CONFEDERATES TO SEE MONUMENT FOR MAURY

Cornerstone Will Be Laid During Annual Reunion in Richmond This Month—”Pathfinder of Seas” Will Be Remembered.

Richmond, Va, June 18.-Survivors, of the Confederate States navy are expected to take an unusually prominent part in the 32nd annual reunion of the United Confederate veterans, which will be held here on June 20, 21 and 22. One of the most impressive ceremonies incident to the reunion will be the laying of the cornerstone of a monument to Matthew Fontaine Maury, “Pathfinder of the Seas.”

“We have done so much for the Confederate soldiers,” said Gen. W.B. Freeman, chairman of the program committee, “that all of us are agreed, that it is high time to pay some particular tribute to the Confederate sailor.” Gen. Jo Lane Stern, chairman of the reunion committee, and many other prominent veterans who followed Lee and Jackson, Pettigrew and Pickett and sailed with Seemes and Buchanan, also think that the Confederate navy deserves special recognition. this will undoubtedly be the last big reunion of the old South’s heroes in Richmond, it was deemed advisable this year to give a conspicuous place on the program to the heroic part played in the Confederate war by the Confederate navy.

General Freeman announced that June 22, the last day of the reunion and the date of the great parade and review, has been selected as the time for the cornerstone laying of the Maury monument.

Actual details of this important reunion feature will be in charge of the Maury association and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The initial movement for the erection of a memorial in Richmond to Commodore Maury was launched by the Maury association. The association undertook to raise funds for building and placing this monument when its work was interrupted in 1917 by the entry of the United States into the World war. Since the close of the war the Maury association found the task of collecting between $50,000 and $60,000 an enormous one and almost despaired of success until the Daughters of the Confederacy, after repeated requests by Mrs. E. E. Moffitt, president of the Maury association, promised to lend a helping hand by pledging their organization to raise a grand total of not less than $60,000 to build the Maury monument.

Mrs. Frank Anthony Walke of Norfolk was appointed by the Daughters to act as the director in charge of the movement to produce the money. Mrs. Walke surrounded herself with assistants from every U. D. C. divi-sion, which means that every state is now engaged in giving its share toward this fund.

Of the money already in hand, the state of Virginia, by legislative action, appropriated $10,000. Just a year ago Virginia school children gave a total of $1,900. Charles R. Crane, former minister to China, is rated among the largest individual contributors, having pledged himself to give $500.

F. William Sievers of Forest Hill, Virginia’s noted sculptor, has already been approved and accepted by the Maury association.

On Monument Avenue.

This great memorial will stand on Monument avenue, at Belmont, not

far west of the imposing bronze figure of “Stonewall” Jackson. The Maury association has already marked the spot where the monument will ‘ be erected.

While the veterans will attend the cornerstone laying, the actual ceremonies will be conducted with Masonic rites by Meridian lodge, No. 284, A. F. and A. M.

Within the cornerstone every division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy will deposit a tiny Confederate flag and a list of its officers. Mr. Sievers is said to have molded a happy conception of the immortal Maury, who will stand in heroic bronze as the great scientist he was.

Among the Huguenot families scattered by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the Fontaines and Maurys came to Virginia. From Matthew Maury and Mary Anne Fontaine was descended Matthew Fontaine Maury. His grandfather, the Rev. James Maury, became interested in the great unexplored country of the Northwest, when the discovery of the Mississippi river was reported. The son of James Maury married Miss Minor and lived in Spottsylvania county, where Matthew Fontaine Maury was born in 1806 upon ground rendered historic from having been the birthplace of this man of science and peace and the spot upon which death was dealt to Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson, hero and warrior.

While Matthew Maury was but an infant, the family moved to Tennessee to enter upon the hardships of pioneer life. Among Maury’s teachers was Mr. Otey, afterwards bishop of Tennessee

When Sam Houston obtained for Matthew Maury the appointment of a midshipman the latter’s father object-ed, and refused to pay any part of his son’s expenses, but the undaunted youth borrowed a horse and made his way to Virginia, where fortune led him to the home of Miss Ann Herndon, whom he afterwards married. Orders soon came for him to sail as a midshipman on the Brandywine, about to convey La Fayette home.

Suffers Serious Injury.

While journeying to New York to report for duty Lieutenant Maury was

thrown from a coach and seriously injured.

As this injury incapacitated him for active service, the position was given

him of superintendent of charts and instruments, out of which grew the national observatory at Washington.

Another proof of the genius which inspired this mind a found in the progressive and lasting nature of his efforts; out of his book on navigation grew the naval academy at Annapolis. He also persuaded American farmers that they would benefit greatly if a system of daily telegraphic reports on wind and weather be sent to a central office and there digested, and out of his plan grew the weather bureau of today.

The congress of nations was first assembled to honor Matthew Fontaine Maury for his tremendous scientific discoveries.

Lieutenant Maury was engaged in peaceful pursuits, such as delighted his great heart, honored  by all nаtion, promoting science and commerce increasing the benefits of the national observatory, his astronomical investigations deepening in interest, graphical writings maturing, and he, at the zenith of his glory, exerting his power for good to the utmost when Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation shook the land.

The clear call of Virginia was heard. Lieutenant Maury, with Col. Robert E. Lee and a band of heroes resolutely answered the call of their mother state. When Maury requested his private secretary to write his resignation, the latter attempted to comply, but after several trials, with tearful eyes, extended his hand to the faithful officer, declaring he could not write the words which would such a tender tie and silently left the room. No sooner was this action made known than the Grand Duke Constantine offered the scientist a position in St. Petersburg, with princely means for prosecuting his researches. France, whence his ancestors had been banished as heretics, now urgently requested him to carry on his investigations within her realm. The French and Russian ministers carried both invitations through the federal lines by flag of truce. All such suggestions were set aside, and no sooner had this loyal son reached the South than he was appointed one of a council to advise with Governor Letcher concerning the arming of Virginia. In 1862, these duties being performed, the Confederate government appointed Commander Maury, chief of coast, harbor and river defense. He assisted in fitting out the Merrimac, and was sent to England to gather material for torpedo defense of the South Atlantic coast and equipped armed cruisers while abroad.

Goes to Mexico.

By 1865, material was secured and transported to the Confederacy, and Commander Maury turned his face homeward, but on reaching  Cuba heard of the fall of the Confederacy. With none to consult, an alien in his own land, Commodore Maury determined to go to Mexico where he was warmly welcomed by Maximilian,

whose plans for the improvement of his people interested Maury. He was appointed director of the imperial observatory in Mexico and made commissioner of  immigration which caused many Southern people to join  their old comrade south of the Rio Grande. Here as elsewhere a permanent result remains to mark his sojourn.

When danger threatened Maximilian’s empire, the emperor sent Commodore

Maury to London, ostensibly in the interest of the observatory. Norwegian, Danish and French officers went to learn from a Virginian the application of electricity for propelling torpedoes. Napoleon III invited him to become a Frenchman and enter his service, but, although the United States might fix a price on his head, no offer could tempt him to serve from his loyalty to Virginia.

The disabilities of Commodore Maury being removed in 1868 he returned to Virginias various offers of employment were made to him, but all declined in favor of the chair of physics at the Virginia Military Institute. In Lexington, he and General Lee laid down he sword and staff of office and took up the task of educating the youth of Virginia.