European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 12, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pictures from the illustrated London news of aug. 24, 1844, show Charles Waterton during his Alligator ride above and in pillar of society dress. Charles Waterton a classic English eccentric by Gregory Ensen United press International there Are stuffed animals in the Wakefield Muse urn in in Gliime that you would t believe a  Turtle with hairy legs dragons other Nightmare creatures. And you d be right not to believe them since Charles Waterloo invented them. The museum has opened a permanent Section devoted to , who was both a serious Early 19th-Century naturalist and a classic English eccentric Waleron. Who is known As the father of modern taxidermy was a Pioneer conservationist an Early experimenter with the Indian Arrow Poison curare and a popular and respected scientist who argued about Birds with Lohn Lay Audubon. But what first strikes you in the museum s sleek new display is his bizarre and fearless behaviour. He once tied up a 14-foot Boa Constrictor with his suspenders then slowed the Snake in a bag under his Hammock. I cannot say he allowed me to have a quiet night he noted later. He climbed into a Cage with an orangutan and he and the  spent a Happy time examining each others Teeth. In his most famous exploit he captured .1 vicious Alligator by the Foolhardy expedient of leaping onto its Back and Riding it ashore. And in the museum is that very Alligator All 10 scaly feet of him. Waterloo stuffed him and showed off the Toothy killer in a coffin shaped Glass Case on his staircase at Home. That staircase in fact was festooned with All the myriad creatures Waterton collected and preserved by his unique air stuffing method. His whole collection just As he left it is now on View at Wakefield 176 Miles North of London. We had a special exhibition six years ago and Waterloo enthusiasts came literally from All Over the world said senior keeper cordon Watson. So we decided to organize a permanent  its most startling exhibits Are Waterton s imaginary animals. The Centrepiece of their Corner Case is " Ohn Bull and the National debt a creature with the legs and belly of a Porcupine an almost human face probably made from the backside of a Monkey and a Turtle s Shell Ridden by a dragon. Five other weird creatures prance around the base. Waterton concocted this and other strange creations As sarcastic comments on religious or political matters. They also showed off his consummate taxidermy skill. His collection has lasted remarkably Well because of his unique taxidermy a Iliad Watson said. His method was to stuff creatures with empty air. Waterloo skinned everything he caught the Alligator animals snakes Birds insects even lobsters on his repealed journeys in South Merit a. Veil his travels had a bizarre flavor he walked completely across the Jungles of Guyana Barefoot. He treated the skins with his own  mix then shipped them to his Beautiful 1767 stately Home Walton Hall on a tiny Island in a Lake near Wakefield. It is now a hotel. There in a top floor room Waleron slept on ils Bare floor with an Oak Block Pillow he painstakingly reshaped the skins and left the creatures hollow. His method was too difficult and time consuming for others to use but his exemplary technique achieved wonders. In one tall museum Case is a glorious Peacock that Walkerton at 75, took seven weeks to mount. In others Are creatures impossible to stuff scorpions crabs insects. Waterton s original crammed cases one holds 44 Birds Are a perfect Sample of 19th-Century display. Even his hand written labels Are still in place. Taxidermy aside Waleron also was a noted Wriler the author of three volumes of essays. In 1825 came his Best seller whose 36-word title is usually abbreviated As the wanderings. It tells of his travels in South America and the Eastern United Stales. 7/ e wanderings was reprinted at least 17 times the museum shows copies up to 1973. The Book is packed with Waterton s weird adventures. Once attacked by a huge Snake he simply punched it in the snout. Ere he could recover himself i had seized his Throat with both hands i then allowed him to Coil himself around my body and marched off with him As my lawful  Charles Wilson Peale painted Waterton s portrait in Philadelphia in 1824. It s in the Wakefield show too. Waleron was ahead of his time in Many respects. He turned Walton Hall s grounds into a nature Reserve and wildlife Park free to the Public for 25 years until poachers killed Loo Many of his animals. He died quietly at Home in 1865. He was 83, and had been climbing Trees at 80. On show is a prayer card from the Odd funeral he meticulously planned a procession of Black draped boats across Walton s Lake to the burial spot he chose. The new museum display is a comprehensive tribute eccentricities and All. But Charles Waterloo s True memorial probably is the Canadian National Park named for him Waterton lakes whose Waters stretch into Montana. 22 stripes Magazzi