A photo-journalist and explorer
Over all Ashley would be described as a laid back, casual, and sometimes lazy person. Of course thats what the good and proper folks at home see. He feels that when he is able to sleep in his own bed instead of out cataloging the world he should be aloud to be lazy. When he takes a trip to some far off place he still retains his casual attitude though what some called lazy is no where to be found. He constantly tries to keep his mood up, but sometimes if his wife has not accompanied him he falls into slightly rough moods when thinking about life back home.
Eastman Kodak Camera with tripod, plenty of extra film rolls.
Camera "Tent" (bag used to fix film for storage.)
Various supply for fixing his film. (tins and chemicals)
Rope Hammock and sleeping roll
A canteen
four inch folding knife
Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" pistol with 20 ten round magazines
US Model 1894 "Krag" .30" cal. rifle. with 100 cartridges
Born in America in 1870 to a fairly well off family in Charleston, Ashely was handed an easy lot in life for his younger years. He enjoyed all the comforts of southern life but especially enjoying being out in the wild, hunting or simply enjoying the world.
He worked with his father and went to school, studying to become a naturalist. His father had taken an interest in photography and during his first year at the College of Charleston he opened a studio, using an upstairs apartment in a family friends house. The experience with the camera put Ashley in touch with some interesting names over the years and he found himself working his way into the photojournalist profession with a focus on natural journaling.
He married Marry Annette (King) Gable in 1890, him 20 and her 16.
Ashley was given a grant by the Eastman Kodak company in 1891 to furnish his travels, provided that he act as a spokesman for their product. Ashely of course jumped at the chance to travel the world for free. The first year of the grant he traveled to Africa, South America, and Australia twice. Kodak had found themselves a character to portray and Ashley became an explorer, part naturalist, part hunter, and part photojournalist. His wife would often come with him on his non hunting trips and aid with his cataloging.
in 1895 Ashley relocated his home base to the "Overseas Explorers Club" in London to work with some of the great European explorers and hunters of the time and has been based in London a year.
His US 1894 was a birthday gift from his brother who was in the US Army with a note "From one hunter to another, Happy Birthday" it is very dear to him.