Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-30

Mitchell naQ Out 10 COOH UFOuUU HtW u DeLOu huAl
berless riag, mouing, actice monuments Of his use.
fitness and wisdom Almost all the educated, and
talented, and distinguished men Of the "old North
State" from the shore that is laved by the ATTAIN
tic wave to the mountains that kiss the skies, are
of his greatness; for Elisha Mitchell was
great man. if embrace the proposition OF one OF
the first historians of modern times: 1.-The greatest
of mortals are not those who astonish the world
with their greatness but those who enllghten 1t oy
their virtue" He fell at last a martyr to science
In the year 1899, it was suggested by the younger
Michaux that the peaks of the Black Mountain, IN
N. c., were higher than any other land east OF the
Rocky Mountains The Hon. j. c. Calhoun alter
wards suggested the same truth, as accounting tor
the manner in which several large rivers, flowing IN
various directions gather their waters from Its sldes
These suggestions Dr. Mitchell was the first to Ver-
fy in 1885, After numerous experiments and ardu-
Gus labors, he measured the height of one OF the
peaks, and found it to be 6,476 feet Mt. Washing
ton, in New Hampshire, heretofore considered the
highest point of the Alleghanies, is 642e fcet Dr.
Mitchell was never satisfied with this observation,
and in 1874 renewed his Investigations. He pro-
cured guide, and with him assembled what ne con-
sidered the highest peak, which was afterwards
called Mt. Mitchell, in honor of him. The Hon. L.
L. Cngman has, for the last several years, contest
ed with Dr. NJ 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 late
unfortunate expedition was to establish the truth OF
the suggestion of Dr. NJ, and another was to solve
the problem as to the proper value OF the Baromet-
rcal co-eficient in ascertaining elevations
On Saturday. June 9th, 1857 DIR. NJ. parted from
his son, Charles, about halfa-mile from the Noun
tain House, on which is now known as Mitchells
peak He started to go alone to Wilson's, on Caney
river, in Yancev 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 the father came not. On Thursday it was
found that he had not been on Caney river at all.
The alarm was given and a search instituted which
continued with increased excitement, day after day,
by some 200 persons, until the following Tuesday,
July Sth, when his bodh was found in the Cat-tal
fork of Caney river at the base of cliff about Az
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 grasped and broken OFT
when he began to fall. Thus persisted one OF the
most learned and scientific men OF the Union, leay-
ing behind him a mother Of 20 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. The mountain from
which he was precptated into the dread abyss be-
low the object of his scientific researches and now
possessing so melancholy an interest to NorthCaro-
lnans, bears appropriately his honored name; and
as it rears its lofty head to heaven will serve to tell
posterity his fame 1t is fitting monument to his
memory whilst the little river that winds around its
base, murmuring with waterfalls, will continue to
chant the requiem of his name, until time shall be
lost in the ocean of eternity. Excellent old man
blessed in his personal and social relations, he had
seen himself the object of reverence and affection to
thousands of educated freemen A mighty State
which had grown up to wealth, power, and glory
beneath his eye, has confessed him as one Of the
chief authors and architects of its greatness But
he fell, full of years and full of honors
His eyes closed without cloud they set
As sets the morning star which goes not dtwn
Behind the darkened West. nor hides obscured
Among the tenpcss of the sky, but mets
Away into the light Of 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
Wherever science shall dffuse her benign rays over
this enlightened earth, the name of Elisha Mitchell
shall be held in grateful remembrance.
weep not for him. he left deathess name,
Which with his country's history is allied;
The lamp Of life cast forth feeble flame.
Long, long before the patriot scholar died.
He with compeers in fame from earth has passed.
of which immortal band be was the last"
Gentlemen, learned the sad intelligence of the
death of Dr. Mitchell, on my route from Mississippi
to this place. During the first week Of my arrival
here, your whole State was thrown into grief by the
announcement of the death of your own much-loved
and greatly lamented Rusk. Truly, alas too truly
Death loves shining mark and in view of his
dread his universal empire, we may well exclaim
in the language of Burke the great English statesman
what shadows we are, and what shadows We
pursue"
The humble voice which now addresses you may
soon be hushed in the stiffness of the tomb Lii,
and all which it nherts lose their value as it draws
/ towards its close; but were the breath which now
gives utterance to my voice the last vital air SHOULD
! draw, my expiring prayer to the God of Hcaver
should be, that each of your sons like the amenet
and pous Mitchell, whose exampl We have beer
commemorating, may become of his parents ant
friends, the pride and JOYS Of his teachers the boas
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 glory
TIE HOMICIDE IN GEoRGIA.-The Savannah Neu
gives the particulars of the recent homicide of Col
Joseph Bond, wealthy cotton planter of Macon, il
that State, previously mentioned by telegraph:
hat hall