Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-06-04
CAREER OF DE ROHAN.
ADMIRAL DAHLGRERS BROTHER A
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.

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 a chap
ter from medieval history. He was of
Morse descent, his father having been
Swedish nobleman, and he was born
Dahlgren, his elder brother being Ad-
miral Dahlgren, of the United States
navy, whose services adoat 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 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 VIII
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
bade personal alteration. and Dahl
gren had an officer sent for.
Taken to the old City 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 800 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.
''Neverl Neverr' said William. II
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 Rohan, by which
he was known thereafter at home and
abroad to the day of his death. His
mother was a member of the princely
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 Republic 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 Chilian 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 hberator 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 a single vessel heavier
than coral fishing felucca; but he was
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 it is
20 IN this case, for, while Admiral De
Rohan spent nearly $3.50, 900 in providing
the means that gave the throne of Italy
TO the house of Savoy, he never was re-
paid a penny, and died in Providence
hospital here, cared for by charitable 8
friends.
During number of years he resided
n England, where he became interested
n the formation and workings of the
British naval reserve, in which he was '
commander by the ad- {
niralty. During the civil war he was
loyal to the north, but refused |
o take service in our navy lest he might S
It some time be brought under the COM q
nand of his brother, Admiral ] John Dahl e
,ren.
Put off by various excuses and neg
ected by Victor Emanuel in his attempts /
o secure repayment of the immense S
ums advanced to Italy, he came home i
bout 1871 and laid his claims before the U
ecretary of state [
In the belief that something would at v
east be accomplished, De Rohan went s.
broad again, and for several years tried Il
o work some mines he owned in Sar- il
inia or Sicily, but he lacked capital for el
he work, and returned home to find his h
ase slumbering as neglectedly as though tt
o one in the state department had ever ri
card of it. II
He was thoroughly disheartened, and al
or the first time in his life his high Of
Durage failed before his misfortunes
nd his health gave way. He was then
early seventy years of age, and when
;roks of paralysis followed he failed b.
apidly In hospital. Washington Post. 10
II should be remembered that the 90
eeper the well the larger the area from bf
'hich the rain water finds its way into
. No discharges or other secretions tb
ON the room of sick person should be ar