The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-21
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CAREER OF DE ROHAN.
ADMIRAL DAHLGREN'S BROTHER A
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.

An Early Quarrel Estranges Them for
Life-His Service on Two Continents with
Garibaldi-His Uprecompensed Service
for Victor Emanuel.
Admiral William de Rohan, who died
in this city, was one Of the most remark
able men of this century, and complete
sketch of his life would read like chap
ter from medieval history. He was of
Morse descent, his father having been a
Swedish nobleman, and he was born
Dahlgren, his elder brother being Ad-
miral Dahlgren, Of the United States
navy, whose services afoat during the
war, as well as his advanced improve
ments in ordnance, make such bright
page in the history of our navy. Another
brother. younger, Charles Dahlgren,
took sides with the south during the
war and was a general officer.
De Rohan was nearly six feet IN height,
broad shouldered and deep chested, and
in his prime of life must have been one
of the most powerful men living. His
head was Websterian in its proportions.
THE BROTHERS FIGHT.
AWAY back in the forties, when Will
lam had grown to mans estate IN years,
Admiral Dahlgren, then lieutenant,
was stationed at the navy yard here en-
gagged in the ordnance departments, that
made his name famous for the style and
method of building the great ship guns
that bore his name and that fought the
naval battles of the civil war. One day
Dahlgren, the elder son, saw fit to take
William severely to task for something,
and that brought on storm of angry
words on both sides that resulted in the
younger man knocking the older brother
into corner of the room. Dignity for
babe personal alteration, and Dahl
gren had an officer sent for.
Taken to the old City h all, William
was sullen and unrepentant, and though
family and neutral friends tried to stop
proceedings, Dahlgren pressed the case,
and the offender was fined 500 for the
assault. Then Dahlgren told the magis-
trate that if William would make a
public apology for having struck an Off
Ger of the navy while in uniform he
would be willing that the penalty be set
aside.
Never! Never!" said William. 81
will never apologize nor even speak
word to you while God lets me live; and
more, while you live [ will never again
bear the name that you do"
So they parted in the mayors room at
the City hall, and William assumed his
mothers name of De Roman, by which
he was known thereafter at home and
abroad to The day of his death. His
mother was member Of the prlncely
family Of De Rohan, of France.
Going abroad, his family connections
and ample means brought him into in
timacy with persons of the highest rank
in life, among them being Admiral Ho-
bart (Pasha), of the Turkish navy, and
with him he took service under the sui
tan, with the rank OF captain.
HIS CAREER IN ITALIAN WATERS.
Leaving the Turks he went to the
Argentine Republication Buenos Ayres
with Garibaldi, and commanded the
naval forces of that country in the sue
cessful revolution that brought indepen-
dence. After that, when Garibaldi came
to this country, De Rohan went to Chill
and became admiral of the CHILEAN navy.
Late in the fifties he joined Garibaldi,
with whom he was IN constant CORE
spondence, in Europe, andentered heart
and soul with him in his plans for the
unifcation and independence of Italy.
While the great liberator directed and
commanded the land forces De Rohan
was made admiral of the revolutionary
navy. which was confirmed by Victor
Emanuel.
He was an admiral without fleet, for
they did not have single vessel heavier
than coral fishing felucca; but he was
energetic, and by very liberal outlay
of funds from his private purse and con-
tributions by English and French friends
he actually succeeded in purchasing and
arming three good sized merchant steam
ers, with which he escaped to Sardinia
and reported to Victor Emanuel.
1t was on these vessels that the then
king of Sardinia and such troops as he
had were transported TO the mainland of
Italy, and history tells of the result.
During the siege of Rome Admiral De
Rohan commanded the marine division
under Garibaldi and supervised the ar
tillery fire.
Other forms of government than re-
publicS are at times ungrateful, and 1t Is
so In this case, for. while Admiral DE
Rohan spent nearly $3.50, 900 in providing
the means that gave the throne of Italy
e la &c
paid penny, and died in Providence
hospital here, cared for by charitable
friends.
During number of years he resided
IN England, where he became interested
in the formation and workings of the
British naval reserve, IL which he was
commissioned a commander by the ad-
miralty. During the civil war he was
intensely loyal to the north, but refused
to take service in orr navy lest he might
at some time be brought under the COM
mand of his brother, Admiral John Dahl
gren.
Put off by various excuses and neg
lected by Victor Emanuel in his attempts
TO secure repayment of the immense
sums advanced to Italy, he came home
about 1871 and laid his claims before the
secretary of state.
In the belief that something would at
least be accomplished, De Roman went
abroad again, and for several years tried
to work some mines ne owned in Sar-
DINA or Sicily, but he lacked capital for
the work, and returned home TO find his
case slumbering as neglectedly as though