The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13
OBITUARY..
COMMODORE JOHN GUEST.

COMMODORE JOHN
Commodore John Guest. United States Navy. COM
liailcant of Portsmouth Naval Station, died OF
chronic albuminaria at his residence at the Navy
Yard at twelve minutes before nine o'clock yester-
day morning He was taken Tuesday the Ith
inst with angina pectorssevere pains in the region
OF the heart and arrn-whch was speedily followed
by the usual symptoms of blood poisoning common
to Brights disease. He born in Missouri, March
T. 1872 The navy has lost Commodore Guest one of
ITS brightest ornaments The following is list OF the
services performed by this ofhcer:-Appointed mid
shplnan from Arkansas Dec. 16 1887 and ordered
to the sloop-of-war Warren West India squadron. in
1888 where he remained until 1912. He at the
Naval School, Philadelphia, in 1885, promoted to
passed midshipman June 30 1885, served on steamer
Poinsett in surveying Tampa Bay during lS44 and
lsiS; served on the frigae Congress. Pacific squad
ron. lsi5 to ls4s; the battle of San Gabriel
January s, and the battle of Mesa. Cal. during
the war with Mexico. January .. ls4s. lie com
mssionei lieutenant December "a. 1850. and
was ordered to the sloop-ofwar Plymouth.
East India squadron, where he served from 1851 to
1859 In 1854. with the cutter of the Plymouth, he
boarded the Chinese man-of-war Sir H. Compton, at
Shanghai. and liberated u pilotboats who were
under the protection of the American flag. For this
gallant act he was promoted to the second in COM
mand of the Plymouth under Captain John Kelley
and fought severe and victorious action with the
Chinese ut Shanghai to prevent aggression foreign
residents. During 1850 and 1856 he spe-
cal duty at Washington, and during 1857 and
1858 he executive officer of the United States
steam frigate Niagara aud laid the first telegraph
cable the Atlantic. For his valuable services
ON this occasion he received medal. After short
term OF duty at the naval rendezvous at Philadelphia
he received orders to join the Niagara and sailed for
Japan with the first Japanese Embassy. He accom-
panied Commodore Perry III the Susquehanna, and
WAS present at the first landing OF the Americans in
Japan In 1851 he commanded his old ship. the
Niagara, then flagship of the West Gulf squadron.
While in command OF this vessel he took her
boats and in the night cut out the schooner Aid then
under the protection OF Fort Morgan at Mobile Bay
United States steamer Owasco in 1862 and was pres
ent at the capture of Forts Jackson and St Philip.
New Orleans. His conduct ut the bonlbarlment OF
these forts such to call forth rousing
cheers from the mortar schooners. The lire
OF the enemy became very CALLING and the fleet.
anchored, as it was. near the bank, had
to suffer severely from the enemy's shot;
but the Owasco with her captain quietly seated upon
the quarter deck appeared, and in few minutes the
guns OF the enemy We're sienced After the capture
of New Orleans the Owasco with Admiral Farra-
gut in all the fights up the Mississippi including
the severe passage of the bluffs at Vicksburg Lieu
tenant Guest was commissioned as commander July
IT, 1862, and commanded the Owasco at the capture
OF the forts and Galveston city. He was ordered to
the command of the ronclad Sycamore in 1868. and
while on this duty he invented and put in practice
the first spar torpedo ever used In 1868 and 1864
he commanded the Cialatea on convoy duty in the
West Indies. In 1865 he commanded the steamer
Iosco and present and took part in both attacks
on Fort Fisher. He commissioned July %. 1860
captain and executive officer at the Navy Yard,
Portsmouth, n. H. from 1867 to 1869. He commanded
the United States steamer Brooklyn, in the European
squadron. In 1870 and 1871 captain of the Navy
Yard at Philadephia in 1872; was promoted to be
commodore December II, 1872, and
ordered as senior officer Of Board of
Inspection OF Vessels, where he remained from 1872
| to 1875. He called from this duty to command
| the station at which he died. Commodore Guest had
been forty one years i'll the service Of his country.
twenty one OF which had been shipboard and at
sea. He man of great information, very reti-
cent, but always kind and courteous to all. parcu
! larly to his subordinates. He great thinker
and possessed advanced information upon many sub
| jects OF vital interest to the navy and the
| country. Many months ago. when writing to the
| chairman of the Naval Committee in Congress upon
the condition of the navy he expressed himself very
much concerned ON the Chinese question. portion
Of his letter published at that time in the HERALD.
and recent events 60 to the correctness OF the
Commodore's views. The people of Portsmouth lose
a warm friend The moist eyes of the humblest
workman in the Portsmouth Navy Yard the truest
testimonials of his worth. The body will leave Ports
mouth Tuesday forenoon tor Philadelphia, where
the funeral will take place ON Thursday, at The
body will be placed by request, in the vault of St
Mary's. Only two deaths have occurred ut Ports
mouth Navy Yard in many years those VI the brave
old Admiral Farragut and Passed Assistant Engineer
| John Ford. Captain Jonathan Young. executive on
Ger OF the yard. is now acting commandant.
Commodore Quest leaves wife and daughter, the
latter being the wife Of Lieutenant Seymour attached
to this yard and four sons, of whom Is lieutenant
| In the Eighth cavalry.