New-York tribune., 1885-07-07
THE HERO OF THE OBELISK.
DEATH OF Ex-CoMMANDER GoRRINaE.

DEATH OF EX-COMMANDER GORRINGE.
SEVERELY INJURED WHILE JUMPING ON TRAIN
his CAREER IN TIE NAVY.
Lieutenant Commander Henry H. Gorringe,
late Of the United States Navy died ct his homo in the
Benedick Apartment House, IN Washington Square, last
night. after lingering illness. Last December he was
In Philadelphia business connected with his ship.
building enterprise. and reached the depot to return
home rather late for his train He let through the
g,tes however and the platform Of the station
to the train just as It starting Of. His arms were
full Of Packages and the got under way he ran the
harder and pitching his bundles the platform caught
hold OF the railing Of car, and took spring. He was
not sufficiently active and made Q msstep, which threw
him Lack and he struck his spine against the end of the
car The blow severe, but he retained presence Of
mind enough to hold to the railing. brakeman who
had seen the attempt to board the train, the signal
to slow up and Mr. Gorrnge assisted into the tan
He complained, then of severe palms In bis back and
suffered from physical exhaustion during the remainder
Of the trip.
When he reached NewYork his pain had not dimin-
ished and he was. taken to bis apartments 10 the
Brevoort House. He had already made arrangements
to to the Benedck, and had directed that they
be fitted up In pleasant STYLE In the meantime his pain
had 30 increased to render any strain upon his spinal
column highly unsafe, and he put to bed. On
January 10 she was moved 10 ambulance to his
new rooms. and placed upon water bed where he lay
afterward, suffering intense and prolonged agony His
sister, Mrs. Dr. Hiand and his mother nursed him. and
Dr. Draper, Of No. IL EastlForty seventh-st con
slant In his attention throughout Mr. Gorringes illness.
He steadily grew worse and his condition Saturday
judged to be hopeless. Yesterday morning It
thought he better but 1t only the rally before
the last struggle BY O'Clock he dead
Lieutenant Commander Gorrtnge had led an eventfu
and highly honorable naval officer, the close
of which was clouded by series Of unfortunate incl
dents Had he lived till August IL. he would then have
been forty years DID, He born In the island Of
Tobago, westj Indles and the son OF an English
minister of the Established Church. He came carly to
America with only that educational preparation which
OF scholarly parents and astudous disposition and
engaged In the merchant marine service with the
purpose OF entering the Britishi Navy as soon as an
opportunity should present itself. Before that time
came the War of the Rebellion broke out. lie had
become deeply ataehcd to the United States
and renqushe his pet ambition ofentering the English
Navy and enlisted before the mast in the Of the
Union July l3, 1852 His Intelligence and bravery
October he was appointed masters mate and was
tached to the Mississippi squadron under Admiral Porter
and in 1864 he made Acting Master. IN 1868 he
promoted again, TO the post OF an Acting Yolun
Ssr the moas mt Saes the Msspp
Squadron and each Of his promotions was for gallant
career an Aching Volunteer Lieutenant Commander
to which honor ne was promoted on July TO- 1868. In
the Atlantic squadron. lie was commissioned as
In the regular service on Decem
Yard For pf two % years later he commanded tho soop
Portsmouth OF the south Atlantic squadron and then for
four years lie engaged in the Hydr0grapha office.
When the Khedye OF Egypt gave to the United States
the famous obelisk, known as Cleopstras Needle which
rnge was commissioned with the Gettys-
b TO S the % the to task asd he
raised the by his own efforts He brought over
o 1 Esypsa D''js%s sTnS Ny
Gorrlngc, from Mahomet Tewak , He r.a, en-
the consummation OF his fathers Sin. The OOesk lie,
weigh. 1876 tons ,cl and feet onnsna nlsa Ine
Se pessouss hSa Sa' consisting fnes% Countless
beams Of steel aud wood. entirely Of Mr. Gornges
n Wn great skill He arrived With the stcneSn Jy
90 1880. After that Commander Gorringe saw put
the formation company for the construction OF iron
vessels This business, conceived and begun N. Ehe a
ment Washington and led to disagreeable CORE
public discussion Of naval matters with freedom OF
criticism that brought about strained relations between
account for il His reply was hot satisfactory and he
peremptoriy ordered to discontinue the expression
s'''s ns s~ ssere"y @ aaA' s5ss to cali af'f1
s Tn In his
and he replied acknowledging that he was employed as
der '0"S%as,"s WAS relation Of the distinction
between that empioymen. which was adj
gave excitable and indignant reply The Secretary
thercupon ordered him report TO the Department I'M
meiiacly ana Mr Gorringo answered by Offering his
resignation from the Navy. II promptly accepted
He then engaged actively IN the formation OF his
American Ship Building Company. IN which he held
controlling Interest He secured several cor
tracts for tho construction OF vessels and
leased the Reading Railroads ship yard
at Port Richmond. Pennsylvania, wherein works were
erecea and operations begun. The enterprise was not
successful A want OF capital and lack OF
business forced its failure, and IL was put
into the hands OF a receiver. ITS affairs have grown
Lopelesly tangled by reason OF Mr. Gorrnges illness
A posnortem examination will DO held to-day 10 dis-
injuries sustained by the dead man. The
funeral will be held at Grace Church tomorrow at 10
"a. III.