Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-03
Death Of Commodore Maury.


nouncemcnt that Commodore Mathew Fontaine
Maury is 20 more Another brilliant and
honord name is added to the distinguished
dcatll-roll Of the present year, which opened so
graudly in the list of greatness and true re-
uown No Eiryinitn now living had strong
cr hold upon the affection of our people or
moro richly mcritcd the honor and esteem con-
icrrcd upon him than Commodore Maury. No
career has been more brilliantly illustrated more
spotcss or unStaincd by single blemish than
that OF the distinguished dead He died at
Lcxington IN this State, on Saturday last at
o clock p. ~. his death being not unexpected;
It's he had for three months previous to his
demise been dangerously i'll.
Commodore Maury was born in Spotsylvanla
county, January 18th, 1906. While still
young his parents removed to Tennessee. He
entered the naval service in 1925 as mldshlp-
man and was appointed to the Brandywln@,
which Was then fitting out to convey General
Lafayette to France. After his return, he was
transferred to the soop-of war Vncennes, Ill
which he clrcumnavisated the globe. 1t was
years. and while yet midshipman, that he be-
passed through several editions, aud il NV
n
| to the Pacific as master Of the Falmouth lie
was assigned 20 the Irigate Potomac as acting
| lieutenant. He was regularly promoted to u
lieutcnancy IN 1886, and received the appoint
| ment of astronomer to the South Sea Exploring
| expedition.
In 1889, while travelling on professional
| duty, he met with au accident which resulted
in permanent lameness and unhtted him tor
| active service ahOat The government then
placed him in charge Of the photographed Of
| flee 1T Washington, and upon the organization
of the National Observatory in 1874. he was
made superintendent Of the combined iustltu-
tons Before this time, however, Leuteuant
| Maury had begun series of Investigations
called the Physical Geography Of the Sea, "
and had gathered many observations Of the
| ocean winds aud currents FROM the records of
naval and merchant vessels. These results
were made the basis of study with the view OF
| directing further observations.
In 1914 Lieutenant Muury made known his
conclusions respecting the Gulf streams, ocean
currents and great circle sailing, in q paper
| read before the National Institute, and publ IL
ed in the Southern Literary Messenger for
July of that year, under the title of "a Scheme
| for Rebuilding Southern Commerce Cordial
cooperation was obtained f. Gu the British GOV
|
| British Association. to the tnrm OF abstract log
10 be kept on board ships of war and merchant
vessels, recommended by Lieutenant Maury.
Among the practical commercial results of
Lieutenant Malry's theory are claimed to be
the shortening of the passage from the Atlantic
| to the Pacific ports of the Unitel States by
about forty days, and Of voyages from America
to Europe in proportion, the discovery
of the Geographic ocean plateau, and the indi-
cation of good whaling grounds. In 1855
Lieutenant Maury was promoted to the rank
OF commander.
| He was member Of many OF the principal
scientific associations Of America and Europe,
and received from several foreign governments
valuable testimonials Of their appreciation OF
his services Besides the works already men
toned Inc has published Letters on the Ama-
ION and the Atlantic Slopes of Sou tn Am.
erica "Relation Between Magnetism and
the Circulation of the Atmosphere "Astro-
noluicll Observations (lS53); and Letters
Concerning Lanes for the Steamers Crossing
the Atlantic (lSj4.I'
After Virg inia seeded FROM the Union he
came South. and was, it will be rccolccted,
one Of the Executive Council.
In 1862. he was sent to Europe by the Con-
| fcderatc Government and remained abroad dur
|
confcdcracy, he accepted prominent position
in Mexico under Emperor MaXinillian. Alter
the overthrow of the unfortunate MaXimlllian
he returned tn England
In 1870 he was appointed Professor Of Ply
sizes at the Virginia Military Institute, which
position he filled until his death, and had
charge Of the physical survey Of Virg lnia. He
wrote several pamphlets about the mineral re-
sources Of Virginia.
His funeral will take place at Lexington on
Wednesday, Rchn.ond Enquirer.
TIE CRAwFoRD-TAYLoR CASE A decision
lately rendered by the Supreme Court Of the
| &. S. involving the title to the Crawford estates
in Prince Georges county, Maryland, is more
remarkable for the length of time it has been
in litigation than the questions OF law involved.
Two brothers, Thomas B. Crawford and DR..
| Crawford, were the heirs to large estates III
that county Neither was married, and the
only relatives they had were named Blackburn.
| Thomas became intimate with Elizabeth Jay
Tor, who removed with her mother and brother
to one of his estates, Monterey, near WaShiug-
ton, and continued to live with him. A sou
was born outside of wedlock, who was named
ington to have thi, child christened, when she
WIS TcuUllStldlcu Win Wy luC pllCSl. ohC III
Legged that then she induced Thomas to marry
her. and that they were married at ST. Patrick S
Church, in that city, by the same priest. The
marriage was concealed because of the enmity
of Dr. Crawford, the brother of Thomas, to her
and was never disclosed until the Doctor s
death. Thomas having died previously.
Attcr the death of DR., Crawford, the ques
ton arose. 40 whom shall the administration
Of the estate be granted?" Blackburn claim
ing it on the one hand and George Thomas
Crawford, on the other. claiming Legitimacy
under the marriage subsequent to his death.
The will Of Thomas tended to show that there
was no marriage. The will was prepared by
Mr.. Bowie, OF Baltimore under the direction
of Thomas, recognizing the children as his ma
tural children by Elizabeth Taylor. 10 the
meantime, Betsy Taylor Tor Crawl rd( died.
Every source Of testimony was exhausted. The
priest had removed to France, but was found,
and he deposed that he was the officiating
priest at ST. Patrick's Church in Washington
! -, ia, Lo .,ilor,J but hot