Evening star., 1924-03-12
B. A. COL0NNA DIES
At THE AGE Of g
Formerly for Years Identified
With Coast and Geodetic
Survey.

Benjamin A. Colonna, eighty-two
years old, former assistant in charge
Of the office of the coast and geodetic
survey, and at one time treasurer of
the Association Of the Oldest Inhabi-
tants. died yesterday 1T his home. 14o
b street northeast.
Funeral services are to be held at 2
o'clock tomorrow at the residence. Rev.
DR.. Harry D. Mitchell, pastor of the
Metropolitan Memorial NJ. Il. Church,
officiating. Interment is 10 be at Rock
Creek cemetery.
Mr.. Colonna, who had been connect
ed with the coast survey from 1870
until his resignation in 1895, took an
active interest in the National Capital.
AS member and officer of the Associa-
ton of Oldest Inhabitants he had much
to do with the establishment Of the
headquarters Of the association in the
old engine house at 18th and III streets.
Native of Virginia.
Mr.. Colonna was born in Acomac
county. Va. October II, 1S43. the son
of John Watson and Margarget Jones
Colanno. He was a descendant of
Owen Colanno, who emigrated from
England and settled on the eastern
shore Of Virginia about 1861. where the
male members of the family served in
the revolutionary war, the war of 1872
and the civil war.
He was educated in the Virginia
interest in that institution during his
life, having been member of the
Washington Alumni Association here
at the time of his death.
Mr.. Colonna was cadet captain in
the battle of New Market, Va, May
IA 1894 N 1870 nnf ha
service of the United States coast and
geodetic survey, being employed in
various duties and passing through
the various grades of the service.
duty on both the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts and in the interior.
While doing astronomical and
trieonometricai work in the Strait OF
Fuca, Wash. he was caught in an
avalanche of stone and ashes on
paralysis, from which he never COM
pletely recovered.
In this condition, with mind active
and alert, he was assigned to duty as
geodetic survey Office here, which
office he held until 1885.
Urges Steel Floating Docks.
Later Mr.. Colonna went to Norfolk
and assisted his brother, Charles j.
Colonna, in the construction of a
large marine railway. This led to
his taking up the study of steel
floating dry docks, and to his advocat-
ing them for adoption for docking
ships Of the merchant marine and
the Navy.
He was invited by Senator Chand
ler to appear before the Senate COM
mittee on naval affairs to give them
the benefit of his knowledge on the
subject He had the satisfaction of
seeing an appropriation made in 1893
for the steel floating dry dock at
New Orleans.
He was married November ), 1890
to Miss Fannie Bindon Bailey. the
ceremony taking place in the Metro
politan Memorial NJ. E. Church. Mr.
Colonna, in addition to the organiza-
tions named, was a charter member
of the Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution here and a life
member OF Eureka Lodge. F. A. A
NJ. Of Elizabeth City, \. c..
His Surviving Family.
Besides his wife he is survived by
the following: Three daughters
Mrs. Thomas r. Mitchell. Mrs. Will
liam p. Tate and Miss Flora Colonna-
and two sons, B. Allison Colonna OF
New York and Second Lieut. John
0. Colonna, United States Engineer
Corps, Fort Humphreys, Va; a bro
ther, Maj. D. Colonna, Tampa, Fla,
and a sister. Mrs. Elizabeth T.
Jones of this city.