Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-30
The Famous Scientist Dies
On Board Steamer.
Death a Surprise and Shock
To Friends and Relatives.
Authority on Marine Animals and
Deep Water Soundings.

Boston, March 29.-Prof Alexander
AgassiZ of Harvard University. the
president of the Calumet & Hccla Min .
ing Co., Gied on board The steamer
Adriatic yesterday afternoon, while
iourneyin. from southampton to New
York. News of the famous scientist;
death was received in a wireless mes
sage today by Major Henry l.. Higgins
son Of this city, Il brother-in-law of
Prof. AgassiZ. The message came from
Prof. Agassiz's son, Max, who was ac-
conpanying his father.
The news OF Prof. AgassiZ'S death
came as a great surprise and shock to
his friends and relatives. He was heard
from frequently since he went abroad
about New Years time and so far as
mis- intiTateS knew, he was in the best
Of health. Not since his departure for
Europe had any word been received
that would indicate that Prof AgassiZ
was suffering from any ailment. Prof.
Agassizs last trip took him to Egypt
and the countries bordering on the
Mediterranean sea.
Alexander Agassiz, son Of the famous
naturalist, Professor Jean Paul Louis
RodOlphe AgassiZ, was born at Neucha-
tel, Switzerland. Dec II. 1865. He came
to the United States when IA wears old
and was graduated from Harvard Col
lege with the degree of bachelor of
arts in 1886, receiving the degree of
bachelor of science from the Lawrence
Scientific school two years later. In
1859 he was a member of the United
states coast survey in California and
the following year he became an assist
ant in the department of zoology at
Harvard. A few years later he devel-
oped the copper mines of the Calumet
d Hecla Co. and for years was super
intendert OF the mines He had con-
Quoted several scientific expeditions TO
SoIth America, where ne inspected the
Peruvian copper mines and made sur
veys Of Lake Tilicaca. He had also
headed expeditions in many quarters of
the slcbe, where a special study of
marine plant and animal life was made.
hct"een 1874 and 1885 he was curator
OF the University Museum at Harvard
and since 1902 had been director of the
museum. his gifts to which have ex-
ceeded 100000. He was appointed a
member of the Order of Merit by the
German emperor in 1902 and was made
an officer in the Legion of Honor of
France in 1886. In addition he belong
Ell to the academies of science of Paris
London, Vienna Munich, Rome, Stock
hoIm and Copenhagen and had served
as president of the National Academy
OF Sciences and the American Academy
OF Arts and Sciences. He was the an
tnof OF numerous works on geological
subjects as we'll as accounts of his
many scientific expeditions.
He was married in 1860 to Miss anna
Russell
Prof. Agassiz was the greatest authori-
ty in the world on marine animals and
deep water sOundings. having made sew
erai extensive voyages of exploration and
investigation in the Atlantic, Pacific and
Indian oceans. largely at his own cost. In
1889 Prof. Agassiz and a party of trained
scientists made a 20,0O0-mile trip in the
Pacific ocean in the steamship Albatross
built for the United States fish commits
sion and given to this expedition of in
Vestigation by the government RMS
cruise was for the special purpose of deep
sea researches.
In 1904 Prof. Agassiz planned another
cruise in the Albatross for deep sea
soundings when he was approached by
friend of Andrew Carnegie with the
suggestion that the steel king was ready
to assist the enterprise with $4,000 cash
down and prospect of $4,000 more, the
expedition to be known to the public as
the 'Carnegie-Agassiz expedition" He
Informed the messenger that the money
would be found elsewhere, and the enter
prise was known publicly as the "Agassiz
scientific cruise
Prof. Agassiz went to Africa in 1905 and
penetrated to its very heart in exploring
Its cataracts. deserts. its ancient ruins
and its wonderful flora and fauna Prof.
Agassiz also made a scientific investiga-
ton of the Messina earthquake
Prof. Agassiz held more than 5000 shares
OF Calumet &. Hecla stock. At one time
the stock was quoted at 81 share and
many sold it when it reached S.. TODAY