The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-11-11
TI.c I.atc Cnpt. ManrossL.I

- -----.----ss
II The Late Capt. Manross. 500
The following tribute 10 tho lamented Capt.
J Matross was cont ributed 10 the New Haven
Palladium. e'.asrp sidH! ls3oQH and
o Newton spauldipg Manross was borniht
Bristol, in this State, in 1920. His father
was well known as an eptcrprising clock-ma-
ker, giving an impulse TO this, branch Of man
ufacture by bis establishment at the little VII.
lagc Of Fofrcstvilie which grew up about The
clock shops. From an early age NewtouOpes-
sessed those characteristics which aflerward
gave direction TO Lis scientiic pursuits. He
graduated at Yale College in 1850, in tho
same class with Prof Newton. His nat,ral
tastes were always strongly inclined stothe
pursuit of ptysical sciencc, and especially 10
geology. minerology, and chemistry. .puri;
ing lis college course these subjects received
his special attention. TIE first time tie wri-
Ter became aaequainied3 win him, be iwtote,
during the spring ssacation ofbjA Sophomore
year, to say that an interesting discovery, had
been made in a sandsicnc quarry, in Forrest
vile, OF two FOSSIL trees resting in the sand
stouo beds and converted apparently into
coal.aoWe visited1ltbc place in his company,
and Ly bis Wiling ,zfal q large fragmentof
one of these fossil trees was secured for tho
College Cabine', where il now is-and q disS
criIfion with fpur,s Of The locality Was pub
islcd i'm the American Jou' nal of scicnc, vols
is, p. HG. n But for his intelligent appfecai
ion, tbis interesting discovery would TO doubt
have escaped record, being as yet the only
case in our sandstone Of large and well pro-
served trees found in place in the rocks,of
the same age with the animals whose foot
prints are 50 Geqpent in the same rOeksn OelkSs
Portland. z.
90 Soon after leaving college, Manross reported.
TO the u niversity or Gettingcn in Germany
where, for two years he studied cheinisryiuu'
der Prof, WGl,ler, and ,ip 1852 took tho den
gree Of Doctor in Philosophy from that pni,,
versity, having won the esteem Of lis Precep.
tor and Of his associaies. 'ssi 70 'Ha' a"'''siF
On occasion of his promotion TO The ranN
Of Doctor Of Philosophical Goitingen, be pro-
sentcd as his inaugural dissertation memoir,
con The artificial formation Of minerals, con
tanning the results Of an elaborate research,
prosecuted during his novciaie in the labora.
tory OF Pro 'cssor rW9hlcr. This memoiris
contained in the sl6ih sre'as &c ahn 1A''an''s--'
Journal Of Science. sdpuo1d noiiisog u gdi boa
During bis European residence he ,irayeedI
assiduously as a student in geology and min.
ing, visiting the mines ia the HsrIz noun
tains and those Of Saxony and Austria. Ilea
studied parlicularlyothe processes in use at'i
the quicksilver mines at Idria in Carniola fera
tho working Of the poorer ores, visiting. the,
working below ground as woll as tho smelling
works. ~ Eh7otsT snh"iAA" o'''''' s'"''
After his reiurnito the United States, Dfii
Manross was in frequent requestrns an exploit
rer for owners and adventurers in mining pro-,
perties. I'm this capacity he visited the gold
regions of South Carolina Georgia, ,the 18TH
mus OF Panama, New oGrenada,- Honduras
and the banks, of tho river Orinocol IN South
America. He explored very miputey and
with great labor the Isthmus Of Panama, with
reference to practicable route for an inter-
oceanic canal guiding 10 this respect the
of powerful company, He, wssiS
present at tho fist discovery Of those curiousO
apoils Of the ancient graves Of Chiriqui, and
was one Of tho first TO give an intelligent,
account Of the various ornaments OF gcld'A
which worc there brought first 10 light On
he Ornoco be discovered a new and promisW
ng gold feld-spccimcns from which hoy
showed US. This deposit yet remains. 10 Ic
brought into commerce. In 1855 be visited
he famous Pitch Lake of Trinidad, and has
given an intelligent account of u is yerysreiO
naikabe place in the goth volume of the 4
American journal OF Science.
AS an explorer, DR.. Manross possessed re-
qualifications: To. a rugged con-ll
tituiion and great powers Of endurance Off
hardship he united great coolncss, quiet but
faI Il If boro
md unyielding perseverance,. He was emi-
lently successful 10 hsundcrtakings, and'itiso
.rcatly 10 be hoped that he preserved potesIefo
lis journeys, which have been extended throN
egions but little known ,.,.,,,oo b.,,A
Like true son Of New England, when
Turing the troubles of 1857 The commercial
lisasters of the times put an end TO field1la.o9
,ors for time, he, nothing daupled, turned1
'is owledgc Of minerals- TO good account by
on'rivipg machinery to prepare the jewels Of
locks and Watches, cutting and preparing
hem at rates which defied the hand labor of,
ven the productive Germans.
He also made good use Of his scientific
nowledge in various useful applications Of isga
the wants Of life, one Of the latest Of which n
an excellent and cheap metallic thermome1;.,
er, now manufactured at Bristol.
The war found him dischafging tlc dnties
{ Professor at Amherst College-Prof.'si
lark Of Amherst, having already gone 10 acr
we service with one of the earliest Massa- q,
husetis regiments. On occasion Of the last -
all Of his country. Prot. Marross abandoned "a
10 scientific duties and raised company (K,
the l8lh Rcgimeni,) in bis hativo village,
nd was found in the fore front of tho battle
a a -. ~ r.. 81 l.