Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-20
Death Of Charles IL. Harris


The remains of the late Ch2rlcs
N. Harris. whose death occurred at
Fresno. California. on Oct. 10th
reached Augusta. Friday 4. NJ. and
were received by DR.. W. III. Harris
of this city who is Il brother of the
deceased.
Mr.. Harris who was Naturalist
of we'll known ability in this country,
was born in Belfast, Me, in 1858.
In 1882 he went to California. where
he has since lived for the greater
part of his life During a period of
30 years he was actively engaged in
collecting for private individuals. and
museums the flora and fauna of this
Country and Mexico. and of many OF
the Islands in the Pacific ocean. In
1898 Mr.. Harris was employed by Sir
Walter Rothschild of London. Eng
land to take out a scientific collecting
expedition to the Galapagos Archi-
pelago after fora and fauna.
Mr.. Harris sailed from New York
on March 90, for Panama. with Il
party of five. At Panama they en-
pected to charter schooner for the
trip but yellow fever was contracted
from which three of the party died.
Mr.. Harris proceeded to San Fran
cisco, reorganized the party. and
sailed on June 81 in the schooner
Lila and Matter. arriving at the
islands after a forty-day passage.
SO far as is known, no such collec-
ton as he gathered on that trip. has
been made since that of Darwin. in
1886.
In a letter regarding this trip he
said, "As to our success I think, bar
ring accident, it is assured" We
have now on board thirty live tort
discs of two species. and two pre-
pared skins. About two thousand
birds have been saved so far. Be-
sides the tortoises and birds we
have a large number Of two species
of iguanas. And numbers of lizards,
snakes, birds eggs. turtles. etc.
We have covered about half our
ground, having visited the following
islands in the order named: Gull
pepper, Wenman, Abingdon, Bindloe,
interchangeable, Duncan. Jervis, James,
and Chatham: From here we will go
to Hood, Charles Brattle Alber-
marie. Marlborough. Tower and CO.
cos, and then start for San Fran
cisco, which we expect to reach about
the middle of March next. We have
so far succeeded in getting all the
species of birds recorded for ten
different islands visited, and I'M
doubtedly some new ones.
ION James Island is an enormous
volcano in a state of great activity.
This is the first active volcano on
the island since 1855. Twenty nine
of our tortoises were taken from
Duncan Island. where it was sup
posed they were extinct. They
were at the top of the island and
in the bottom of an immense crater"
Sixty tortoiscs in all were secured
! on this trip. and some Of them are
still alive in the New York and
London Zoos.
From 1899 to 1906 Mr.. Harris own
ed and conducted the largest and
finest taxidermist store in Los
Angeles California. hut disposed of
the business in 1906 to return to his
work in the field.
In 1908. Mr.. Harris headed another
expedition for Mr.. Rothschild in
search Of the sea elephant which was
except in the Kerguelan Islands, in
the Antarctic ocean. From informa
ton already in Mr.. Harris posses
sion he felt that he had located a
herd in q subterranean cave on the
windward side of an island about
$50 miles off the coast of Mexico.
His vessel lay anchored off this
island for three weeks before the sea
was smooth enough to allow boats to
land. then 9 days of calm weather
allowed him to reach the shore.
Twelve of these great animals
each weighing from 1900 to 5000
pounds were killed. Their hides were
removed and prepared for shipment.
Mr. Harris took them to England and
delivered, them at Mr.. Rothschild's
museum. which is the 4th largest in
the world.
While in England. Mr.. Harris was
the guest of Mr.. Rothschild. and in
recognition OF his work was also the
guest of honor at a meeting of the
British Ornithological Society. the
leading society of it's kind in the
world During this visit he took
occasion to tour that country, and
France. being abroad about three
months.
The deceased was So years Of age.
and unmarried. he . Is survived by
two brothers and four sisters. James
IT, Harris of Philadelphia, Penn, DR..
w II. Harris of this city. Mrs. M. II.
Mccullough of Wantagh. Long
Island. n Y. Miss Isabella Harris
of Brattleboro VT. and Miss Jane
w Harris of Medford. Mass.
Funeral services will be held at
the home of DIR. W. II. Harris, 6S
Grove St. on Sunday afternoon at
2 o'clock and will be private Rev.
Mr. Francis A. Walch Pastor of tho