some of the small antelope required
great care. Most OF these were not
wholly preserved. only the heads and
certain bones being taken. but at least
one of each species was kept in en-
tirety One OF the accompanying pic
lures shows the leg bones OF q giraffe
being lifted out Heller stands on the
extreme left
AS a Swahili native shouldered the |
heavy bone, he smached his lips and |
said in his dialect TO the darby help !
ing him: This make heap good SOUP |
for Bwana Tumbo!"
Swahilis adore picking giraffe bones, |
and IL never would occur 10 them that
Bwana Tumbo (Col Roosevel) and
Bwana Mtoto ETERNITY nave not the
same tastes.
The heap on the ground in the next |
lower picture is the skin OF the huge !
bull rhinoceros which charged Col. !
Roosevelt and was hit at IA PAGES. 1t
took six men TO lift II 10 car waiting
nearby.
The specimens later were transfer
red to store houses. where they will |
be packed for shipment TO the Smith /
sonian institution. At the time OF
skinning, Heller scraped all the hides !
and bones carefully and rubbed on salt !
as preservative. but each piece must !
be visited carefully TO make sure that |!
decay has not set In.
The specimens preserved whole in
clude seven lions, one rhinoceros. two !
giraffe. zebra. and some 20 types ~ |
hartbeest, wildebeest. thompsonian, |
grantii and other smaller game