The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-09-26
Death of Lieut.. CheeYer.

The following, from the n. Y. Journal of
Commerce, conveys to the people of Minneso-
ia the sad intelligence of the death of her
only citizen who has ever bren honored with
position in the public service of the coun-
try.
Lieut.. CHEEvER we knew well and
more gallant and whole -souled fellow never
walked aboard man-ocwar He has been
cut down in the prime Of life, but his memory
is enshrined in the hearts of the pioneers of
this new State, and will there remain while
their hearts throb with LIES pulsatons.
Lieut.. CHEEvER entered the service in
1850, and IN the short space of SIX years had,
by merit, advanced to the honorable grade
at which Death found him-a circumstance,
we believe unprecedented in our naval histo-
ry, since the days of SoMER; and DEcAruR.-
His old friends and neighbors, and those of
his father who has long resided in our midst,
feel that one has been taken from amongst us
whose place will not soon be filled:
Died, at Rio de Janeiro, on the 18th day
of July, 1857, Lieutenant William Harrison
Cheever, of the United States Navy, aged
% years.
lie was seized with yellow fever on the
morning Of the 4th of July, while on duty in
the frigate st. Lawrence, and fingered under
the irresistible power of that disease until
the 18th, when he expired at the private
hospital en- shore, to which he had been re-
moved.
He received every attention from his fel-
low officers that kindness could devise, and
particularly from the surgeons of the ship
but without avail to stay the hand OF the de-
strOyer.
His remains were followed to the grave by
the officers Of the ST. Lawrence and other
ships-nfwar in port, English, French and
Brazilian, and buried with military honors.
Lieutenant Cheever was born in OldtOwn,
Maine and the early years of his lie were
passed in New England, chiefly in Boston and
Wrentham, Massachusetts. In the year
l84S he removed to Minnesota in tue sue
ceeding year was appointed from that Terri
tory to the naval service. At the close of a
brilliant AGA lemic career, he passed the final
examination at Annapolis with high honors
in 1855.
He was distinguished for his intellectual
powers and requirements, which shed
brighter lustre upon his thorough knowledge
of the practical duties of his profession and
his devotion to them.
In his heart there was no guile or fear, and
he adornnd every station in life that he was
called to fill.
He is mourned by large circle of asso-
ciates to whom his fine quail les hal endear
ed him, and his loss to th.'se whr were bound
to him by the ties Of family and of lifelong
friendship, is inexpre$sib!e.
At meeting of the officers of the
United States irIgate St. Lawrence, held in
the wardroom of that ship, in the barber Of
Rio de Janeiro, on the 18th day of July, 1857,
Commodore French Forrest, commanding
TIE Brazil Squadron, in the chair, the follow
ing preamble and resolutions were unanl-
mously adopted:
WHEREAS, 1t has pleased God to remove from
midst companion-n-ar and our feelings prompting
expression of regret for loss and of that
dmiration for his character which all entertain
therefore, he it
Resclred, That by the death of Lieut. VIM II. Cheev-
country has to mourn the loss of an intelligent
gallant faithful and efficient officer ofthe brightest
of the navy whose career of honor and
| fulness is brought to an early close.
ResOlred, That we have to lament the loss Of one
whose many endeared him to his friends,
his brother officers and mess mates will ever cherish
noble disposition strongly attached to him.
and won for him our affection and esteem.
Resolred, That offer to the relatives Of our de-
ceased friend heart fe't sympathy in the grief with
which the sad tidngs of his death will be received and
commend them to the goo ness of that God who dOeth
all things WELL and doth not willingly alict his children
ResOlUed, That a testimonial of regard for his
memory will Grape on the left arm for thirty
DAYS.
orwardeto the Navy Department and to the relatives
of departed friend, and that they be published.