New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-28
Leopold Won Buch.

The last steamer brought us the news Of the
death OF the veteran geologist, LEOPOLD Won BvcH,
which took place at Berlin on the ith of March lie
was one OF that brilliant corps of learned who
have re sided at Berlin and whose names have been
familiar to us from childhood He the associate Of
Humboldt, Encke and Ritter 10 each Of whom an ac
i've scientific career Of more than half century has
been allotted
Won Buch was born In I'm, and was pupil Of wsr.
ner the great founder of geological science, at the
School of Mines in Freberg, saxsny. A, the age Of
twenty he had already taken his place among scientific
men a laborer in the field OF geology lie Travelled
through Southern Germany and the Tyrol visited Italy
various times and gave the world the results Of hs
observations In two volumes, which were published In
lsO2 and 1909. lie next visited Scandinavia coan.
try much less accessible then thsn now and made nu
merous highly important additions to the geology and
physical geography OF Norway and Lspland, and
published voluminous work on this subject In 1910
Endowed with ample fortune and unmarried, he
was able 10 concentrate the whole energy of h life
his favorte studies and thus led 10 travel extern
syey and TO make examination Of a large por
ton Of the European Continent In order 10 study the
phenomena Of volcanoes he paid visit TO the Csoary
Isands and the results Of his observations there are
embodied In bis Physical Description Of the Cans
ries," which appeared in Germany In 1875 but which
Is mostly known by ip French translation published at
Paris, the German edition being only pubhshsi for
private circulation This will remain classic In
geology 1t raised him at once 10 the front rank Of
geologists which place he maintained by series Of
elaborate publications In various branches Of the
science Among them are works on the "Jura formation
Of Germany" published In 1882 and written with ad-
nj a. fha Gealn
Formations Of Russia !" ION the Arrangement and
Limits of the Chalk together with numerous papers
en- difficult points in Pseoutolegy, which appeared at
various tim A. 10 the transactions ofthe Berlin Academy
He aso published a Geological Map Of Germany in ~
sheets, which the first large and extensive under
taking of the kind, and be may be considered the
hgiDstor Of the now universally sdopSed system Of
repre- sentng the geological structure Of country on
geographical map by means OF colors His mental and
physical activity continued up to the very Last.
The name ofy Buch especially associated with
the theories which covered points Of great interest
geoogiss and which have been bones Of contention
among them ever since they were hrst propounded
The was the theory the elevation OF volcanoes
which fret proposed Ia hs work on the Canary
Islands and the detsls Of which have been wrought
out By Ellie de Beaumont with great zeal and ability.
According 70 Lhb tneOfy uc Hlahs o. FOcsuO 10 nos
due 70 election from the bV, expansive force
acting from beneath which has lifted and bent the strs
IA upwards INTO domeIke shape as various volcanic
reg ions have been investigated this theory has been
the subject Of almost endless discussion without any
approach unsninity Of opinion among the most dis
tinguished observers. The immense doomiric nnoan
tsins Of the yassa valley in TyrOl which with their
perpendicular sides and .errated SUBMITS perhaps
the grspdest and most impressive Of rock In
the world among the fret objects Of Won Baehs
pgrinsges, and the theory which be advanced TO &c
count for the formation Of these stupendous beds Of
rock consisting Of pure doIomite, or carbonate Of
lime and carbonate Of msgnesia has been stoury Bat
lied for aud against thong his opponents seem fnsJ
10 have carried the day.
On the whole Buch by biz position o. man I"
wealth and by the devotion Of bis life TO science, n
exercised great influence and has not without reason
been pacsd the head Of living geologsts Inh man
tie will now fall on bis distinguished discple Ehe as
Besun ont who has walked IN his footsteps with unnfne
perseverance, IL u TO him that Won Boch owes 10
mall share Of his fame in these latter days for de Besa
mont has labored long and well TO sustain ne ueSs
spd theories Of BIZ uaster