The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-13
Had Enjoyed Excellent Health Up 10
a Few Weeks Ago,
STORY OF HER INT ERESTING LIFE
A Native of Fredericksburg q IL q
Member OF a Virginia Family
Distinguished in Peace and
War How She Met
Her HuSband-Hcr
l. am ly.

Mrs. Ann Herndon Maury, widow of
Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maur9,
died yesterday at 6 r M, at the resi-
dence of her son-iD-law. Mr.. James II.
Werth, No. 3IS East Main Street, at the
advanced age OF ninety years.
Mrs. Maury had enjoyed remarkably
good health until eight weeks ago, when
symptoms of failing strength became
more marked The decline had been
gradual and easy. and the illness of the
past few weeks, for the most part with
out suffering.
SKETCH OF HER LIFE.
Mrs Niaury was the daughter OF the
late Dabney Hcrndon, ESQ., for many
wears cashier of the Farmers Bank of
Fredericksburg, Va, and a prominent
and honored citizen Of that town durnS
the first half OF the last century ttis
brother, Dr. Dabncy iierndon, u noted
physician of Richmond, gained 4 repu-
tation and name not confined BY munlci-
pal and State lines by his heroic services
during the yellow fever epidemic IN
Mobile in the early fifties. Two brothers,
Judge John NJ. Iierndon and Judge
Charles Herndon, Were lawyers of the
first standing, and gentlemen of Fred
ericksburg, well known in Richmond as
well.
Another brother Captain William
Lewis Herndon, of the American Navy,
the Livingston Of South America
In the long roll OF iliustrious sons which
Virginia has offered to the public service.
there is no more heroic figure than that
of this daring young naval officer, who,
in the face OF the greatest obstacles and
dangers, explored the great basin of the
-Alnazon-a vast territory up to that time
entirely unlluown-and 4 year or two
later gave up his life rather than i'm
peril the lives entrusted TO his charge.
EXPLORED THE AMAZON VALLEY.
The Government at Washington in the
early tiftieS desired to Investigate the com
rnerciai possibilities Of the Amazon Valley,
Two expeditions were sent ont, which re-
suited in failure, so impaSsiible seemed
The barrier which the Andes offered in
Peru and Bolivia For Il third and last
effort 10 cross the continent Lewis Helll-
dan was selected. This intrepid young
Yoyager of the seas was not TO bc 1atNlted
by The terrors of the land. BCldly his
little party pushed in from the coast OF
Peru. and after the three years OF the
most thrilling experiences with the hos
Tile nations OF Peru and Brazil. and the
equally hostile mountain torrents ana
irackless plains which they encountered,
they reached the Atlantic. Captain Hern-
don-s book on the Amazon and his travels
in South America was the firSt OF long
line of works OF modern travel
In the fall of 1857. Captain HernGon was
IN command of the great New York and
Panama steamship Central America,
the law at that time requiring that 4
naval officer command on this important
route which 7yas then the line 10 and from
u0nl shin had WFatlErJhsi
many a storm. bur il met lis lasI gale OIL
Cape Hatteras. y long battle to save the
ship was OF no avail. by heroic efforts
aerndon succeeded III getting has pas
,senserS TO a. place OF .=afetE. Iherc was
no room for another in the boats, ana
and the captain chose to remain with ms
vessel TO the last After the boats had
left and il was only the question of .
short time, Tierndon went 10 hs CABIN
and put on the full dress uniform OF =
captain in the American navy y BOAT
returned for him, but he ordered ii away
rather than endanger the lives Of its
crew T he boat had hardly drawn oil
TO a place OF safety. wnen the "Centrai
America went down. its captain. in fun
uniform on the quarterback. salnting as
if on parade. Tie daughter and only child
OF Captain IIerndon became the wife OF
President Chester y. Arthur
SHE MET HER HUSBAND.
Lieutenant Matthew Foataine Iaury.
younc officer III the navy, unknown, and
without means or friends. while journey
ing to meet his ship al Norfolk, met his
cousin. Ann Herndon, at Fredericksburg.
The most doughty warriors SURRENDER,
ana when next that man Of way cast
anchor in American waters Matthew
aIaury and Ann fterndon were married
II is said that for performing this SCI
vice the Rev DR. Mcguire received the
last ten dollars Maury had in the world.
His first work on navigation was pub
lished a few months later Mrs Maufy
and her children remained IN freGericAs-
burg a beautiful tradition OF the t&EliiE
is that on ltlc cabin walls Of this young
nfticer. above The charts and drawings, on
which were sketched fer the first time
-ha movements of the t.eavenS above ana
or the waters beneath, hung TWO little
SHOES thai told of patterinS feet in
far-away Virginia home
By fan Commodore Marry Was IN,
csnac;tated from further sea duty OF
his work at the Washington Observatory
during the years preceding 'he Wal ''ii
the world knows
When thc war broke out Matthew
N;t,,.v was the most famous officer in the
American service. His work had reNoln'
tionized and provided new basis Tor the
whole science of navigation, and a new
starting point for The study OF sea anu
air. Foreign Governments recognized the
Importance OF his work, and the United
states Government offered him every in
ducepert 10 remain in its service. To nc
one was the temptation presented ic
izeener form at this testing time than te
Matthew Maury. He cast in> his lot with
his native state. however. and served her
faithfully and well. Mrs Manry and ile1
children during the Years of the war lived
IN Fredericksburg and Charlottesville, ana
afterwards went 10 London, where they
were joined by Commodore Maury after
the war 1t was some time before the
disabilities Of Confederate naval officers
were removed. but when this was done
Commodore Maury was elected to pro.
fessorship at the Virginia Military Insti-
tute. whore he lived with his family until
II L., ..x.s,r -sxa.. araf iaS -