MAJOR JOHN WESLEY POWELL: :A Faux Stage Play About the 1869 Green and Colorado River Surveys

by Rk Alleman

Overview

Major Powell's canyon exploring odyssey via the Green and Colorado rivers amounted to exacting on-the-job training for all these novice boatmen, including himself. On the inaugural exploration, some of the men volunteered, and, therefore, received no monetary compensation. The 1869 venture was also the first official scientific survey of the mostly unknown Utah and Arizona canyon country. Ergo endorsed and partially funded by the Illinois Natural History Society and Illinois Industrial University. The author's factual monograph mainly describes the historically renowned 1869 saga, which is creatively retold by the three so-named diarists: Major Powell, Jack Sumner, the lead boatman, and George Bradley whose version of the excursion no one knew about until decades after his demise. Reciting their respective daily entries from diary notes, their combined account of actual and corresponding events, complaints by some of the men, and everyday social drama. Thus, somewhat of a corollary). The notable drawback given the performance of the diarists reciting their notes to a feigned audience is the fact, Major Powell, when he later published his memories, first in 1875, then a more detailed account in 1895, failed to include the fact there was a sequential and longer expedition launched in 1871-72, including an entirely new crew. Although his engaging tome, "The Exploration of the Colorado River and its Canyons," was well-written, despite Powell's omission of the second exploration's more precise and additional details, eventually, this oversight (and "blunder" may be the better noun), the newsworthy embarrassing allegation was revealed in 1907 by one of the 1871 boatmen on the second expedition, Frederick Dellenbaugh. Understandably, Powell's discrepancy was not well received by the public, as well as key government figures, especially one of Powell's most severe critics, William Bass, who was a former Grand Canyon prospector and pioneer who became a canyon host and guide for visitors. Bass also makes an appearance in the author's historical publication. Serving in the role of a Greek Chorus, Bill Bass as he was better known shares other important and incidental background information with the audience. As a consequence of Major Powell's alleged faux pas, his acclaimed reputation was somewhat tarnished.

For the reader of this paid-for seat in an imaginary theater, the amended theatrical stage-recital performance is not only akin to an explicative revelation but also factual, informative, and revealing. For Major Powell, that timely disclosure challenged by Dellenbaugh was also embarrassing. Nevertheless, once all the facts are explained, what follows in this theatrical and historical performance is something the reader must decide. Thus, was the major guilty as charged, or were there other mitigating circumstances that diminish the public's consequent accusations and finger-pointing shame?

Note: this publication includes numerous historic exploration b/w photos (public domain)
(end abstract)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798855607017
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	08/21/2023
Edition description:	The John Wesley Powell Expeditions ed.
Pages:	394
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Writer, educator, defender of the environment and all creatures great and small. “Dr. Rich,” as some of his former students used to call him, created his eclectic lifestyle by engaging in numerous interests connected to targeted employment opportunities). Hence, he fits the profile of a free spirit (and perhaps “vagamundo” is another way to describe his unconventional character). Throughout most of his life, he was primarily employed as an academic educator, outdoors instructor, and backcountry guide. What follows in the longer Curriculum Vitae is a detailed account based on his achievements, credentials, and challenges spanning some fifty years.

Writing under the name Richard Kerry Holtzin, Dr. Rich’s teeming résumé seems to condense many roles over a number of lifetimes, yet representing a single life span that began in the mid-1940s. Starting with active duty in the military after high school, he joined the Navy (1963––1969). After Communications School (radio, crypto, and teletype), he was assigned to an admiral’s staff, specializing in the classified métier of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). Since 1970, he lived, worked, and played due west of the 100th Parallel, mainly hiking and backpacking throughout the Colorado Plateau Province (popularly known as “The Four Corners Region”) Investing many years in academics, he earned the Big 3 degrees with a focus on Eastern and Western Philosophy. For the most part, he eschewed the life of a professor, choosing, instead, employment as an outdoors educator, instructor, and guide (see following). Apart from teaching geosciences, natural and human history, he taught wilderness and survival courses. To mention some of his many other interests, Dr. Rich taught guitar and music theory for some twenty-five years, including performances as a studio and stage musician; composed and recorded two soundtracks for the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks; was licensed as a high school Educational Assistant and Substitute Teacher (preferring math and science classes); obtained a commercial aviation license, flying a variety of aircraft; a freelance photographer; a GPS surveyor and topographical mapper for the U. S. Forest Service; a commercial boatman running rivers coursing through the canyon country carved by the Green and Colorado; a planetarium control room operator and cosmologist; a natural history museum docent; and employed by a couple of police departments, as well an Arizona sheriff’s department.