New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-03
MEMORIES or PROFESSOR MARSH.
A CLAssMATE OF HIS TELLS OF THE
SCIENTISTS FIRST GREAT DISCOVERY.

SCIENTISTS FIRST GREAT DISCOVERY.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | read with keen interest your recent obitu-
airy sketch of the late eminent scientist. Professor
o. c Marsh. The able and comprehensive article
which YOU published stirred in my mind many
memories Of his boyhood for his classr1ate
and his almost daily companion during his academic
and collegiate life
Professor Marsh WIS born in Lockport. n. y, in
1881 HIS father native Of Danvers. Mass. RAD
moved cut to Western New-York about two years
before. carrying with MIN his young wife. Mary
Peabody. OF Salem Mass. who was a sister Of the
renowned banker George Peabody, OF London. u
was probably from his mother that Professor
Marsh inherited the characteristics which after
werd made him eminent. During his early child
hood the country around Lockport abounded IN
game and young Marsh early became keen
enortsman and the crack shot OF the region. The
blasting Of the great rock cut for the Erie Canal
near tho house Of Marsh's father Interested the
boy greatly; he picked up the crystals ana the
minerals which the powder blasts threw daily to
the surface and his taste for mneralogy and
kindred sciences was thus unconsciously formed
II was IN 1862 that his unc,e, the rich London
banker. offered to educate him and he made his
appearance at Phillips Academy, Andover dur
,rg the winter Of that year His education be-
fore that date had been limited. but he was Keen.
active A close applicant and very observing lie
took UP with great energy course OF
study entirely new to him. ana constantly $1,000 ~
the head OF his classes. He became favorite with
our stern old teacher Or. Samuel Taylor. and was
graduated with the highest honors Of the school In
1856 His influence among boys was always
predominant his keen knowledge Of human nature
and strong will always giving him the leadership
among
Ho entered Yale College in 1856 and during his
undergraduate course gave much time TO
scientific studies not In the curriculum. This was
his
hu+ others who devoted themselves 10 the pre-
scribed course surpassed him In rank the standing
OF Marsh al the time OF graduation was nlsh nut
not the highest. His great ability. especially as
scjentst was felt throughout the college world
and his future career was predicted by sagacious
and observing men In the social world he was a
great favorIte and he became prominent hgure
n, the partIes and entertainments given by New
Haven citizens to which were invited during our
senior year.
1t was my privilege TO accompany him IN one OF
the earliest scientific expeditions which ne ever
made In the summer OF 1855 we were together AZ
Parsboro ~ s. and toed with our hammers and
ob,sels cutting out the rich amethysts and other
minerals which are found on the shores OF the Bay
NJ Fundv We could work only at low tide, tho
high tides rising some sixty feet. making our po-
s,t,on dangerous If we remained on the pahK 100
long | was by Mr.. Marshs side when ne maze
b,s FIRST great scientific discovery. He picked up
two vertebrp and showed them TO me. with the re-
mark THAT is the backbone OF haltbut. lie
carried the fossil back 10 New-Haven IN to'ai
IGNORANCE Of its value. Years atterw"rd MS I'M
nroved scientific knowledge showed him that the
ycrtebra belonged to the eosaurus' creature OF
the most remote geologic period He published n
nomphlet calling attention TO his great discovery
and this was the beginning OF his scientmc repu'a-
ton.
This trip to Nova Scotia in 1855 was the hrs' OF
IN. thirty or more scientific expeditions which nc
aftervard conducted. and though he astonlshed
the world by his great finds Of fossils OF every
conceivable character he always referred with pride
and pleasure to this early discovery IL gave MN
~, g.. croa, s,ort W. l. L.
GloversvIe. n Y. March 20. 1893