Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-04-24
En- MenlOrianl.

HALLAM DALE ALEXANDER, Paymaster's Clerk
U. s. Navy, died on board the U. s. s. Trenton at
SIS p. II. January 10th, 1889, from yellow fe-
Yer, contracted in the necessary performance OF
duty. He was buried at sea the same night, in
latitude g % north, and longitude So 10 west.
One by one we drop out of the busy whiil Of
life, and in few short days our names, our lives
our memories are as though we had never formed
an integral part of the human race sigh,
word of sympathy to relatives, tear of SORROW,
half selfshncss for the loss of friend or compan-
ION oftimes constitute our page In the worlds HIS
tory. Ha!ism Dsle Alexander was born in Alle-
gheny City, Pa, April 21st 1859 In early youth
he entered the Office of the Union Line Freight
Company Of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Pitts
burg, Pa, and rose from one position to another
until at the age of Is, his duties and salary were
those of man twice his years. In October. 1877,
he entered the United States Navy as clerk to
Rear Admiral (then Captain Jas II. ellis. COM
mandng the U. 8. s. Franklin, and served until
April, 1879, when he was appointed clerk to Pay
master Jas. A. Ring, with whom he remained un-
til December, 1884, serving until 1881 on board
the U. S. s. Portsmouth in Alaskan waters, and
afterwards on board the o. s. g. Enterprise on the
North Atlantic and Asiatic stations. In March,
1885, he appointed to the U. S. S. Omaha,
under Paymaster Geo. H. Gritliug, and upon the
arrival of the vessel at Hong Kong, China, was
appointed Acting Paymaster aud ordered to the
U. S. S. Ossipee, serving on that vessel until Au-
gust 9th. 1886. In October, 1885, he joined the
q. 8. s. Lancaster on the South Atlantic Station,
having received the appointment In answer to a
telegram from Paymaster @. P. Thompson re-
questing clerk to be sent out to him to take the
place of one who had been invaided home. In
November, 1887, he returned with Paymaster
Thompson in the D. S. S. Trenton. which vessel
had carried out new detail Of officers and men
for the Lancaster and bringing homo the officers
and men whose service had expired. On arriving
at New York Pay Inspector Ambrose j. Clarke,
who had been assigned to the Tronton, prevailed
upon him TO accept the Paymasters clerkship for
the cruise of that vessel the Pacific station,
and in January, 1883 he sailed on what he had
promised himself should, aud proved to- be his
last voyage, although the ending was so different
from the hopes INDUCED or the plans devised for
the future.
Ability, promptness, probity, fsithfulness and
courtesy in The performance OF duty were the
characteristics which marked his career and were
his attested credentials from every officer under
whom he served. Twice during his service in
the navy he received acting appointments in the
Pay Corps-once as Assistant Paymaster on board
the U. s. g. Enterprise, and again as PaymGster of
the Ossipee. In each case he received his appoint
ment from Rear Admiral John Lee Davis. who
held him in high regard. The character ne had
made for himself was the basis Of the demand for
his service.
Socially he was q gentleman of the rarest and
highest type. Intelligent observant, entertain
ing, attractive, generous, companion one learn
trusted when fortune frowned her fercest. His
soul was keyed 50 high in honor as TO compel the
intimacy and companionship of official superiors
under conditions of life which ordinarily must be
repellsnt trammeled as they are with the for
malities of military rank and the strict observ.
ance OF discipline
In his home his life shono brightest and best.
Returning from the cruise in the Portsmouth in
October, 1881, he was met on his way across the
continent by telegram announcing the death Of
his father and the responsibilities and cares of
stricken household were his welcome homo. In
November, 1881, he brought his family to Alex
andria, Va, and they now reside among US. How
Robly and cheerfuly no accepted his new duties
and trust how the widowed mother learned to
lean and rest upon her boy, how the brothers and
sisters came to look upon him more as father than
brother, could only be appreciated by familiarity
with the gentleness, selfsacritico and devotion
which had no other ambition than their happi-
ness. Remembrances from every cline and port
he visited mutey but eloquently attest that home
and loved ones were first and always in his
thought.
No mother ever claimed nobler son, no broth
er has ever more faithfully discharged the obliga
tions of the bond Of birth and blood
Faithfulness to duty under the burning sun of
tho torrid zone brought him his death, far away
from the ministrations of his kindred or the low
ing touch of mothers hand, and his grave can
only be marked by minute spot on the chart of
the Pacific to indicate where the restless, ever
moving sea received his body to its keeping, never
to be surrendered until tho resurrection morn.
Surely there can DO no heart in this community
SO Indifferent to human anguish and suffering as
not to sympsthzs with the bereavcd family.
FRIEND.