Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-03-30

iIness and Wisdom Almost IN he eoneaee4 nd l.
sjented and dlstined hid men q the S"eA Nossh
state" from The shore that d iaved By The Atlan-
lie wave to tie mountains th.t 50: me skssS ore
monuments Of his greatness; fos Elisha Mitchell vss
great man IL we embrace the proposition Of ono o.
he first historians Of modern times: "The greatest
q mortsls arc not those who astonish the world
nth their greatness, but those who cnlightcn BY
heir virtue" He fell at last martyr to science.
In the year 1709, it was suggested BY the younger
Nichaux that the peaks Of the Black Mountain IN
n. c.. were higher than any other l.nd east Of sne
Rocky Mountains Tho Hon. J. G. Calhoun after
yards suggested the same truth, - accounting ,oe
The manner in which several large rivers. bowm9 IN
various directions gather their waters ron tA sides
These suggestions Dr. Mitchell wss the nTst to ver-
" in 1886. After numerous experiments ana sraa-
Gus labors he measured the height OF one Of the
peaks, and found it to be 6,41e ieee M " ase'GS
ton, in New Hampshire heretofore eons'deret me |
highest point Of the Alleghanies Is 6iss feet Dr.
Mitchell was never satisfied with this observation,
and in 1874 renewed hrs Investigations. lie pro- |
cured guide, and with him ssccndcd what he con- |
sidered the highest peak, which was Afterwards
called Mt Mitchell in honor Of him. The Hoo. 1.
l. Clinsman has for the last several years contest
cd With Dr.. N. the honor Of having first discovered
the highest summit Of the Black Mountain, which
gave rise to the publication Of rather angry con.
troversy in the newspapers Of the State, touching
the height Of Mt Mitchell. One object Of the iatc
unfortunate expedition was to establish the tfu'h Of
the suggestion Of Dr. NJ, and another Was to solve
the problem as to the proper value Of the Baromes
ricai co-efRcient in ascertainins elevations
On Saturday, june eth, 1851. Dr.. N. parted nom
his son, Charles, about halfs-mile from the Noun
tain House, on which is now known - Mitchelrs
peak. He started to 60 alone to Wilson'S on Cancy
river in Yancey county, and told his son to meet
him where they then were on the following Monday
morning. The son was at his post on Monday NOR
ming, and again on Tuesday and Wednesday morn
ings, but tho father came not. On Thursday Il was
found that he had not been on Caney river at al.
The alarm was given, and search instituted, which
continued with increased excitement day alter day.
by some 200 persons, until the following Tuesday.
July 9Th, when his bodh Was found in the Cat-tail
fork of Cancy river at the base Of cliff about 40
feet high, down which he had evidently fallen soon
after he had separated from his son, eleven days
previously. A branch Of laurel was found In his
hand, which he must have graspcd and broken Oh
when he began to fall Thus persisted one Of the
most learnod and scientific men Of the Union, 'e:y'
ing behind him mother Of % years Of age, Wild
ow, and numerous children and grandchildren to
to mourn his loss But he has LEFT them the rich
legacy of . spotleSs name. Tho mountain from
which he was prccipitacd into the dread abyss be-
low the object Of his scientific researches and now
possessing 50 melancholy interest to North-Caro
linians bears appropriately his honorcd name; and
as it rcars its lofty head to heaven, will serve to tell
posterity his fame. Il is fitting monument to his
memory. whilst the little river that winds around its
base, murmuring with waterfalls win continue to
chant the requiem Of his name until time Shall be
lost in the ocean Of ctcruity. Excellent old man
blessed in his personal and social relations he had
seen himself the object Of reverence and affection to
thousands of educated frccmen. A mighty State
which had grown up to wealth, power, and glory
beneath his eye, has confessed him as ono Of the
-: - e.. Rsst
he fell Full Of years and full Of honor&
"His eyes were closed wi,hou, cloud; they set
Behind the darkeued West. nor Sides cb.eurrd
Among the tempesis Of the sky. but melts
Away into the light VI Heaven"
While We mourn over this melancholy dispense
ton of Providence We have nevertheless. the con.
solatory assurance that although passed into the
shades Of DEATH yet in his better part immortal he
has scared above the LOFTY mansions Of the stars
nor shall his name ever cease to be an honoe.-
Wherever science shall difusc her benign rays ovcl
this enlightened earth, the name Of Elisha Mitchell
shall be held in grateful remembrance.
sweep not for him, be len deaihless name,
| Which with his country's histosy 10 allied;
| The lamp of life cast f6rth feeble fame.
| Long long before the p..r,., sehr.l., died
He with compeers in tame ffsas earsh has passed,
Of which immortal band be was the last.
Gentlemen, learned the sad intelligence Of tn
death Of Dr.. Mitchell on my route from Mississippi
to this place. During the first week Of my arriva
here, your whole State thrown into grief by tn
announcement Of the death Of your own muchlovc,
and greatly lamented Rusk. Truly, alas too truly
death loves shining mark )" and in view Of hi
dread, his universal empire, We may well exclaim
language Of Burke the great English statesman
"What shadows We arc, and what shadows y
pursue"
The humble voice which now addresses you ma
soon be hushed in the stiffness Of the tomb. Lii
and all which it inherts lose their value ~ Il draw
towards its close; but were the breath which no,
gives uttcrance to my voice the last vital air shoul
draw, my expiring prayer to the God Of Hcavr
should be- that each Of your sons like the lamcntc
and pious Mitchell, whose example We have bee
commemorating. may become Of his parents an
friends, the pride and joy; Of his teachers the boa,
and honor; Of arts and learning. the pillar Of dull
ness ignorance and obscurity, the shame and Of hi
country the happiness, the ornament and the glor,