Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

"E Pluribus Unum."
Here Is a story about DR.. william
Henry Holmes, one Of three men tout OF
2,3o0 veterans who have worked at least
four years beyond retirement age Tor
Uncle SAM who have been approved
FOR indefinite continuance because Uncle
Sam just can't get along without their
services Dr. Holmes is 80 years of age
and descended from the Rev. Obadiah
Holmes, the martyr" of Salem. For
nearly threescore years he has been
associated with more diverse phases OF
the Smithsonian Institutions activities
than any other individual, as artist,
scientific pioneer and discoverer,
mountain climber. srcheologist. author.
anthropologist ana as director of the
National Gallery of Arts.
But this Is comedy of real life in
which DR.. Holmes participated on the
frontier and recalled by him as one OF
the most anusingly dramatic of his
countless and varied experiences.
More than half q century ago, as q
STRIPPING not yet 80 years old, he was
given charge Of the survey Of the San
Juan Valley in New Mexico and Arizona,
the home Of ancient cliff dwellers. The
region was then infested with bands OF
thieving Indians. DR.. Holmes was saved
from the loss Of his entire herd of riding
and pack animals some hundreds Of
miles from his base only by this COM
edy incident which averted q real
tragedy.
On a stormy night his head packer,
one Thomas Cooper. was awakened by
the tinkling of the bell on the bell mare.
Following the sound. he came upon the
horses huddled in canyon. It was
pitch dark. He felt his way cautiously
through the herd to the bell mare and
raised his hand to catch hold of her
lead rope.
Just at that instant flash Of light
ming revealed an Indian on the other
side of the mare likewise reaching for
the lead rope. Behind him were other
Indians.
with the lightninslike speed Of in
stinct, Cooper threw up his left hand,
In which he was carrying rolled black
hat, and thrust 1t in the Indians face,
letting out "wheop'' that sharply re-
verberated through the canyon.
Darkness swallowed the tense pic
ture, but Cooper, with agility and still
"whooping" for ibis life, swung onto the
bell mare and headed her for the camp,
driving the herd before him.
The scene Of this comedy Is still
known as "Recapture Canyon"
~ y
As boy Holmes showed q taste for
pencil and brush. A chance visit 10
Washington brought about his employ
ment in the Government service as an
artist. He was introduced at the Smith
sonian Institution by fellow art stu
dent. Miss Mary Henry, daughter Of
the first secretary of the institution.
On the occasion Of his first visit
there he stopped just inside the front
door TO sketch q bright-colored bird on
exhibition. A young naturalist, DR.. Jose
Zeledon of Costa RIGA, CHANGED to OBJ
serve the boy artist and invited him
upstairs to see q wonderful work on
hummingbirds by Gould.
There he met q number Of scientists,
and when it was ascertained that he
could draw he was asked to try his
hand on some fossil shells for DR.. F. B.
Meek. the institutions authority on this
branch. His work met with instant ap-
prevail and his oficial connection with
the Smithsonian began as artist TO draw
living shells for DR. W. H. Dali.
In the Spring of 1872 the Smith
Sonian recommended him for the posi-
ton of artist to the United States Geo.
logical Survey of the Territories, then
under DR.. F. v. Hayden. His work
covered the survey of Yellowstone Ma
tional Park. of Colorado and the great
ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
He Is the first person known to have
reached the summit of the then mys-
ferrous Mountain of the Holy Cross,
and In 1876 climbed IL peaks averaging
$4,000 feet in height and was the first
to reach the summit in every climb.
DR.. Holmes, as he drifted into SCI
entific successes, did not allow his de-
votion TO art TO be eclipsed. as is shown
by his present position as director Of
the National Gallery of Art. He spent
q large part of the years 1879 and 1880
in Munich, Rome. Venice and Males,
actively studying and sketching.
In the Autumn of 1880 he joined
Mai Clarence z. Dutton on the survey
of the Grand Canyon Of the Colorado
His drawings and panoramic views OF
this wonderland are embodied IN the
report of the Suvey for that year
and In the large atlas which appeared
later.