Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-31
A SCIENTIFIC EXCURSION.
The Biologists Make an Interesting Trim
Down the Potomac

scientific excursion was given yesterday by
the members Of the international geological
congress down the Potomac. touching at Fort
Washington, Cockpit Point. Clifton Beach and
Pope's creek. where the geological formations
were carefully studied.
The steamer Pilot Bow was chartered for tNe
trip and lef. its wharf promptly at O'Clock
with about sixty members Of the congress
aboard.
The first stop was made at Fort Washington.
Here the Little army CT stone hunters. each one
armed with bag and tiny hammer. disem-
parked and began the search for specimens.
The best exposures were found at the southern
end Of the large bluff near the river. Herr
was found section comprising gray Potomac
Gays at ITS base. the black sands of the Severn
(cretaceoas) formation. few feet of weathered
reddish brown sands of the pamunkey forma-
uon ,eocene) and thin cap OF Columbia
gravel The unconformaties between the Po-
tomac ana Severn and the pamunkey and Co
iumoia formation are well exhibited, but the
uneonformity between the Severn and pamun-
key formation is masked by the commincling
OF severn materials IN the base OF the pamun-
Key formation. The Potomac claws were found
to contain fragments of ignite and molluscan
casts were found in considerable profusion.
IN fact nearly all of the members presen. were
able 70 ind specimens. The natives were
somewhat bewildered at the curious excursion
ists, and the old lighthouse keeper. TO be on
the safe side, donned his uniform and made
himself conspicuous.
At COCKPIT POINT.
The party left at 1880 and stopped next at
Cockpit Point As there was no wharf at which
to land the boat was anchored out end the
party transferred to the shore by means small of
boats Inns place proved mos. interesting TO
the scientists. and hardly had they landed he
fore they made break Tor the hi IA bluffs and
were soon pounding away at the curious rocks
The railroad cuts afforded fine exposures. and
several specimens containing fragments of
fossh plants were obtained. One OF the scien-
lists, as nc hooked upon the peculiar formation,
declared that il looked exactly like place at
Hyths. England.
From here the party next visited Clifton
Beach. In this vicinity the Pamunkey forma-
tion occupies greater or less height in the
the river banks and it's richly fossiliferous
slaaconltic marls are finely dispayed Just
north OF the landing, and large number of
specimens were obtained. The scientists were
greatly interested in the exhibit
ropes creek was down on the schedule as
the last stopping place aud the excursionists
were quite anxious to get there as they ha1 un-
derstood that the most interesting formations
were found there.
THE Bluffs AT PoPE's cgr-x
Along the eastern side of the mouth of Port
Tobacco river is line of bluffs which extend
to milo below the mouth of Pope's creek.
These bluffs were examined. There were
found Psinunkey sands overlain by the Chesa-
peake formation, which is in turn capped By
Lafayette gravels. The contact between the
Pamunkey and Chesapeake formations il a
plane of unconformity. which inclines gently
eastward and carries the Pamunkey formation
below the water level short distance below
Pope's creek. Here were found gray infusorial
sands of the Chesapeake formation as well as
some beds richly diatomaceous and all the beds
contained molluscsn impressions and occa-
sionai bone fragments, and many specimens W, re
Obtained. The scientists expressed themselves
"a greatly interested in the exhibit at this point
The party returned TO the city about 1880
o'clock pm. Mr.. y. II. barton had charge of
the excursion and Capt. J. Harrison johnson
was present In person TO see thGt the trip was
as far as the arrangements were concerned, a
success. And they were.