The New York herald., 1870-08-06
G IL !. - u a " z.
Captain VYillinlm M Sssiddy.

Died. on Monday, July 25, at Stamford, Conn.,,
Captain william Skiddy, in the seventy-seventh
year OF his age. In this brief announcement is told
the passing away Of one who Will long be regretted
by n large circle Of friends and relatives, as well as
by those who knew him liberal and unOsenla-
tious bene1actor. Captain Skiddy born vt Peeks
XIII, n. Y, IN 1924. He early displayed liking for
the sea- and In 1905 sailed his Irst voyage IN tile
merchant service. with the exception OF three
years passed Ut school in France lie coninucd In the
service IN 1912. on the breaking out OF the war
with Great Britain, while filsi mate of the brig
Stephen that vessel was captured by the British
rrigates Andromacbe and Britain. lie was a pri-
soncr on board the Hector prison hulk ian Old line.
oi-bat,le ship, In Plymouth barbor England, TIL
exchanged and sent home in the cartel ship Robin
son Potter. March, 1918, after eight months cap
tivity. On reaching New York he entered the very
next day, as volunteer masters mate on boGrd the
United States soop-ofwar Hornet. lie was with
Captain James Bdule On board the Hornet while she
was blOckaded In the harb0r OF New London. In
November, 1914, the Hornet ran the blockade aud
reached New York, from whence she sailed as part
OI Commodore Decaturs 1eet January q, 1876. Cap
tain Skiddy was In the Hornet when she captured
the British brig Penguin OF the Island OF Tristan
actions OF the war and when she escaped from the
BRUSH seventy,four Cornwallis, after an eventiul
and exciting chase, IN which the Hornet was COM
PEELED to throw over guns, boats and everything else
that could be spared.
chant service sailing from New York IN 1876 master
OF ship Maria Theresa. He was in the south Pacific
during the blockade OF CalaO by Lord Cochraue
with The Chilean neet he ran the blockade sue.
cessfuiiy and brought away the Spanish vceroy o!
the ports the Pacific coast surveying and making
charts Of them, which he sent to France. For this
service ne was IN 1877 elected a member Of the
sOcete du Geographic OF Paris. In 1926 Captain
Skiddy took command OF the packet snip Henri w.,
one Of tho trst Of the regular Havrs packets, and
also commanded the FRANCOIS l, These ships
then Of the first class among American merchant
liners Captain Skiddy superintended the fitting
out Of them with thoroughness and comfort which
had no small share In establishing the higIrreputa-
ton Of the Hayre lines. He continued IN this SER
vice until lS47, when he retired from the sea. in
1e44 he began his work Of naval construction build
ing the ship John r. Skddy, aud IN 1S46 built the
New World, both of which vessels were Then unsur-
passed as merchantmen. Soon after leaving the sea
the United states government appointed hun TO su
perlntend the construction Of the Collins steamers
which were then TO be In government employ as
mall steamers and to serve IN wHr In the navy. He
designed the Humboldt, Franklin AragO and the
Fniton OF The French line, and all Of the Pacific Mail
Company g steamers TO the building Or the Alaska;
ana for the New York aud Virginia line the James
town, Roanoke aud Yorktown, which steamers were
seized by the rebels during the war and destroyed
In the James river. He also designed the Saratoga
and Niagara TOR the came service. The failure Of his
eyesght owing 70 cataract put an end to his laoors
skllfu head guiding the eyesight OF Others.
One valuable service 10 the country must not be
passed by Shortly after the close vi the war; during
q debate In The British House OF Commons The
subject OF the Shenandoah anu her capture and de.
Lees surrender had reached the commander, IL was
declared that the Hornet had SCI the precedent by
her capture OF the British brig Of.war Penguin In
1915. The brief newspaper paragraph recording
this fell under the eye OF Captain Skiddy, then
only surviving officer OF the Hornet during that
memorable cruise. lie was withal the officer
whose testimony was OF prime Importance. From
his knowledge OF French he was the interpreter to
Captain BidGe In every Instance In which any
Sci was spoken from which the news Of peace could
possibly be learned, and thus could state rOm abso
lutte knowledge that no runor OF the close Of the
reached the Hornet tlll after the capture Oi the
Penguin ana Chase by the CORVALLIS He wrote at
once to Messrs seward and Welles, Secretaries OF
State and OF the Navy, stating the above facts and
at their request prepared hill and duly atested
atidayii, now In the archives Of the State Depart
meui. point IN International law, perhaps OF
great moment, was thus providentally established
fVi all the future.
The last years OF Captain Skiddy were spent in his
delightful home In Stamford The sauctites of prI-
vale life forbid more 10 lie said OF this period Than
that II was u time OF generous hospitality and
hearty benedcence, when no use or his wen earned
competence was so dear TO It's owners heart the
abltv which IL gave biIl TO relieve the needs ana
minister 10 The comforts or those around him. His
charity was emDently generous, large hearted ana
free handed; 1t was the oHsprinS OF ready sympa-
iny and needed no spur OF not0rieiy to quicken 1t.
Perhaps next to iha spectacle OF unSelieved suffer
ing h0 dIelikea nothing 80 much as u nave Dis knd
deeds noticed apd Proclaimed