The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-11-09
ASTORIA, OREGON:
JOHN ERICSSON.

one of the most beautiful imaginable.
1t has been spent in the investigation
of natures secrets and in putting in
action natures tremendous forces, and
so quietly has it moved on that now
at eighty-six he seems to be uncon-
scious of the fight of time. He seems |
to have no summons to begin to wind |
up his affairs; the infrmities which
usually come with age seem to wait
outside his gate; nothing has entered
to call halt to his faculties, or to dis
turb the peace of his life's afternoon.
It would not be strange if the machin-
cry of his frame were to run down and
stop without one broken wheel, and
without jar. One of these days when
all the present generation shall have
passed away, some gifted soul will set
to words the mighty drama of our
civil war. It will be shown how it was
planned by unseen powers, how the
stage was set by them, the scenes
shifted and the mighty acts called.
Among those actors John Ericsson
will be a principal star. There will,
in the shadow, be outlined the great
fleets of England and France being
prepared quietly for war, there will be
outlined here and there, in the inland
waters of our country, dangerous look
ing iron-clads being urged to compile
ton, and alarmed Justice will be ask
ing what can be done to evade the
impending peril Then fate will sum-
mon John Ericsson and will answer:
He is enough. With the hammer in
his hand he will sink all those hostile
navies; he will destroy all those IRON
clads, for to that work 1 shall direct
my ymind and he shall be my executor"
When Sheridan rode to Cedar Creek,
turned the tide of battle and
from a seeming defeat wrought
triumph that was genius
and courage. When Thomas flung
his command, unsupported in the
path of the onsweeping, exultant and
overwhelming enemy at Chicka-
mauga, arrested its progress and
saved the northern army, that was
genius and august soldierly devotion.
When Morris with his command went
down with the fated Cumberland
disdaining to surrender, firing their
last broadside as the hungry sea was
running into their guns and cheering
under the very shadow of death; that
was an act the sublimity of which
gave to their countrymen a new re-
spect the world around. When the
Monitor in the very stress of the Un-
ion fleets defeat steamed into Hamp-
ton Roads; that was Providence.
There was where Fate's messenger
fulfilled the trust that had been given
into his hands. When the news of
that days work was flashed under the
sea the men of England and France
looked into each others faces and
knew that the shots which had Grip
pied the Merrimac had also sunk all
their mighty wooden walls. But this
man has worked twenty-six years since
and still continues his labor. Indeed
it is not labor, it is second nature and
a perpetual joy to him. 1t would be
a graceful act if congress should Or
der, when it meets, that on every sue.
ceeding birthday while he lives, an
especial honor should be paid him.
Other lands honor their scientists and
reward eminent services. John Erics-'
son has extraordinary claims for both
his scientific triumphs and for services
rendered. To estimate what he did
we have only to try to estimate what
might have been had he not lived