The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-14
A FREAK OF FATE.
Descent i'm Life of Former Chief OF
the Weather Bureau.

the Weather Bureau.
Ann Arbor Special in Detroit Journal
once a professor Of astronomy In the
University OF Michigan at $500 a year. q
writer of textbooks that are authoritative;
later president Of the University OF W ASH
ington at $4,000 year; still later chief OF
the weather bureau of the United States.
to-day a common lumber Jack" earning
$50 per day at Port Blakely, Wash, such
in brief is the sorrowful story of Mark w.
Harrington's life. once the proud editor Of
the American Meteorological Journal, now
the handler of a peavy. A freak OF fate
swept him from the top shelf sTts, Insignia
canoe.
1t was not dissipation nor any romantic
episode that brought Harrington TO his
present lowly station In the world. 1t was
1t is said that while a professor at Ann
Arbor he could rarely find rest IN sleep
more than one or two hours of the twenty
four. This strain on his system gradually
broke him down as a sound thinker.
Mark Harrington came 10 Ann Arbor
from sycamore, III In 1864 as student
masters degree three years later. in the
meantime acting curator for the mu-
scum. Then he became instructor IN mathe-
MATES, and from there he was transferred
to an assistant professorship I'm geology.
zoology and botany. In 1873 he was. made
professor OF astronomy and director OF the
observatory.
While instructing the undergraduates OF
Ann Arbor in astronomy he pursued his in
vestgations along the line Of higher maths-
mates and wrote several works which are
now used as textbooks throughout the
United States. Here he remained until 1891.
when he was made chief of the weather
bureau of the United States. During this
year he was vice president OF the interna-
tonai meteorological congress at Munich.
whose members came from all parts of the
world. He held this nOSiffOn In
somnia commenced TO tell on him. and IL n
said that his charts commenced 10 be un-
reliable.
Then he went TO the State of WASH
ington as president OF the university there
change came during the year 1896. in
which the former administration was re-
offices. The president OF the university was
never a politician. and on that account
lost the presidency.
Harrington then came East and remained
for some months at Ann Arbor. Thence he
journeyed TO the Orient. Misfortune still
pursued him. In Hong-Kong he had
severe attack of scarlet fever He arose
from his bed penniless. He finally secured
money by tutoring 10 buy passage to
this country.
Gradually he drifted TO the South. so
poor in purse and so toilworn I'm appear
ance that he was too proud 10 hunt up his
former friends Thus he went TO work on
sugar plantation I'm Louisiana. Side by
side with negroes and poor whites, he la
bored in the cane fields and at the great
Finally he drifted back 10 WASHINGTON
and took up a homestead claim and began
the life of hermit in the midst OF a heavy
fir forest near Sumas. Later he went TO
Port Blakely and secured the position OF
night Waterman at the lumber mills.
The former university president now lives
In a cabin built from slabs sawed from the
outer faces of great FIR logs. IL contains
but one room, and that a small one. IL is
furnished with a couple Of chairs, a table,
stove and a bedstead a shelf made from
rough lumber which is nailed TO the wall
over the rude table II piled high with
books. They are scientific treatises on
mathematics, astronomy and botany.
Each morning Mark Harrington rises,
bathes and cooks his breakfast. IL rs coarse
food-the food all millmen eat. Then he
packs his lunch bucket. dons his canvas
jumper and heavy spiked boots and starts
for the yard. At present he works among
the floating logs Peavy in hand, along
with a gang of rough giants whose speech
is marked by profanity and coarse jest,
he does his share in carting the fallen for
est giants into their places.
At night he digs into his books away from
the uncouth and illiterate mill hands. II 20
said that his outdoor life is making him
strong, hardy, ambitious. and that he now
gets his regular sleep.
He has hopes OF once more taking hin
conspicuous place in the scientific and IN
tellectual world.
Mrs Harrington its living with one Of her
sisters in New York city.