The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-07-28
STORY OF A STIRRING LIFE.

Ii the time i'll which we live is emi-
nently practical, and the mechanical
appliances of civilization seem Il
involve q certain monotony in tile lives
of men, as contrasted with those of Il
ruder age, there are even ia these
degenerate days those who know how
to extract from them the elements OF
adventure and excitement which speci-
ally pertain e. them. and 10 invest the
nineteenth century life with "A romance
peculiarly It's own. One such mas Just
passed away from among rs. There sre
are many III all parts OF the world who
when :hey read, in our obituary column
of the 18th. the death III the Albany of
Captain Charles Stewart Forbes. l.. n
will recall with sigh the daring and
generous friend aud CHEEKY companion
whose eventful career has Just closed
Few men have lived so much in so few
years. or seen and done more with SO
little noise
The first years of young Forbes
service were passed "a midshipmau
on the North Star. with Sir Everard
Home, or the Australian station The
Crimean war found him In command oi
a gunboat in the Baltic, and on the
breaking out of hostilities in China he
proceeded 10 the scene Of operations rs
lieutenant commanding the AIgerine.
Throughout the war Lieutenant Forbes
never lost chance 10 distinguish HIM
self, and the Algerine soon became
celebrated for her success in pirate
pigeons" Returning home just AS
Garibaldi landed in Sicily, Forbes hur-
ried out, and was the only Englishman
who participated in the first action out
side Palermo. Conspicuous from the
beginning To the end of the campaign,
III his blue flannel suit, and always IN
tho hottest of the fire. he soon attracted
the notice, and ultimately the friend
ship of Garibaldi. finally reconnoitring
Naples III carriage In advance Of the
General. aud receiving a triumphant
welcome Intended for the latter, which
enabled him to report upon his return
that the royal troops had evacuated the
city. On his return To England Forbes
Published an account of the campaign,
which il probably the most authentic
record of II which exists. The success
of this book tempted him TO new scenes
of travel, aud he not long after made a
most interesting exploration IN Iceland,
giving us the result of his experience
there in graphic aud interesting form.
On receiving nis promotion he went out
TO the River Platte a commander of the
Curlew, and completed his term Of SER
vice IN those always stirring regions
just in time 10 accept the command.
under Captain Sherard Osborn, of one
of the vessels Of the expedition which
was being fitted ont for the Emperor of
China. Taking his vessel along the
west coast of Africa, and touching ~
several ports on his way, he arrived at
his destination 10 find the PROJECT of a
Chinese imperial fleet. commanded lv
British officers, abandoned. and return, 3
Co England the bearer of dispatches
from Captain Osborn 10 the English
government Ga his arrival In EuglaEd.
Forbes found his love Of adventure
almost Immediately gratiticl by The
commsnd which he obtained. without
difficulty. of blockade runner for the
American war was them at its height.
and he soon distinguished himself; IN
his new voeation. His SYSTEM 81
evading the eneny required that ccmhi-
nation of skill. cooluess aud courage
which the habits oi has life were SO en-
iuently calculated to develop. Steering
IL - H..
into port on the darkest nights on the
bearings which be had taken during the
day when first sighting land, and when
/ the small vessel which be commanded
| was too far cat to be visible 10 The
blockaiing squadron. The close Of the
/ war found him in the harbor of Gal
/ weston, aud. unable 10 extficatc us
/ ship. he leit her 20 join the fortunes OF
+ the i'll fatcd Maximiiian ia Mexico. Oi
his hair br,ad,h escapes and the various
/ perils be encountered during his block
+ ade- running and Mexican experiences.
we have, unfortunately, no published
record After = severe attack Of yellow
/ fever IN one of the West Indis Islands.
/ where be narrowly escaped premature
burial. he returned 10 England in shat
/ tered health Scarcely. however. allow
/ iag himself time 20 recruit, the year
/ 1865 saw Captain Forbes o1ce usnrr on
! the Nay 10 the East. On this occa sion
/ his visit was ia the first instance =
saigon for the purpese Of obtaining
/ from the French Goyernmeut ia Cochia
China telegraph eouc, ssion. ana iheilcs
be proose,lesi ~ Japan ia order to nego
tisie loan With the tioyernment d
that country He failed in this, buI
established such relations as enables
ban - retura 10 England In the capsc.
i,y # agent tor the Chinese and japan.
/ ese. for the Purchase of arms aud YES.
sells OF war. Esfore leaving Japan IL
made . most interesting exploration q
the then almost unknown island q