The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-02-19

DAFAD H. TohlEh. IN ~ were at
home at the time of his death. Word
was at once sent to the President
and the Secretary of the Navy and
the flags on the White House and on all
other public buildings were placed at
half-mast Secretary Tracy at once WIS.,
tied the family ard conferred with them
in regard to the funeral arrangements.
1t was settled that the funeral
should be marked with the highest
military honors and that the inter-
ment should be at the Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery. The President was
informed of Admiral Porter's death by
an orderly, and sent a feeling message
of sympathy to the family. He subse-
quently sent message to Congress
notifying that body Of the death.
The funeral will take place Tuesday
at 2 p. m. The Navy Department will
be closed, the flag will be displayed at
half-mast at all navy yards and stations
and on board all ships in commission,
and seventeen minute guns will be
fired at noon from each navy yard The
department will be oraped in black and
all officers of the navy and marine
corps viii wear the badge of mourning
for thirty days.
The honorary pall-bearers will be:
Vice-President Morton, General Scho-
field, Senators Henderson, Mcpherson
and Hawley, Representative Boutelle,
Rear Admirals Rogers, Almy, Howells,
Crosby and Stevens, and Governor Pat
tison, of Pennsylvania.
The death of Admiral Porter has
been so long expected that it caused
little excitement. The Admiral has for
several months been practically dead to
the world. He has not left his room
since he entered it in October, on his
return from his summer home at New
port. His death finally came from the
result of a combination of causes, not
the least of which was his advanced age.
The Admiral's death will result in no
naval changes. Though nominally on
the ''active list" he has been in prac-
tical retirement for great many years.
In fact, he could not be retired except
at his own request and that re-
quest the vanity and ambition which
have ever been the Admiral's strongest
characteristics would never permit him
to make He long ago determined to
die at the head Of the navy in name if
he were not SO in fact. BY his death
the rank of Admiral ceases to exist.
The ranking officer of the navy now
will be Rear Admiral Kimberly, who
was executive officer of Farragut's
flagship at Mobile bay, and who two
years ago lost his own flagship, the
Trenton, at Samoa.
Admiral Porter leaves several child
ren. One son is a Lieutenant in the
navy, another is Captain in the marine
corps, and David Essex, the eldest
son, was formerly an officer in the
army. There are also one or two
daughters. One of them recently mar
ried Captain Campbell, of the army.
During the war Admiral Porter received
more than 100000 in prize money and
since 1870 he has received St3, 900 year
as Admiral. He therefore leaves very
comfortable estate.
David Dixon Porter was born in Chester, Del,
June g. 1913, and after studying in Columbian
college, " Washington, accompanied his father
in the John Adams to suppress piracy in the
West Indies. Subsequently he served
entered the United States navy as
midshipman. His promotion was rapid until
he became commander When the civil war
broke out he had charge of the steam frigate
Powhatan, which dispatched TO join the
gulf-blockading squadron at Pensacola.
Then, in 1851 he was placed in
command Of the mortar fleet which
assisted Admiral drragut in bombarding Forts
jackson and St. Philip below New Orleans
He also assisted in the operations at Vicks-
burg though the navy did not take a con-
spicuous part in the capture of that city,
In 1862 he acted as rear admiral of the Missis-
sippi squadron, and in January Of the follow.
ing year helped General Sherman to capture
Arkansas Post. In 1884 he had command Of
the fleet that bombarded Fort Fisher, and in
1865 took part in the capture of the same fort
In the course of the war Porter was four times
voted the thanks of Congress. After the re-
bellion he was made Vice Admiral and served
as superintendent Of the naval academy until
1859, being then detailed for duty in the Navy
Department at Washington. He was appointed
Admiral of the navy in 1901