New-York tribune., 1906-07-08
A VERSATILE SCIENTIST.

Professor Henry A. Ward whose career was
ended in a tragic manner last week by an auto
mobile, was a man Of varied scientific tastes
and usefulness. Early in life he was a natu-
raliSt, geOlOgist and paleontologist. He enjoyed
exceptional opportunities for examining the
fossil remains Of extinct animals in this coun-
try and Europe The forms of these objects his
mechanical and artistic skill enabled him to re-
produce in plaster and otherwise. He was thus
impelled to build UP in Rochester, which until
eight or ten years ago was his home the in
dustTy of making models for others to study
Collections Of these were supplied TO no fewer
than a hundred museums. So accurate were
his copies that they could be safely trusted by
those who used them and who had no chance
to see the originals. MI. HOrnaday, who is at
the head OF the New York Geological Gardens
has expressed the opinion that in this depart
ment of activity Professor Ward performed a
greater service than any twenty other men
whom he could name
The passion to the qualification of which Pro-
fessor Ward devoted much time and zeal dur
ing his later years was the making Of what is
pronounced by experts to be the finest collec-
ton of meteoric stones in the world. When it
is added that for several years he occupied
chair in the University Of Rochester and that
he possessed fine commercial talent it will be
seen that he was endowed with a most unusual
combination Of faculties.
Large collections Of meteorites are rare, but
they possess a peculiar interest Unlike ter
restrial minerals and even terrestrial gems
they come from outer space and to reach the
earth must travel incalculable distances. Their
chemical constituents hint at the probability,
suggested also by the spectrum of the sun and
stars, and among all the bodies composing
the visible universe there exists a close knship
They strengthen the belief that the remotest
Ts..H-A 80
is made of the very same materials as the globe
from which the astronomer surveys it.
The pecuniary value Of such astronomical ma
terial as Professor Ward so laboriously brought
together depends on a number of things. In
the first place, genuine specimens are much
scarcer than Is popularity supposed. The vast
majority Of the objects which enter the atmos-
phere during a meteoric shower or are seen
singly at other times are hardly bigger than
grains Of sand. Friction with the air renders
them incandescent and therefore visible mo-
mentarily, but it reduces them to impalpable
dust. The stones which are large enough to
withstand that ordeal are few and far between
Only a small proportion Of them are ever dis
| covered. Perhaps one may break into pieces
which will be distributed somewhat widely. If
hese are not found until long after their ar
1ivai, they might be supposed to have been de.
posted at different times Again. some me-
teoric stones are so large that they can be sub
divided into almost countless specimens. 1t is
asserted, however, that fewer than seven hun
dred well atteSted falls are on record Profes-
sor Ward brought together, and there are now
on exhibition at the Museum Of Natural His
tory in this city, representatives, Of 609 which
is nearly fifty more than the next largest and
most famous collection in the world-that in
Vienna-contains. There are a number of tests
by which an expert judges the character of
what appears to be meteorite, but it, in addi-
ton to the evidence which these afford, the col
lector can obtain indisputable proof that it's
fall was observed he prizes it more highly than
otherwise. Largely for the sake of securing
such testimony Professor Ward made many
long journeys, some of which were undertaken
in vain When they were successful he felt
amply repaid for the time and money required
for purposes of verifcation.
The Tribune learns that for a year or two
before his death Professor Ward had been en-
gagged in the preparation of a work relative to
meteorites and that at least two more years
would have been necessary to finish it. IL his
notes are in such shape that completion by
others is yet possible, the worlds indebtedness
to him will be still further increased.