The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-26
MEN OF THE SHIP.
Officers of the Big Cruiser
Charleston.
ADMIRAL BROWNS WAR RECORD.
Interesting "Reminiscences OF the Trip to
Honolula = A Dinner With
King Kalakaua.

The MANY people of Seattle who by this
time have met the officers of the Charles
ton have discovered that were the men pri-
yate citizens, their personal force would
make them worth more than passing atten-
ton: for among the highly educated.
clever and polished officers OF the United
States navy, there are none superior to
those on the Charleston.
Rear Admiral George Brown is consid-
cred one Of the very ablest in the naval SER
vice; and many in position to know say
that he is not only among the first. bnt
actually the first. His face is not unlike that
OF General Grant, being Of the same type
His acquaintances describe him as being
resolute, quick in action, sound In judg-
ment, of indomitable pluck, yet withal so
kindly and considerate of his men that be
is loved by all. In short, the men on the
Charleston regard him as an ideal conf
man6er. According to Appleton's "Cyclo-
pedia of American Biography, he was born
in Indiana June 10, 1885, In his early boy
hood he attended school at Hoosick Falls,
N. Y. In 1849 he was appointed midship-
man from his native state. and was at
tached to the frigate Cumberland, and two
years later to the ST. Lawrence, cruising in
both vessels. He was promoted to passed
midshipman, and afterward to master in
1856. In June OF the same year he became
lieutenant, and served in the Brazilian and
African squadrons till 1860. when he was
ordered to special service on the steam
sloop Powhatan, and in 1861 transferred to
the Octorora, q gunboat attached as q
flagship to Commodore Porter's mortar
boat fotilla. He participated in the haz-
ardous and famous ascent of the Missis-
sippi river under Farragut, and also in the
first attack on Vicksburg. in June, 1862.
For his gallant conduct on this occasion he
was specially commended in the official re-
port. The feet then dropped down the
river to avoid the season of low water and
the Octorora was ordered to blockading
duty at Fort Wilmington, N. c. Lieuten-
ant Brown. whose abilities were rapidly
bringing him to the front, was promoted
to be lieutenant commander in July, 1862,
and shortly afterward placed in charge of
the Indianola, an iron-clad of the Missis-
sippi squadron. The batteries at Vicks-
burg and Warrenton were successfully
passed February IA. 1868. Ten days later
an engagement took place near upper Pal
myra island between the Indianola and
four Confederate gunboats, manned by
1000 men. The fight lasted an hour and
twenty-seven minutes, and Lieurenant-
Commander Brown. severely wounded and
overpowered by numbers, surrendered
with his ship in sinking condition. The
officers and crew were exchanged few
months afterward, and Lieutenant-Com-
mander Brown was assigned to the steam
gunboat Itasca. of the Western gulf block
aiding squadron. This vessel he COM
manded in the action of August s. 1864, in
Mobile bay, in the naval operations against
Spanish Fort, and in the defenses of Mo-
bile in March and April, 1866. He was
promoted commander in July 1866, and
stationed at the Washington navy
yard till 1867, when he was granted leave
of absence to serve as agent for the Japan
csc government in command of an IRON
clad man-of-war purchased from the United
States. He was promoted captain in 1877,
and, after cruising in various seas, was. in
1886, placed in command of the United
States navy yard at Norfolk, Va. When
the Charleston was launched he was put in
charge of her as admiral of the Pacific
squadron. From this account it can be
seen that Admiral Brown is one of the
naval heroes of the late war. His unfail-
ing hospitality IN welcoming those who
visit the Charleston has won him many
friends.
OF all the interesting "reminiscences
which he can tell. there is, of course, moth
ing of more immediate interest than the
story OF the trip of the Charleston to Homo
lulu. The people there, from the king,
whom the admiral knew in bygone days,
down to the humblest subject, did every
thing possible to render the stay of the of
fcers at the port delightful. The people of
the island. he says, are constantly
having fetes, festivals and entertainments
of one sort or another, to which the men
on the Charleston were always invited. A
telephone was rugged in the vessel, which
anchored within stones throw of the
shore. and since everybody in Honolulu,
where telephones are cheaper than here,
has one of the instruments in his house
and his office or shop, the men on ship
board were able to communicate easily and
readily with their friends. King KalaKaua
and the members of the royal family, as
well as the mobiles, members of the legisla-
ture and common people visited the cruiser
frequently; and in return the officers were
showered with Invitations from the king
and all the rest. When the Charleston
finally received sailing orders, the king
asked the admiral to wait day or two
longer. since he wanted to give royal ball
as the farewell for the visitors. 1t was i'm
possible to delay departure, and so King
Kalakaua gave royal dinner. ut which
covers were laid for forty. The meal was
exquisitely cooked. beautifully served and
one of the finest affairs of the kind the adj
miral has ever attended. During the
courses some rare Johannisberger wine
was served, which had been sent TO the isl.
ands on condition that it should never be
drunk except at the royal table. The off,
GERS of the Charleston retain the liveliest
recollections of the hospitality and the de-
lights of Honolulu. The run from there
was without incident from the start, Aug
ust Z, to the arrival at Seattle on Saturday.
A short stop was made at Yaquina bay
and another at Port Townsend. The en-
gines and everything about the vess ell
worked perfectly during the entire trip, a
rare thing for so new craft.
Captain Remey is from Burlington,
Iowa, and during the civil war he served
as a lieutenant in the North Atlantic
squadron and was captured off Charles
ton. Later he was on the Kearsarge and
for a number of years he was stationed at
the Norfolk navy yard. He made an envi-
able reputation for gallant conduct during
the war.
The admiral's secretary. Mr.. George P.
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