Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-02-23

ana comment from the punIc
Among the remarkable feats he per-
formed on this expedition that brought
him into National prominence was a
canoe trip across the strait to Asia, a
snow shoe trip Of 100 miles in dead OF
winter from his camp to the shores OF
the Arctic ocean to visit the camp Of
some sailors who were frozen in the
ice for the season. Another great snow
shoe trip was one OF some 500 miles
from his camp on the Porcupine river
TO the fort at the mouth OF the MeKen-
zie river on the shore OF the Arctic
Ocean His homeTard trip on this ex-
pedition brought him in a canoe with
all his collections down the Porcupine
river TO the Yukon and thence down
that stream to it's mouth where he met
a government vessel which he had been
told would meet him there on a certain
day some IS months from the day ne
left civilization for the journey. He
was there on time and with a finer
collection Of specimens Of the flora
and fauna Of that Northern country
/ than the Smithsonian Institution had
ever dreamed Of getting. His next vez-
ture was 10 organize a company in
New York to own and operate a coffee
plantation in Mexico He spent about
a year in Mexico on this business and
on his return to New York he found
that the chief financial hacker OF the
scheme had died and the estate refused
to continue backing theseoffee pIanta-
ton scheme so for awhile he drifted
about in New York City looking for
something 10 engage his services. One
evening he happened into a place where
a speaker was talking 10 a crowd Of the
woes OF Cuba and the efforts the Cub
ans were putting forth for their free
dom from Spanish misrule. The idea
of helping free Cuba took form in his
mind and the next day ne started fot
Cuba. IN order TO pass the spanish
blockade he first engaged himself to
Harpers Weekly as staff correspondent
for Cuba This was his first military
experience He was in Cuba about two
years and by his conspicuous ability
had worked himself up a Generalship
in the Cuban army and was in charge
CT an OF their artillery service He
quit the Cuban army because the Cub
ans murdered some Spanish prisoners
/ they had taken and returned 70 the
+ United states. He landed in New York
about Christmas time sick. wounded
and peuniless. dressed IN a summer
suit which had been given him by the
American consul at Havana, Genera
Fftzhugh Lee. After spending a few
weeks in a New York hospital he came
to his horne in Kansas and 50 soon as
he was able to 80 70 work he entered
the lecture field fnstructins the public
of actual conditions in Cuba It was
in the spring Of this year that tne|
Spanish war broke out and his lectures
had been highly instrumental in form
ing public sentiment on the Cuban sit
uation throughout the central west At
the outbreak OF the Spanish war he was
perhaps the best posted man in the
United states on the Cuban situation
and Cuban internal affairs and he was
offered a position on the staff Of Major
General Miles. which he declined Soon
after this he was offered by the Gov
ernor OF Kansas. the position Of Colonel (
of the Twentieth Kansas and he accept
ed the commission He has been con- |
tinuously in the military service Of the (
country ever since that date His rec
ord with his regiment. which was sent /
to Manila. was such as 10 win success
sive promotions until at the close OF the
war ne was u Brigadier- General in the
regular army. His career Is marked by
courage and wisdom OF superior de-
gree which never deserted him His
men and superior officers had the ut
most confidence in him and he never
once failed them For this reason the
great American public also had the
utmost confidence in his ability to do
whatever he was sent to do and It was
by reason OF this great confidence on
the part OF the American public that he
Was looked upon as the man most need
I'd and most trusted in whatever crisis
there may be now impending over this
country. Aud it is this fact that makes
the whole Nation mourn his untimely
ieath as they mourn for personal
'riend whose strength was soon to be Q
,orely needed. This feeling also per :
neates the entire personelie OF the L
lrrny- from the lowest private to the
highest commander. including the 0
PRESIDENT himself. c