Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-10-09

- - American museum OF natural
history, who got back recently
from ten months trip to the orient
to obtain specimens for the museum.
and who, while in Korea, explored
region never before entered by a
white man and discovered three lakes
following description of his expe-
dition:
After finishing my whaling, l spent
thTe6 weeks at Shimonoseki, Japan,
collecting fish, and then returned to
Korea and went to Seoul to interview
the directors of foreign affairs, from
whom l got the necessary permission
to go into the interior. Then l went
away up the coast by ship to Sheshin.
From there l went on a push
railway-you get ina car and natives
push you up on handcars-to mill
tary station on the Tu Men river,
west of Musan. The latter ia
walled town 500 years old, with its
original public buildings and many
ancient houses 1t is the last place
inland ever before visited by
whites. The Russians went there dur
ing the war, and now there are jap
anese gendarmes there, as in every
place in the country
Il spoke a little Japanese, the cook
/ had got at Seoul spoke English well,
and the interpreter l had spoke Chi
nese, Korean and little English. Be-
sides them l had in my party six Kor-
can horsemen and a hunter
The northern part of Korea is abb
solutely bare of trees, unless you SO
classify the fir underbrush about
foot high. Ny cook, who was thirty
nine years old, had never cooked with
wood In his life. The only trees
you see in the southern part Of the
country are those that have been left
about graves.
Plenty of Tigers In Korea.
Il wanted to get into the unknown
region, which was said to be wood
ed and full of game. The last was
true. There are leopards In tremen-
dous numbers in many parts OF the
country, snow leopards, and there are
tigers in many districts. The former
are very shy, but they and the
tigers come to the villages when the
snow drives them and get children.
horses and dogs.
Il have leopard skin which was
presented TO me which Is nine feet
long, but / Gid not shoot one myself.
None has ever been killed by a
white man In that country
Il spent three weeks hunting two
tigers on the mountain and then de-
cided / could spare no more time. The
country is so big, and l would have
had to beat over great tract. 1t
took friend of mine in the south OF
the country two months to get two
specimens.
From Musan 1 travelled 40 miles
west before l came to the edge
OF the big forest and the last vii
lage. Noiido, a hamlet OF eight or
ten houses. Then | went directly
toward Paik-tu-gan, the white topped
mountain which La 5000 feet high.
went until the snow stopped me, which
was in May. There were no trails
l had to steer by compass.
THE forest, II found was mainly of
virgin larch, so to 100 feet high, with
some birch, with very thick under
growth. My Koreans were afraid to
enter it because there were reports
abroad that Chinese robbers were in
It. Right near is the Paik-tu-sanis.
where the Manchus originated.
THE mountain is a single peak, but ]
it is one OF range called the Long
White mountains. The ,Yalu has it's
source there, and it has been sup |
posed the Tu-Men also rose there, but |
l discovered its source was 40 miles |
away. We had to travel along the |
river valley, camping and hunting on |
the ridges nthe other side.
"Of course, l went into the big |
woods primarily to collect. but the
fauna was so limited 1t was of no use,
although for a time was running so /
traps and hunting. The forest was as !