Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-22
CAPT. CROSBY DEAD j
Civil War Veteran and Ma
tionaI Museum GeoIogist.
WAS,EIGHTY-SIX. YEARS OLD
Travelled All Over thA World Col
Letting Specimens.
ILL ONLY A FEW DAYS
Stricken With Pneumonia, His Re-
covery Was Despaired Of
From the First.

Capt. Francis w Crosby, geologist, and
FOR many years a collector of geological
specimens from different sections of the
world for the National Museum, died
| about 1890 O'Clock this morning from
pneumonia at. his home, Sd and c streets
Capt Crosby was stricken several days
ago. and on account of his extreme age
and emac4ated condition. incident to i'll
health for the past several years, his
condition was regarded as exceedingly
grave from the start. About him at the
| time of his death this morning were
gathered members of his immediate fam
lily. He was eighty-six years of age.
| The deceaseds profession was that OF
| geologist and mining engineer, and he
| has been prominently identified with sci
entific work from his early manhood.
| He had an enviable record in the civil
| war IS a member of the 10th Iowa Vol
unteer Infantry, serving under Gems Ere
mont, Howard. Grant and Logan in some
of the severest battles of the war. He
was wounded four times and rose from
| the rank of private successfully to that
Of captain. which rank he held at the
time of Gen Lees surrender.
One of the priced treasures In the
Crosby home is gold watch presented
to the deceased during Sherman's march
to the sea- when the then Lieut.. Crosby
succeeded in saving the home of c. III.
Baldwin of Columbia, S. c., from raiders
torches. Mr.. Baldwin presented the watch
to Capt. Crosby for his generous act.
Had Travelled Extensively.
Shortly after the close of the war
Capt. Crosby took up active work as ee-
ologist collector for the National Mu-
scum, and in the forty years of travelling
which followed he visited every state of
the Union one or more times, the terri
tories and foreign lands. Several times
he made important trips to South Amer
lea and Europe.
known cave and cavern throughout the
world He has also visited every known
volcano and has made three examina-
tions of Vesuvius. He has also given
much study to earthquakes. His col
lection Of minerals. fossils. shells and
curios is one of the largest in the Ma
tional Museum in this city. He has
visited Panama several times, and only
last fall, Notwithstanding his advanced
age, revisited the isthmus so that he
Native of New York.
Capt. Crosby was born in Schenectady
N. Y. July %. 1923, and obtained his
education in northern institutions Of
ieaiHihs. <Apiii D. Ao1'' ho Aiai ECU hiS
wife, who survives him.. The cele-
bration of the sixtieth anniversary Of
their wedding was held last April In
the Crosby home. Through his entire
professional career the deceased at
tributed his success to the influence
and advice of his wife. Their married
life of three score years was ideal in
it's happiness and mutual faith.
Capt. Crosby was the father Of six
children, three of whom are living. They
are Mrs. George e. Marsh of Colorado,
Prof Otis Crosby of Boston. and Mrs.
j. B. Mccarthy of this city. The fol-
lowing are grandchildren: Irving Crosby
of Boston, J. Crosby Mccarthy, r. En-
NETT Mccarthy and Leland Stanford Nc
Carthy of thisS city. land Mrs. Henry S.
Parsons of Takoma ], Park. There are
also three Observation-Disclosures.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
been completed