Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-01-13
STILL PRAISE
COOKS MAPS
MARINES AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
FIND NOTED SEE CAPTAINS
CHARTS VALUABLE.
III Fated Sailor Makes Surveys over
Entire Globe.

Today, photography Is looked upon
as the most important science, and
without the hydrographer's efforts IL
would not be possible, except under
very great danger TO navigation, of
the very large vessels to penetrate
the waters of the world, and to carry
on navigation as it is conducted at
the present time.
Today tlfe physical features of all
laVisable streams are carefully
placed upon charts, the task is simple
and devoid of risk. Governments of
all nations prepare the most elaborate
charts and maps showing the en-
act location and condition of all
of the sea bottom, the position of
shadows, deeps, reefs and the direc.
tion and volume of currents.
The nrst step in the modern science
of photography was accomplished in
the fifteenth century by nenry The
Navigator" who was the first to COLI
struct sea chart worthy of the
name. But very little in this line was
accomplished until Capt. James Cook
of the English navy commenced his
long career of ocean surveying in
1859.
Capt. Cooks first work was the
mapping of the st. Lawrence river
and bay from Quebec 10 the ocean,
which he accomplished while stu
TONED with the fleet cooperating
with Gen. Wolfe in the waters upon
Quebec. Four years later he was
sent to survey the coast of New.
foundland, and the following year he
performed a similar duty for the
coast of Labrador, and thereafter he
continued similar photography OBJ
servations wherever he was ordered
until his death in 1873.
Cooks chart in the region of New
foundland and Labrador were so well
done, and were of such valuable serv-
ice that even to the present day they
are recognized as possessing great ac-
curacy, and give fair grounds for the
belief that he might, under other cir
cumstances, have proved himself as
eminent as surveyor as he actually
did as an explorer.
Cook spent practically his whole
life at sea. He navigated every part
of the globe, discovering many new
islands, and correcting many false
ideas regarding the outlines of con-
tinents, and best of all, he was able
to leave the result of his work on
tions so that the work of those who
followed him was practically easy.
1t was Capt Cook who established
our knowledge of the South Pacific on
a substantial basis. In fact, the maps
of that part of the world still remain
essentially as he left them, though, of
course, much has been done in per
fecting the details.
Cook was at the head of the first eX
pedition to make a serious attempt to
discover passage around the north
of America. 1t was during this at
tempt that he lost his life. Having
reached the Sandwich Islands, his
crew got into alterations with the na-
tives. After some depredations, the
gallant captain himself landed at Ha-
waii and resolved TO bring the king on
board his vessel as hostage.
The king readily consented to go,
but his family and the islanders gen.
orally prevented him. They showed
fight, and the marines escaped to the
boat, and as Cook was attempting to
do likewise he was stunned by blow
as his back was turned, and as he
sank on his knees he was stabbed,
his crew made way and the body of
their captain was left in the hands of
the savages.
Cooks body was mutilated by
the savages, but the most of it was
given up day or two afterwards and
duly buried. In November, 1874, an
obelsk to his memory was erected il
the immediate neighborhood Of the
spot where he fell, but the truest and
best memory that survives is his map
of the Pacific.
door coast, the French, who had been
careful observers of it, in 1875 sent
out two ships under La Perouse and
corps of scientists to visit the
northwest coast of America, and to
explore other parts. After spending
two years and half Perouse went 10
Botany bay, after which he was never
heard from, except that information
that was forthcoming seven or eight
years afterward, which made it proba-
BILE that the ships were wrecked on the
reef on the coast OF Mallicollo.
La Perouse had, however, sent du-
plicates of charts and journals up 20
the time of his arrival at Botany hay.
The work done by these early English
and French navigators was initiated
by those of other nations, and now
practically every civilized nation, as
L.