Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-02-07
DEATH OF COMMODORE MAURY

DEATH OF COMMODORE MAURY
Mathew Fontaine Maury. Of Virginia,
once commander in the u S. naval SER
vice, afterwards commodore in the Con-
federate navy, and at the time Of his death
filing the chair Of Physics at the Virginia
Military Institute, died in Lexington on
Saturday last, in the 9th year Of his age.
He was born in Spottsylvania Co. Va, in
1906, and entered the navy in 1925. At
ter cruise around the world he was disa-
bled from sea servics, by an accident to bis
foot, and was put on shore duty in the hydro
graphic Office at Washington In 1874 be
was made Superintendent Of the Observato
ry there. Years before that date he had
conceived the idea of collating the observa-
tions of wind and weather in ships logs,
thereon to found physical Geography Of
the Sea- Log books had been furnished
for the purpose to our armed and merchant
marine in 1912, and in 1874 the main fea-
lures of Maury's large theories on the gulf
stream, ocean currents and great circle sail
ing, had been published in the Southern
Literary Messenger under the title-"A
Scheme for Rebuilding Southern Com
MERGE" In 1858, at his instance, took
place in Brussels the conference of tho mar.
thine nations, where European governments
agreed to cooperate with his plan, and to
have ioterchapged among the various obser.
vatories the logs of the ships of all maritime
nations, prepared beforehand in blank and
in abstract form fixed upon. The data so
furnished soon grew to great bulk, and be.
ing reduced by immense labor, led Maury
to perfect his theories of winds and currents
and the main features of his Physical Gsog-
raphy of the Sea. The immediate practical
results of these deductions were enormous,
vast values were saved from shipwreck, the
time Of the voyage between Atlantic and
Pacific ports of America was reduced forty
days, and that between European and
American ports in like proportion. The
discovery of the great ocean plateau, making
possible deep sea telegraph cables, was an
other consequence Of his researches, as also
the establishment of rules to guide the
cruises Of whaling fleets. In 1855 Maury
was promoted to be Commander in tho navy.
By many European governments his merit
met with distinguished recogn ition-oraers,
medals aud memberships liz various learned
societies being showered thick upon him.
Profers we're repeatedly made to him Of
high rank and place and riches, if he would
enter foreign service. But, he chung always
to bis native land,
After secession he entered the naval ser.
vice of the Confederacy, and was for time
stationed in Virginia, in charge Of coast de-.
fences, and afterwards sent to England on
special naval duty. After the war he resi-
ded sometime in England, took service with
the i'll starred Macmillan, and fnally re-
turned to his native State, where until bis
death, he was employed in the production
of q series Of biographies and the physical
survey of Virginia, both of which works re-
main unfinished monument. TO his genius
and his labor.
Commodore Maury's death was caused by
liberation of the bowels. His health had
been bad since his lecturing tour North and
West last October. He had been Chris.
tian for over thirty years, and for forty
eight hours before his very happy death,
spoke Of nothing but the glories which await
ed him in Christ His body lay in state 10
the library of the Institute, wearing tho
medals awarded him BY the Gar, Napoleon
and Emperor MAMMALIAN. He was buried
on Wednesday with Military houors A
moment before be died he was asked to
give sign if all was we'll, and he replied,
CAL is well-sll is well lie was buried
near Storewall Jsckson's grave. The Leg
islature Of Virginia adjourned on the an
nouncement of his death
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