Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-27
COMMODORE WHITE DEAD.
A Naval Bureau Suddenly Bereft of Its
Chief.

Commodore George B. White, U.S.N., chief
OF the bureau Of yards and docks, died this
morning at his residence in Hlllyer place at
ii 80 o'clock Of apoplexy, after an illness of but
a few hours.
He was in perfect health yesterday, with the
exception Of q slight cold and at o'clock,
having finished up the current work in his
office for the day, went to his home. This
morning on awakening he felt quite as well
as usual and took a second short nap,
from which he awoke at z o'clock, his usual
hour for rising. 1t was then that the stroke
came, clot forming on the brain, causing apo
plectic paralysis and unconsciousness. He lay
in this condition until 11:30. when his breath
ceased and he passed away without having
spoken or shown any other signs of life. DIR.
Gardiner was called as soon as the stroke came,
but could do nothing. Commodore White
leaves a wife and three children.
The news of his death following closely after
the announcement of his stroke, was a severe
shock to the employees of his bureau and his
brother officers. Everybody seemed dazed at
the suddenness of the calamity and
expressions of the deepest regret were
universal Captain Henry, L.. Howison,
president of the steel board, was
classmate of Commodore Whites, and spoke
OF him in the highest terms to a STAR reporter
"He was one of the best men in the service"
he said, lone of the most just, the fairest, the
ablest. As seaman he had no superior; as
man he had the most lovable qualities kind
hearted, considerate and affable. He had
always been possessed of good health, having
strong, sturdy constitution, and his habits
were the most exemplary"
A SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
George Bartol White was born in Pennsylva-
mia, appointed to the naval academy Septem-
Der %, 1854, graduating in 1861 and for two
years was attached to the steam sloop Saratoga
of the home squadron. He was on this vessel in
the action which resulted in the capture of the
steamers MiramOn and Marquis de la Habana at
Vera Cruz in 1860. His next vessel was the
steamer Union, also IN the home squadron,
1861, and it was in this year that he was COM
missloned as q lieutenant. During the war he
was actively engaged on variohs vessels.
For two years he served on the steam gun
boat Ottawa in the south Atlantic
blockading squadron, taking par. in the battle
OF Port Royal, the engagement at Port Royal
Ferry, june l, 1862, the engagement with the
rebel fotilla in Wilmington river in February,
1862, the capture of Fernandina, and the action
in St. Mary's river in March and the operations
in Stone river.
He was next sent to the steamer State of
Georgia, in the north Atlantic blockading squad
ron, and then to the steamer MENDOZA of the
same fleet, participating in the capture
of Fort Fisher. He received his COM
mission as lieutenant commander in
March, 1865, and from sc to SO was
on duty on the steam sloop Dacotah, in the
Pacific squadron; at the League Island yard,
Pa, in 1869; on equipment duty in Phiiadel-
phia, 1869-7l; commanding the store ship On
ward at Callao, Peru, 1912; commissioned as
commander August l3, 1872; served as
lighthouse inspector in 1877; commanded the
Frolic, south Atlantic station, 1877; lighthouse
inspector, Philadelphia, lS77-Sl; commanded
Kearsarge, 1881-82; member board of harbor
commissioners, Philadelphia, 1882 SO; pro-
NOTED to be captain November 8, 1854 On the
I'd of April, 1889, he was commissioned commo-
dore and chief of the bureau of yards and
docks to succeed Admiral d. b. Harmony,
Nothing has been settled as to his funeral