Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-27
MEMORIAL To BE
BUILT To ORION.
GREAT EXPLORER
Grave, Which Lies in South
America on An Island in
Lake TitiCaCa, Will Be
Suitably Marked.
(By The Associated Press.)

Washington, June 26.-The
grave of the great American ex-
plorer is, after a lapse Of many
years, to be suitably marked. The
grave is that of James orion, and
it lies in South America on an is
land in Lake Titcaca, over twelve
thousand feet above the level of
the sea, the highest steam navigat-
ed lake in the world.
Prof. orion as, at the time Of
his death, in 1877, on leave of
absence from Vassar, so the alum
nae of this important college for
young ladies' undertook the raising
Of a fund for a handsome memorial.
The work las now been completed.
IT Is from a design by John ETH a
New York sculptor.
This memorial, the first attempt
of any American artist to adopt
the style OF the Incas for archi-
tectural purposes is built Of pink
New Hampshire granite, 1t will be
placed on the crest OF the Island
Esteves, wEicb rises several hun
bred feet above the lake The
memorial is nine feet in, height
C rcular in pattern with a square
p'inth, a I'd in Its ensemble suggests
a tomb. The circular character
was inspired by the tall shaft-like
s.rt ctures OF the 1nc9s, said by
archaeolhRists to be tOmbs Of for
mer mOnArChs.
Monument Shipped.
The monument has already been
shipped to the port Of MOllendo in
Peru, here 1t will be transported
by rail to Puno, the nearest lake
port. The dedicatory exercises will
rs held on September %. the
forty-fourth anniversary of the
death Of the great naturalist and
explorer The Peruvian govern
ment will be officially represented
and a large attendance is expected
from Arequlpa Peru and La Pa2,
Bolivia, nearby cities of importance
Mrs. ]. A. Sanford, Of New York,
will represent the Vassar Alumnae
association at the ceremonies.
TIC following Is a short sketch
of the tXrlOrer's career.
James orion was born at Seneca
Falls. New York April 21. 1890
His father was the eminent theolo-
gIan. DR.. A2ariah Giles orion. and
the future naturalist was also edu-
Gated for thL ministry. He gradu-
ated at Williams college in 1855
and at Andover Theological sem
mary in 1853. Before his Ordain-
men as pastor Of the Congregation
al church in Green, New York, he
Travelled fer some time Europe
aud the east and contributed a
series Of Interesting letters to the
New York Tribune. His career
as a scientist dates from 1866, when
he was appointed instructor in
natural sciences in Rochester uni
Verslty In 1857 a scientific expe-
dltion to the equatorial Andes and
the river Amazon was organized un-
der the auspices of the Smithson-
ian Institution, and Prof. Orto7
was selected as its leader. AS a
result Of this expedition MANY
hitherto unknown specimens of
natural history were collected and
today form portions of the collec-
tons In the museums of such we'll
known repositories as the Smith
sonian Institution at Washington,
the Philadelphia Academy Of Ma
tural Science, the Boston Society
OF Natural History. the Peabody
Academy Of Science, and Vassar
college, while the bulk of the COL
lection was purchased by Ingham
Leroy. New York.
Expedition Sailed In 1857.
This notable expedition sailed
from New York July 1, 1867. and
after crossing the Tsthmus of
Panama, the route was from Quay
aquil to Quito. over the western
COrdillera; thence over the east
ern Cordillera and through the
forest on foot to the Napo: down
the Rio Napo by canoe to Pebas, on
to Maranon; and thence by steam
err to Para, Brazil. OF the country
through which the journey lay
Prof orion writes:
Nearly the entire region trav-
ersed by the expedition is strangely
misrepresented by the most recent
works. On the Andes
OF Ecuador we have little besides
the travels Of Humboldt, on the
Napo nothing, while the Maranon is
less know to North Americans than
the Nile"
Upon his return to the United
States Prof. orion was offered the
chair Of natural history at Vassar
college in 1869, with which insti-
tuition he remained until his tragic
death in 1877. In 1873 he made
second journey across South Amer
lea from Para up the Amazon to
Lima and Lake Titicaca. making
valuable chronological collections of
Incarial reliefs. In 1875 he organ
lied a third expedition. with the
object of exploring the great Bent
river. a branch Of the Madeira
This expedition reached the mouth
of the river, but much Of the equip
ment and many supplies were lost
Orion and a few companions made
the terrible 600-nile Journey to La
Paz through the forest and Jungle
amid incredible hardships, but nm
crossing Lake Titicaca on the wav
to Puno the intrepid scientist died
Subsequently his remains were re-
moved to Esteves Island by sympa-
tbatin friends who erected a rough