New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-09

Admiral Wilkes was born in New-YOrk City
in isOl and died yesterday in Washington at the axe OF
rs wears. He entered the navy a midshipman IN
the 18th year of his and remained IN active service
for 80 years when July 1866 ho placed on the re-
tired list with rank admiral His earliest note
worthy service with Commodore McDonough IN the
Mediterranean in lSI9-2O. From 1921 till 1928 he was
with Commodore in the Pacific Ocean, where his
nautical skill won for him n separate command Three
years later made lieutenant, ana IN 1880 was
appointed the Bureau of Charts and Instruments
where he first naval officer to use fixed astro-
pouca instruments The place of observation was his
ewn garden bu: he formally eDOined from erecting
permanent structure the ground that national OBJ
servatory unconstitutional. He was afterward
engaged in important work along the Atlantic
coast accompanied several special naval expeditions
Of that time But 1t was until 1888 that lac undertook
any crowniUg work
For years preceding that date various explor
In exrsdtons 10 examine tie Southern had been
pro Used, and as many had been abandoned. In that
year the organization and command Of such an expedi
ton was at last intrusted TO him, and IL August,
ave vessels and storeshp set sail from Hampton Roads
continent had long been supposed 10 exist somewhere
in the Southern Of high southern latitude To
make such a discovery the principal object OF the
expedition. leaving the harbOr, orders were given
that the fleet became separated on the voyage the
vessels should meet Madeira Two OF the vessels were
separated in squl bat they all aferward arrived at
hadrl Several devoted 10 visiting various
paris Of the island. and making observations on it
eimle and physical character. Capt Wilkes then
sale FOR the Cape de Verde Islands, and took care 70
pass the reefs laid down IN the charts of former
navigalors but many OF them were found not 10 exist
After visiting the islands aud making observations, the
expedition sailed Tor Rio lie JanerO, where II arrived
After 100 days from Ncw-York Capt. Wilkes was
form lily presented the upcrUr, the present Dom
Pedro then - years OF age, vino had been eight
years The throne. After repairing the fleet, he
sailed sJuthEard toward Terra del Fuego, ana made the
FIRST landing At the mouth Of the Rio Negro. in Pata-
gonia Capt Wilkes removed Instructions III the
rver paid his respects TO the King Of Patagonia. anc
went on to Terra del Fucgo The people of that country
were found Jo DC a miserable They lived in buts
made of grass ard mud. dressed in skins, and we're hhy
IN and stupid in intellect
From Terra del Fuego he proceeded sOuh-westward To-
the limit OF Capt Cooks exp dIOn and passed onward
discovering several islands. until he reached Palmer
Land, latitude G3o -. On the voyage thither h. cu
eountsrcd many -nOw--iOrms and often surrounded
by ieebergs. he great numbers Of penguin.
pigeons, whales. seals. and stormy petrcis AZ they
passed the south the birds increased in number aut
Pamers Land flying about n every dire ion
u;.crng discOrdant cries. The expedition then pro
eecdcd To Valparaiso, and, C1llaO. There a de
tachment was sent into the interior Of Peru
~ make exploration among the mountains. Capt
Wilkes then sailed toward New south Wales by way o!
the sandwich Islands and visited and surveyed several
lei. nds IN the southern POlyHeslan group
From sydney the feet southwark IN search OF the
Anita cite Continent Vast eebergs Obstructed the
age and the swarmed with kinds OF birds,
islands being found which pengns and pigeons were
eougregatsd great numbers. mountain peak on
Of these islands 1000 feet high. On one occasion
the crews witnessed fierce fight between whale
and monster. said be 20 feet long The monster
held whale firmly by the lower jaw that the whale
was once thrown entirely of water in effort to
himself On the morning of Jan. 49, lS4O. land
was seen in the southeast above the ice
The most experienced nayigatOrs agreed III the belief
taat land had really been found. This latitude
$50 ~ The discovery afterward confirmed by
French and Eng lish explorers
Capt Wilkes then made Il visit 90 New-Zealand, and
sailed for the FIJI Islands where complete exploration
He able to keep peace with the natives
about months hut day an attack was made upon
his boats and hght ensued The savages were armed
with clubs and spears. and killed officers in the
gaeement Capt. Wilkes thereupOu burned several OF
their villages and shot Of tie more savage warriors
who had taken part in the unProyoked attack. The
expedition proceeded the north coast OF the
United States. explored the Columbia and sacramento
rivers and visited Francisco. The town consisted OF
few diapdsted adobe buildings, and wore an air OF
general gloom and desOatOn. Ii had formerly been
Catholic missionary station, but was then peoped WITH
Spsniards and natives From san Francisco the expe
dton sailed for the Sandwich Islands. Capt. Wilkes
there noted a marked advance in civilization morals,
and RELIGION which had been mainly due 70 citizens OF
tile United States. Tie expedition next visited the
Philippine islands made formal visit TO the sultan
OF MlRdaDaO.
Capt Wilkes proceeded 10 New South Wales. Borneo,
snSapore and the Cape u Good Hope. AfteI yLsting
al Longwood with the residence there Of Napoleon
ne sci sail for New York. and cast anchor on
Lle battery, June 10. lsi-. He was promoted 10 Dc
COMMANDER In the year lOn- series Of charges
Wac preerred him bv certain OF his Officers ana
inFesugaed by court-maftial which acquitted MN o.
az 1oe Illegally Furnishing seine OF ms crew lOr "hsc
Ne was reprmanded From that time until the outbreak
o. The cvl war b. before the country on several
$500 a. an author publishing several volumes Oased
upon ths expedition.
Ga tue night OF Oct r. 1861 the steamship Theodore
Lsh Oai " Charleston ha4bOr, conveying @0n an Sl-
."hieeeldte enN0yS' 10 Great Britain anu iiHc
en- proceeded 20 Cuba. and there Mason and oldc "ent
" loaId The British mail steamer Trent bound Tor Il
srg ,Les o1 her way 10 Eng No. ConmOd1e NkeS nau
ifod al Havana with the United states FtFamslp san
saemo irOm the coast OF Africa only few days b1Ore
"a a1oi ed himself III Tie Bahama ciaihtl 20 Matcu
ci Sie Trent On Der Outw ri On the morning
nov she appeared. AMI civil request 10 h'aN'-
60 DteIhed. ILcreupOn Commodore "IHN's EINV
Sr1s " bTc uTOn the Trent ard two shols were sent
~ DoSic lbe Trent, ana Mason INA S1Ich WIZ
t.4eitd 20 the United states vessel which pr"ceeded
usrs i,1 I'LL NOu.llpd"fe Wilkes tfeAleu thSin 80
aeacAed torGess Monroe. Tne news OF this capture
en- ~ immense Outburst Vi JOY throughout tpe NORTH
olses ana when the vessel reached Boston puDhc
n 1quei Mas given IN honor 81 Commodore Nllkcs Ihe
TisUiiAAyns which out OF the affair, the yisii VI
~ weed 10 England IN tie Interests 0i the bOVolb-
hr ns return and reception m New-Y0rk are rrihein-
So ~ most readers N connection with the STIRRING
Vi l1at period. TIE action OF COmmOd0rc Wilkes
9I'efNasd approved by Congress- which gave him
NJ Vi h@hks President lincoln however disapprOyed
gland. anu 'i'"o "
~ ISo2 he placed first on the list OF commodoses
nv, aug r. While IN command OF the h0t Ia III james
ne sIclled sud destroyed Cts Point In 1868 ne
esplasc special squadron Ia the West indies ana
Wa 80 several blockade runners In July, 1900, Ee
r,ii,S 1nlsioned rear admiral and placed on The
OfTs i,,as vi late years be has passed large part
oavs ine 10 Washington. He brave and fearless