In the original letter shown below, followed by my translation into English of the highlighted passage, the tragedy of Friedrich Miescher is conveyed beautifully…
‘One of his former students compared him to a ship laden with priceless treasure that, just as it is returning to the harbour, sinks to the bottom of the sea.’
From ‘Die Histochemischen und Physiologischen Arbeiten von Friedrich Miescher’ (‘The Histochemical and Physiological Work of Friedrich Miescher’ compiled by Wilhelm His, 1897, Leipzig); p.2.