The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-08
DEATH OF DIR. HoUGHToN.


northern peninsula of Michigan, in conjunction with
the linear surveys of the United States, and COM
bined with barometrical observations, which, if COM
pleted, and combined with his geological survey of
the southern peninsula, would have been the most
perfect and minute survey Of the kind known, and
alike invaluable to the State of Michigan and to the
United States.
We cory the following eloquent letter relative
70 this melancholy catastrophe from the Detroit
Stree Press''
DEATH OF DIR. HoUGHToN.
FoRT WILKINS, LAKE SUPERIOR,
Oct. 2lst, l645
Mr. DEAR SIR: Enclosed herewith, ! forward to
you statement of facts connected with the unfor-
tunate end of DR.. Douglass Houghton, as given by
the survivors of the melancholy catastrophe-Peter
McFarlane (his true and trusty voyageur by food
and field for many years. and John Baptiste Bodrie.
am aware that, in district Of country duly or
ganized, with the usual county officers, the law up
on finding the body of foussaint Piquet, demanded
an investigation from the hands of coroner This
course was impracticable, without removing all the
witnesses to the Sault Ste. Marie, distance of
nearly two hundred and fifty miles, and at this late
season impracticable.
Thus situated, upon consulting with Col. Gratot
and Others it was considered as the best and only
method of procuring the statement of the two sur
vvcrs in the presence Of Witnesses to reduce it to
writing signed by them, with certificate of those
present of its correctness.
Upon this mode Of proceeding l have acted in
reducing the statements of McFarlane and Bodrie,
and trust that it will meet with your appreciation
and that Of the numerous friends of DIR. Houghton
The original is sent to you, believing that, through
you, in your official character, the intelligence
should reach the executive department at Washing
ton in whose service he was engaged.
Amid the gloom surrounding the death Of Dr.
Houghton, it is matter Of congratulation TO the
world Of science, but more particularly to our own
State, that all his valuable papers connected with
the geology and survey of tine northern peninsula
for the last six months, are saved, with the excep-
ton of one small book, containing the surveys Of
fractional township between Eagle river and the
Portage.
II is indeed strange that out of the many scien-
tifc men, and hundreds Of others who have coasted
on the waters of our great inland sea during the
past season, the master spirit Of them all should only
fall
The ways of Providence are truly mysterious!
The labor and toll Of fifteen years, in endeavoring
to penetrate the veil which shrouds from our view
many Of the mighty events that preceded the his
tory of our race, and which required only the magic
of his pen and the power of the press TO place him
among the Humboldts of another hemisphere, is
now lost.
Our country--nay, the world of science-was
looking with more than Argus eyes for his final re-
gan beheld his scientific talent and moral worth with
pride and admiration but, alas! he has tracked the
steps of glory to a watery grave.
The transcendant genius Of Curier expired in re-
veang the shades Of colossal and unknown forms
belonging to the remote ages Oft past eternity.
Chan,poion died beneath an African sun, deci-
phering the hieroglyphics ofEgypt.
Dapy fell in the midst of charging the boundaries
of natural science and Hougion like them, has fallen
martyr
The waters of our northern sea,
-"Where the Almightys form
Glasses itself in tempests; in all time
Calm or eonv1lsed-in breeze or gale, or storm,
Dark Reaving, boundless endless and sublime,
The Image Of Ete,nity--the Throne
OF the fprfsibie,"
was truly glorious windng-sheet, for often on it's
bosom he was "hmself billow in her energies"
| cheerfuly avail myself of this opportunity to
bear witness to the kindness Of Col. Gratot and all
connected with the mining works at Eagle river, in
aevating the suerngs Of the survivors, and in adj
mnstering to their wants, as well as to his UNI
wearied zeal and interchangeable efforts in making,
with sufficient force, all possible exertions, but
without success to find the body of Dr.. Houghton,
or that Of his voyageur, Oliver Larrimer
I am, very respectfully,
Your obcdent servant,
E. III. THOMSON.
Hon. LUcIus LYON,
Surveyor General, Detroit.
instead OF puonsning inc oTiSinal cefuncetcS OD-
tanned by Mr.. Thomson, we publish more con-
dersed narrative of the catastrophe from the "Mon
roe (Mchigan) Advocate"
From the Monroe (schgan) Advocate Oct 30.
DEATH OF DR.. HOUGHTON.
DR.. HousHToN, of Detroit, was drowned in Lake
Superior on the night Of the 18th instant. The
circumstances of his DEATH as communicated in
letter from Copper Harbor of the 18th, are briefly
these:
The doctor started in the afternoon from point
on the lake coast, about ten miles above Eagle river
the place Of his destination, in boat manned by
four voyageurs--O Oliver Lorimer, Frenchman, and
three halfbrecds. Peter McFarlane, ]. B. Bodice,
and Toussaint Piquet. The weather was rather
rough, but less so than in the former part Of the
day, which had been cold, with occasional Aurries
Of snow. Having arrived within about two miles Of
their destination, the weather suddenly changed and
threatened storm. Being then near good land
ing place, one Of the hands advised going ashore to
encamp for the night; but the doctor thought best
to push on TO Eagle river, where they would find
good accommodations. They proceeded hut little
further before the waves dashed over, and half filed
the boat, which they could not clear by beiling.
The doctors life-preserver was handed to him to
put il on but he laid il down by him, thinking there