October, 1880.
tttE WEST SHORE.
X
201
GENERAL ALBERT J. MYER,
We present herewith an engraving of Gen.
Albert J. Myer, Chief of the Signal Service
Bureau, who died on the 24th ult at Buffalo.
Geo. Myer wai known all over the country,
although very few inew hit face. lie waa
better known at " Old Probabilitioe," a familiar
cognomen applied to the official representative of
the Signal Bureau. Thii diatinguiahed officer
waa born at Newburg, in the State of New
York, in 1829. He graduated at Hobart Col
lego, at Geneva, in that State, in 1847. After
applying himself to the atudy of medicine, he
took the degree of M. D. at the Univeraity of
Buffalo in 1851; and in 1854 he waa appointed
Assistant Surgeon in the United States
army. He served in the medical department
until the breaking out of the oivil war, when he
was appointed Chief Signal offioer. He con
tinued in the service until the olose of the war,
and received the brevet rank of Lieutenant
Colonel, Colonel and Brigadier-General of Vol
unteers. In 1800 Gen. Myer was placed at the
head of the Signal Service of the regular Army,
and in 1870 he was charged with the taking of
meteorological observations at the military
posts and other points in the oountry. It was
largely owing to Gen. Myer's executive ability,
soieutifio knowledge and capacity for mastering
details that the Signal Servioe of the United
States has suooeeded in rosching its present
oondition of usefulness.
African Explorers Killed. Long before
its exploration shall be achieved, Africa is likely
to prove the graveyard of many of the most en
terprising and brave men of the times. The
Loudon Standard, in commenting upon the sad
uowa which had boen recoivod at Zanzibar of
the murder of Capt Carter and Mr. Cadonhead,
remarks that it adds two more victims to the
Inns list of those who have sacrificed their lives
in the interest of African exploration. Hitherto
disease and not violenoe lias been the cause
of the fatality which has overtaken so
many of the explorers of tho dark onntinent.
Kroin the facts which have reached us it would,
however, appear that the gallant pioneers
whose loss we have to deplore met their death
at the hands of a ohief named Wramho. But,
as the expedition which they oommanded was,
at the latest date, in the oountry of a roblier
king called Meroambo, not far from Ijike Tan
ganyika, the name has, in all probability, been
altered in telegraphing. Messrs. Cartor and
Cadenhead, though Englishmen, were employed
under the auapioea of the Belgian branoh of the
International Society for tiie exploration of
Africa, The leading object of the expedition
sent out under its auapioea is not so much geo
graphical discovery as the establishment of cen
ters of oivilixing inlluenoe and oommeroe at
various point of the interior. The first of
these station wa founded in August, 1870, by
M. Gambler at Karema, on the eastern shore of
Uke Tanganyika, 140 mile south of Ujiji. In
December M. Cambier was joined by Messrs.
Popelin and Carter with the Indian elephant,
of which only on remained. Another rein
foroement, constituting the fourth expedition,
uuder Messrs. Burdo, Rogers and Cadenhead,
wa far on it way when last heard of, and wa
tanguin of soon communicating with Mr. Stan
ley. Tb latter, by the aid of steam launohea,
i endeavoring to ascend the Congo, which,
amid so many perils, he dososnded three years
ago. The introduction of elephant into Afri
can exploration was a great step in edvanoe,
and it wa fondly believed that one of the ohief
dillionltie in the path of travel had at last been
overcome.
Tug National Park. It appear that th
natural wouJars ot tho Yellowstone National
park have made a strong impression upon Secre
tary Schure, who recently, with Gen. Crook for
a companion, made a horsobaok tour through
the region. He has expressed great indignation
at the dopredations that are annually perpetrated
there. In the park game is very abundant, and
includes elk, deer, antelope, bears, and other
animals; but the gamekeopera provided by th
Government are iusutlioient to prevent the
wholosale destruction of hunters, who are killing
the animals merely for their skins. The entire
unwholesome brood of ouriosity hunters is also
inlliotiug muoh injury by removing treasures
which would have exooediug value to intelligent
Ralfii Waldo Kmkrson, Our distinguished
onnntryman oontemplate another, and, in hi
belief, final, visit to England next year, Th
London correspondent of th Manchester Guar
dian says Mr, Emerson ha been moved to do
this ohiefly by what h ha heard of th declin
ing health ot Mr, Carlyle, between whom and
himself then ha been, ever lino they first
met, the deepest sympathy and affection, Mr,
Emerson i also anxious to mak th acquain
tance of several distinguished Englishmen, oon
apiououa among whom is Cardiual Newman,
whom he characterise a "th most religious
man in England," As a proof of th growing
favor of Mr. Emerson's writings, it may u men
tioned that a well-known publishing house md-
A
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WW
1.
AoourAXT has bren experimenting in Florida
with palmetto for making paper with svsh grat
ifying suooe, that they will build 20 paper
ills in varum part ot in hum.
TIIE LATE ALBERT J. MYER, OF TUB SIGNAL SERVICE BUREAU.
tonrist. Around th geysers and other springs
in the park there are many rare apeoimens of
etalsgmito and coralline depositions, which
have required age for their formation, all of
which are liable to b injured or carried away
by the vandals. The Secretary has expressed
regret that proper action wa not taken long ago
for th preservation of the park, and it is hi
fiurpos to urge upon Congress th requisite
egislation for tb prevention of th depreda
tion which are despoiling it of many of It
beauties. W bop something efficient will be
don at th earliest moment, for a further delay
of fir or ten year might work irreparable in
jury. Our forest are dofaosd and in sours of
destruction by th spoiler. Iot a mak an
earnest (Hurt to keep their ruth lee hand off of
tb National park.
Till laU Mis Adelaide Neflson, instead of
having been born In Saragassa, Spain, in 1W0,
really wis born la Lsads, England, Maroh 3,
1 841. Her real nam wa Elisabeth Ana Brown,
and her mother, who 1 still living, is gypsy.
Itates th Uius ot cheap edition ot them, about
which it will negotiate with Mr. Emerson on
th occasion of hi visit to London,
Impkovxhkht or tiii Urrn Missouri. Ws
learn from th Helena Indtptndttd of th 2d
lost, that about 70 mo are bow tmployed by
th Government in making Improvement la
th npper Missouri river, near lauphan'
Rapid, and It is informed that hereafter there
will be little difficulty In navigating th stream
until quits laU la th fall Boat bev already
transported to Benton about 0,0" 10 ton ot freight,
and som 2,000 tons more will, it I hoped, be
brought up th river before th season close.
This lis proved so far as tioelUnt season for
freighting, and th river 1 two ft higher than
it wa at th aam tint but ysar.
M MMMMMMM,.
M. Oamrktta (peak very fast la pobli
Most mso pronoo.no but about 180 word
minnU, but M. GambetU talk at th rat of
235smlnuts,
stMsMtekitafefftf". j.t.