Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-02-20
ADMIRAL PORTER DEAD.
HE PASSES AWAY QUIETLY AT HIS
HOME IN WASHINGTON.
Fatty Degeneration of the Heart the
Cause of Dcath-In the 20 tn Year of His
Age-The Funeral Attended with the
Highest Military Honors.

WASHINGTON, Feb 13.-Admiral David
d. Porter died suddenly at $40 this morn
ing al his residence, 11l4 II street. Death
resulted from fatty degeneration of the
heart, which asserted its fatal clutch upon
him at Newport, X. l., last summer, When
he was striker with complication OF dis
cases. including congestion OF the lungs and
dropsy. His death was calm and peaceful.
1t came almost without warning at .
clock. The admiral's son, Richard, first
noticed "A change in his fathers condition.
lie was breathing heavy and his pulse was
very feeble The household was at Cnce
aroused and Dr. Wales scnt Tor. The
patents pulse grew still more faint and at
S:1J ceased to beat. At that hour he
gasped convulsvcly and expired without a
work. He was IS years of age. The flags
on the White House and all other public
buildings were placed at half mast i'll re
spect TO the memory of the dead sailor.
President Harrison this afternoon sent
message to Congress announcing the death Of
the noted admiral and eulogiling his great
services to the country.
The secretary of the navy issued a general
order this afternoon, announcing the dcUth
OF Admiral Porter and ordering ON the day
OF the funeral the navy department to be
closed the flag displayed at half-mast at all
navy yards and stations aud on board all
ships in commission aud i, minute guns
fired from each navy yard, the usual badge
of mourning are ordered for 30 days.
Admiral David Dickson Porter was
born in Pennsylvania, June 8 1914. He
was the youngest son Of Commodore David
Porter, who commanded the Essex frigate
in the war with Great Britain in 1Sl2-l4.
lie entered the service as midshipman, in
February, 1929, and served in the Mediter-
ranean until 1850 when he was employed
for several years in the coast survey and
river exploration, and became lieutenant
in ISL. At the close Of lS4J he was placed
an special duty at the observatory at Wash
iugton, which position he resigned in 1916
IN order to take part IN the Mexican war
At the outbreak of the civil war in lS6l,
he was promoted to the rank of commander
and at the beginning of 1862 the morter
fleet for the reduction of the forts below
New Orleans was placed under his orders,
Tho entire naval force being commanded by
Commodore Farragut. After the capture
OF New Orleans he proceeded up the river
with his fleet, and was engaged in the uu-
successful siege of Nicksburg, which was
raised July -, 1862 In the summer OF
1868, during the second siege OF VicksLurg,
he bombsrded the works, and rendered ma
terial assistance to Glen. Grant, who com
manded the besieging army, until the occu-
patton of that stronghold, July 4. For this
lie made rear-admiral. Admiral Porter
was employed i'll several important oxpedi-
TONS especially in the two combined at
lacks on Port Fisher, which commands the
approaches to Wilmington, y. {. The first
OF these at the close Of 1864, miscGrried.
The second, in January, lN61, was com
ploteIy successful. Admiral Porter was
advanced to the rank of vice admiral July
%, 1866 From 1866 to 1870 ne was super-
intendcnt Of the United States naval
academy at Annapolis. On the death OF
admiral Farragut, October /, 1870 ne
was advanced to the rank OF admiral, which
carries with il the command OF the entire
navy of the United States, subject only to
the president. He has published "lncident>
and Anecdotes of the Civil War" "Adven
lures of Harry Marine, - "Allen Dare and
robert lie Diabe," all appearing in 1883.