The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-03

state of his adoption For fourteen
years he lived there the life of the
pioneer settler of the wild, untrodden
West Of one hundred years ago. He,
had never seen the sea, or ship, or
lighthouse. or wharf, or any large
body of water. He had never seen
barometer or a sextant or any nau-
teal instrument, but the sea called
him and he answered, Here am l."
In the year 1895 Sam Houston. the
hero of Texan independence. who rep
resented Tennessee in congress. Sc
cured for him an appointment as
midshipman in the navy, but owing
to the perilous experience of an older
brother in the service his father OBJ
jected and endeaSored TO thwart the
plan by refusing to give him the
money to travel. Fully determined,
the boy bargained with friendly
neighbo< for "a horse. and after hard
journey OF two weeks arrived at the
home Of relatives In Fredericksburg.
Va. Here he sold his horse, RENTED
the purchase price. and with nifty
cents in his pocket proceeded to Wash
ington. There he was assigned to the
man-of-wer where the "uiddies' re-
ceived instruction, there being at that
time no naval academy.
Maury's first service was in the old
frigate "Brandywine, which carried
Lafayette to France after his visit to
America. Then he Joined the sloop
oi-war 'iVincennes," and was on her
memorable four-year cruise around
the world. From the hour that he
trod the morning watch on the deck
of this United State sloop-of war his
original mind was studying the prob
lenas OF navigation suggested TO him
by the great and wide SOL, the secrets
of the deep. ana foremost among them
-
cut, the want OF trustworthy direc-
tons TO the mariner as to route OF
his ship, the lack of a government
academy for training her midshipmen
in the higher duties OF his profession,
the want of more lighthouses on the
coasts, the opening OF new waterways,
All Isthmian canal, the building of
more navy yards and maritime con-
ferences between the navies of the
world. the safety of seamsn. and the
advancement of science. During this
cruise ne conceived the idea of the
celebrated Wind and Current Charts
and Sailing Directions" which have
accomplished so much for the COM
N cree OF the world.
On his return to the United States.
in 1884. he published "Maury Savtga-
ton" amid discouragements that
would have damaged a iess dster-
teal work of science ever prepared
by a naval ofacer. and was noticed
most favcrably both at homo and
abroad. and was made a text book
for the United States navy. In IsA3
he was placed in charge of the depot
of charts and instruments In Wash
ington This office he developed into
the world renowned National OBJ
servatory and photographic Depart
ment Of the United States" and IT
was then that he projected his wind
end current charts with his sailing
directions.
The publication OF Mauryis charts.
showing with accuracy the meteoro-
logical survey OF the oceans, was
priceless boon 70 mariners. and short
er and safer passages were the re-
suit: they enabled the shipmasters to
cut the length OF their voyages TWEEN
ty-ave per cent.
proposition from him led TO the
conference OF maritime nations at
Brussels in 1883. to which Maury was
sent as the American representative.
From this imposing congress he re-
turned to Washington with five orders
Of knighthood conferred by the rulers
nj Belgium, Denmark. France, Portu
gal and Russia. and with many med
ais, among them the Humboldt cos
mos medal NO other American was
ever so honored by foreign poentates,
and no other man ever received any
decorations of honor with more mod
ssty''
His work was not wholly for the
beneat OF the sailor. He originated
and designed the system of weather
reports and forecasts of weather prob
abilities for the benefit OF the farmer
as well as for the mariner.
One of the most popular works of
Lieutenant Maury was his Physical
Geography OF the Sea-" which Hum
hoidt pronounced one of the most
charming and instructive books in the
English language, also declaring that
Maury had founded new science.
This book had a remarkable circula-
ion: in England alone tweny editions
were published. and il Was translated
into six foreign languages. He also
published four school Biographies,
which are now superseded by newer
works founded on his discoveries and
deductions. but in many instances no
credit Is given him.
Another great production. and the
last from his pen. was a vindication
of the South and Virginia. The book
concludes with this noble sentence:
Her sons died I'm the defense of their
country, their homes, and their
rights"
European societies and governments
We'd with each other in honoring him.
There la no lack of appreciation OF
Matthew Fontaine Maury save In his
own country Shall the South be
uhmindful OF the debt of obligation
and love that is due him and allow
the memory OF the Pathfinder of the
Seas to be neglected?
While occupying the honorable and
responsible position at the national
observatory war broke out between
the states. Maury showed no hesi-
fancy as to his conception Of duty.
He was a Southerner: he pinned his
faith to the land OF his fathers, fol-
lowing, like Lee, the dictates of his
conscience rather than the a1lurements
OF reward.
After his resignation from the OBJ
servatory he came to Virginia, and
was given the rank of commander in
the Confederate States navy and ap-
pointed ''chief of seacoast, harbor and
river defenses" The greater part of
his activity was directed to methods
OF torpedo warfare as means of de-
fepse, which proved so effectual that
our coast from Virginia to Texas was
protected by this great device OF de-