Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-11-13


distribute 10 the memory oft dead and to the
merits of the survivors at the Gosport navy yard.
II presents striking picture Of the harvest of death
during the prevalence Of the late epidemic, when
the victims were gathered not one al time, but in
roups:
Mn. EDIros :. As euIogy upon the lives and
characters of our friends and fellow-GitizenS who
have departed we'll upon The aeIiOTs Of tue
living who have passed Though the dreadful
ScouIge with which we have been recently visited,
is unfortunately, though appropriately, the order
Of the day, feel deSiruuS 10 pay passing tribute
to the memory Of 'me who were attached 10 this
yard, aud 10 nuteIthe noble conduct of otheISiw no
have braved the storm. would that the pen OF
an able scube--Such an one as Your c"Trespon-
dent S.-weTe welded in this sacred and humane
cause; for am conscious Of my inability Ia do
justice to the memory Of the dead or the actions of
Tie living.
FIST sneak of Commodore Isaac NIcKEEvER.
Could you have seen him when day after day the
death Of one civil officer ate another was report
ed TO hm. men quitting their posts. his own clerks
falling around him, amid sppeals tron those less
consIdera;e than himself to close the yard, you
would have seen not only the man who has borne
aloit in triumph the flag Of his country, but Une
willing 20 sacrifice health and even life lor the
cause OF suffering humanity, rather than Con-
tribute by any act Of his 10 the alarming calami
ty around him; for he well knew that 10 close the
yard was but deepen the gloom and aggravate the
suffering of thrse who could not leave. am salts
fed that there has never been commandment on
tn station more universally respected as an Of
6cer or beloved as man tnan Com nodore Nc
Keeyer.
Capt. BARRON, our then Executive officer, who
had recently returned from Washington, was in the
early stage Of the epidemic forced from the bed
side Of his dying companion nj hurried to the hos
pitnl with the lever upon him. What touching
scene was this! TO be torn from the fond though
deathly embrace OF On aIectiOnate vile with the
expt citation OF soon MEETING her III the Splnt-land
We may imagine his feelings, but no pen can AN
sure, adequately describe them. Capt. B is so uni
verSalIy appreciated in our communities and by
the employees Of this yard as kind heated gentle
man and high-mIned officer that need not say one
word in his praise. We deeply SymPatlIize with
him in the loss Of his devoted wife and accomplish
ell daughter. Had he not been thus afflicted he
no doubt would have remained al his post, as all
tue other commissioned officers did, until stricken
down by disease called away to minister to the
sick and dy -ng. We thank the Author Of all our
meIcieS for Sparing him to his country and hmmani
ty; and may he, with all such, be ultimately gar
nered above, and enjoy the unalloyed pleasures Of
Just men made perfect!
said above that all the other commissioned OIL
Gers remained at their posts. should have said
the other officers; for not more than two or three
left aud that in the advanced stage Of the sickness
wien lhelt departments were allOStI u not al'o-
gether, iorSaken by The men. Well may Mi. Dob
bin say that the Department feels secure with such
men duty.
Mr.. H,krr, our able naval constructor, passed
through the thickeSt of The fight unScathed leading
where any dared 10 foIow-being both night aud
day engaged in attending 10 the wants OF the liv
ing and 6urying the deau: Appropriate name is his
Tor a bigger or a mole benevolent heart does not
animate the form OF man. When we see man,
who could leave with little or no pecunlary sacrI-
fee, battling with such an insidious enemy and
seeking only 10 do good, we cannot refrain from
speaking Of II though conscious Of our inability 10
Ito MIN justice.
The other officers OF the yard are worthy of the
trusts committed 10 them, and manifested devO-
ten to duty aud regard fur the suffering TO be
surpassed. Such cUrpS Of navaI officers We
have are an ornament 10 their profession, and have
the respect and gratitude Of the Survivors OF
dread calamity.
or the eleven civil officers who remained stead
lastly to their duty, seven have falen-N. N. IA
TEN, timber Inspector, recently appointed; PAT
RICK WILLIAMS, master house Joiner; joins NER-
MILLION, master bOat-buildeT; JOmN B. DAVIS,
master spar- makeT; RICHARD WILLIAMS, master
mason; CHARLES MYERS, master plumber; CmAs
CASsELs, master Sailmaker. The families Of some
of these gentlemen are almost broken up. Only
the son of Mr. P. Wiiams'S family is left. Four
grown and interesting daughters soon followed
their father. But cannot particulaTize IN speak,
ing of these; they we've all good citizens, hus-
lands, and fathers, rejecting honor upon their
profession and faithful TO the duties devOlved up
| on them. Their places have not been filled by
the Secretary as YET; nor will il be easy matter
| to find men as suitable in every respect to fill
them.
All the departments in the yard suffered severe
| ly. The Spaar-mkerS lost seven out of twelve
| who remained. The SmitheTy, out OF some thirty
four who remained lost nineteen. | do not know
how TO account Tor this great mortality among this
class Of mechanics, who have generally been cnn-
Sdered less liable TO infectious diseases than 9th
erSr but il is evident that Yellow Jack hr had re-
gard inr neither age, sex, class, nor color.
There is one among the many victims in this
! shops crew that deserves more than a passing
notice. | alude TO Mr. Wa. JONES, who for
more than thirty years has been foreman Of this de-
pariment, and was never known to deviate hairs
breadth from the line Of known duty. A more
| faithful and energetic man never walked inside
the gate. His regard for the regulations OF the
yard was ployerblal. Faithful in the discharge
oil the duties OF his position, he was equally as
faithful 10 his christian profession; and he has as
well in the shops as in his other walks, expert
enced those joys in believing Of which the world
knows nothing. As characteristic ofthe man and
| christian, will relate an instance | heard tile
| other day. He had been told of the death of the
head OF the department, and, on learning the next
day from The same individuals that such was moi
the fact, he Immediately asked them TO be quiet
and thanksgiving to God for sparing The life OF his
friend.
When Mr.. ALIEN, the head of the department.,
was taken sick, Alr GREEN acting foreman;
and he, too, the next day was stricken down.
Then Mr.. TotterdilI, Mr.. Baleniine, and Me-.
Snead, each in rapid succession, fell at his post;
and all, except MIR. A. and Mr.. Snead, quickly
| followed one another 10 the grave. Fearful, iI-
deed, were the inToatlS OF this fatal mulady; and
long will the memory ofthese men be cherished
by their shop mates! They were all men of .en-
etous impulses and unsalied character. Death
did its work most electually, too, in the families
| of some of these men. As many as nine died IN
the family of Mr.. TotteTdilI, leaving only three
helpless orphans.
And now tire in viewing this dark picture; and
am, with you, thankful 10 God that it is my privi-
lege TO behold brighter one. Health and actIvi-
ly are now seen in all the departments. There
are upwards of 1000 men now at work; aud it
would do you cool 10 witness daily the hearty
congratulations and welcome greeting of our
friends.
But see by the Argus to-day that there are
perhaps nine hundred men, who, short time
since mustered nj NyhnSa al