Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-22

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81 80
-, IN day Of th's month Of Nay
49,, Osho Z. Michsslis. Asior in III
4 0uipasee Corp and Cenmsndaat d
- = Arssssl Of Augusta, Msine. died
. ,.a...snou Of spins after one week.
,-.vo wears, Is7s-is7s. Maj. Michael,
=. .esber Of the Council Of this Com
-. for Eve years. p7i-is7s. one Of
-.s,s active members; where bic genial
49,, md brilIisst conversational power
slessaatly remembered. while biz
1..ieasi knovledss and enthusiasm
i. deserved prominence - scien-
- edssnce oncef.
t~y 10 permitted an intimate friend Of
- yssss to state some facts illustrating
!. shassessr snd services Of our Com
=, in Prussia 10 years ago. Maj.
.a.s..iss came to this country with his
-, vhep i've years old. Educated ii
sTsv York public schools. he was sradu.
Z tbs Nsv York City Free Academy
. ~. 1868, .. the sse Of ID, st the head
Z ~ Class.
i september 1868, be vas commissioned
- iiestsnant in the U. 3. Signal Corps
= /, November 1853, he received the
...-ass,op Of Tod Lieutenant In the U. g.
as..ce Corps, - the result Of 4
..-.sdsiye examination, being. ~ I an
s.z.sred. the first civilian 70 receive Z
.s-.is.ion In the U. 8. Ordnance Corps.
I. se,1eubes 1854. he was promoted to BE-
= Iisu,eusnt In the Ordnance Corps. and
: ns,ch 1855. was breveted Captain. U. s.
i 9os faithful and merit0rious service,
s-tss the var. By regular steps be ct
49, 10 1874, the grade Of Captain. and
!. M. that Of Major In the Ordinances
Csps.
-. Corps, he was assigned to duty or
= - Of Gen. George II. Thomas. Com
-ssdas the Army Of the Cumberland, and
-. parsiclpssed in the Atlanta and Nash
~ campaigns. in which his gallantry and
s0espcy attracted the attention Of his no.
" eoanander.
4 raseer Of the German and French Ian.
rveses md IN enthusiast in his profession
~ sftsf the war he became . valued cor.
rspssdent Of some Of the brightest ord
..eee oflcefs In the armies Of Europe
= II whom, Msjor Boulenge Of the Bel
~ s,uy, testified his appreciation Of on =
sanpsaion's attsinments by present OF
= AZ The new Electric Chronogsaphs, re.
s.siy invented by himself. for measuring
sue,jy the velocity Of projectiles. Thil
~ he fret modern cbronograph, it 10 said
vkich ~ introduced in our army or navy
~ marks the improvements in rihed arms
- artillery which have compelled the
s.npIsts fe-armament Of both the French
~ German armies at lea't twice since the
yrspco German war Of 1901. and similar
skenses In the other armies; in like man.
~, The nsvies Of the world have been
ssiesd 10 change their guns and armor.
70 elssfly demonstrate the usefulness OF
~ chronograph system. which had super.
.dsd The ballistic pendulum in every army
NJ osrs, Mai Machselis had not only ia
svW,oue the inertia Of his superiOrs and
y not unnatural prejudice against innovs.
isss proposed by young Lieutenant enter.
n he Corps from civil life, but to show
sacsiJ how to use this novel instrument
u b. accomplished by . series Of ex peri.
nssu. which he was finally allowed to con.
t,es Il the Watertown Arsenal at his own
sspepse; the result Of these experiments
h embodied Ia m ssterly treatise entitled
THE Boulenge Cbronograph" which Wal
vhIIshed in 4to by Van Nostrand, the IA
ses Military book publisher Of New York
b 1877. The completeness Of this treatise
usuelusiveiy established the advantage Of
N new system; and Ia 1915. Maj
Nishssiis was assigned to conduct the ex
prnents with IL inch rifl ID guns at M
lssnd Ia Boston Hsrbor. assisted by Lieut.
Henry Lion Of the Navy Ordnance Depart
sent. From that time we have used the
nedern system. Thus the new departure
Ia matters Of scientific ordnance seems fair
y b BE- credited to the intelligent zeal and
ruisXnt energy Of our late Companion
nsjW Miehselis.
With the same spirit and foresight. h,
urged the establishment of = Governmen
iospdfy for making heavy guns Of the mos
Nvsnced system at a time when there va,
nj In this country a single establishment
capable Of producing, with its existing plant
ssn the steel ingots required for 6 incl
hasd gun, but had to send to Krupp. Arm
s1oss, or Whitworth for the material fol
neh guns. As an expert before ths
Military Committee Of Congress, Mat
hkhwlis was go clear in his statement o.
II capabilities and the advantages of loca
loo Of the Watervliet Arsenal, where b,
ID been twice stationed. that Congress
nsde oil the appropriations needed. Thu
paetical resn; is that we are now prOduc
" not cnly the grade of steel required
mi Nv making hesvy guns equal to thu
M Of their class made in Europe; an,
nofsover. are not now dependent upon the
suho6cAl gun factories Of Europe, thu
importance Of which fact needs no com
nsnt, though il does not diminish the credi
~ n Maj. Michaelis.
In 1875 Maj Michaelis was transferred
angular course from Watertown to tn
Inakfot Arsenal. and thence to the Nortl
Nsa, Nhere he obtained permission to J ii
y Ast Inflated expedition Of Gen. Custer
NJ a accidental delay saved him from
Aarins ito fate.
II Commapdant Of the Augusta Arsena
to The past three years, he has won uni
vstsal love; the Governor of Maine and al
y leading citirens attending the tuners
sfviees Of our dead Companion two day
~.
Though afiliatina with the Maine Com
sasdefy Vt our Order since he was ~
peinssd to the command Of the August
Arssnal. Maj. Michaelis has retained hi
snn interest In this Commandery an
lansd our delegation to the recent Re
saiss Of tn Loyal Legion at Philadelphi
nNe weeks ago. lie leaves . wife and si
inner children, the youngest FIVE years old
~ seems fitting that We, his friends an
nessuy his fellow Companions in this Com
:eadery, should express to them our pro
ssnd sympathy on this occasion There
nv, after comforting this morning Wit
- esleemed Recorder. I have the homo
nmenit these remarks and the followin
nseisdons to the consideration. and actio
H0e commandery -
seeoised. that the Massachusetts CON
ssndsiy Of the Loyal Legion have receive
IN sucerest regret the announcement O
death Of Msjor Ohio 4. Michaelis, U
A., Conmandant Of the U. s. Arsens
4 Asesssa, Maine THAT they pre- ser
~ ~ respectful sympathy to the family @
- iaie companion at the loss Of one, o
- can be truly said that he Va
sse tear and above reproach.
kasoived, that the foregoing resolutio
0esed 10 the records Of this command
~ that copy Of the came be fol
sasd TO the family Of our deceased con
seno-rhese resolutions we're secon,
- Cei. Flagler. Comdt. Of the Wate
Afsenal; and, after warm tributes