The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-22

EVEETPUL AND TIRIED CARRIER OF
"sAlLOR JODs sKEEEETr.
First q MILDLY and Later Engaged In the
Work OF stopping tho African Slave
Trade.

WASHINGTON. April 2o.-Commodore
Skerrett, whose nomination to be Rear
Admiral has been sent by the President
to the Senate, has had an interesting and
eventful career. He came OF Philadelphia
stock, although the family had removed
20 Ohio and was living at Chiiiieothe
when he was born. He was named Joseph
Salathiel. the middle name being adopted
from Eugene Sue'e character OF the Wan
dering Jew, which greatly impressed the
elder Skerrett
One OF Skerretts playmates in childhood
was Lucy Webb. who afterward became
the wife of a President OF the United
States. The friendship Of youth extended
through the lifetime of Mrs. Hayes, aud
the naval officer was always welcome
at the White House during the Hayes
Administration. President Hayes offered
him the position of Bureau Chief in the
Navy Department, place that. with
Characteristic modesty, the then comman-
der refused, on the ground that he had
not sufficient rank, an objection which
some officers have declined to consider.
Young Skerrett had the choice Of going
10 Annapolis or TO West Point as the
Congressman OF his district had a place
al each institution at his disposal. Skier
rett chose the Naval Academy, and has
always laughingly said that In doing go
he had his narrowest escape. for a short
time afterward the Military Academy man
was killed in an Indian fight. Skerrett
WAS made midshipman--a grade since
abolished I'm the navv-and was imme-
diately sent to sea. He early distinguish
al fo HI ftt,
destined to earn for him the endearing
nickname of Sailor joe" He IS consid-
cred the best navigator I'm the navy.
When the. war broke out Skerrett was
on the coast of Africa. engaged i'm the
determination Of the slave trade. He was
with the ship which aided In the capture
Of The Nightingale, one Of the last of the
American savers. with over 900 slaves
on board. He found that there was no
disposition In Washington TO order him
nome and allow him TO take part i'm the
greater activities on this side OF the water
and he grew impatient Of the delay.
The disinclination to assign Lieutenant
Skerrett 10 duty in the United States I'm
the early days of the war arose from
the prejudice OF Secretary Welles against
the officer. There had been hints OF the
dsoyalty Of members OF his wifes FAM
lily. and Mrs. Skerrett was said to SYM
pathZe with the Southern side
Lieutenant Skerrett saw Secretary
Weles. and said that If he was not as
signed some duty he would resign. and
go back TO Ohio. and enter an artillery
regiment and fight anyhow Welles rec
ognized the loyalty Of the officer. and
admired the spirit Of the man. lie or
dered Skerrett to important ordnance du-
ty at the Washington Navy Yard. He
insisted that Skerrett should stay in
the navy. and If he sought TO have his
resignation accepted the Secretary
Threatened him with imprisonment at
Fort Mifliin. on the Delaware.
II was late In the war before the de-
partmental prejudice was dlspelled for
after Skerrett had served at Washing
ton. he was assigned TO the blOckading
squadrons where there was scant oppor-
tunity TO distinguish himself. II was
not until 1864 that he succeeded IN get
ting into an engagement. which he had
so much desired during the conflict. IL
was In June of that year that he sue
cessfully attacked the Notifications at
the mouth Of the Brazos river
He was again in this city In 1866 and
1851. and then went 10 the apprentice
ship Portsmouth as commander lie did
much to build up the apprentice system
in the navy In 1865 he took charge of
the department of seamanship at the
Naval Academy. where. years before, he
was graduated at the head of his class.
He left the academy in 1872. and. as Cap
tain Of the Portsmouth, made one Of
the most useful and conspicuous voyages
in the history Of the navy-an extern
sive surveying trip in the Pacific With
err he went via the Horn
Twenty days were passed In one
., afn Oh NJ
the Horn. the ship drifting so far south
that the officers and men suffered greatly
from exposure The only fire which
could be kept was a small one in the
galley. and By il bricks were heated and
carried 10 those who We're forced 10 re-
main on deck. Several of the crew were
frost-bitten.
Reaching the Pacific, Capt Skerrett
visited Honolulu, among other places,
just az the time when the revolution Of
1873 was threatening. AS a result Of
the presence Of Skerretts ship, peace was
maintained and kalakaua was placed
on the throne.
Ii was on this occasion that Captain
Skerrett made his celebrated entrance
into the harbor Of Honolulu, a place
which was usually thought 70 require
a trained pilot and where. unaided,
"Sailor Joe " took his vessel without
injury. TO the Amusement Of the other
CAPTAINS assembled at the port. one, an
old Russian Admiral, wrote Skerrett a
letter. comrlimenting him for his skill.
The Portsmouth went as far north as
Alaska. where Skerrett aided an Esqui-
mau colony. The vessel then proceeded
to New York, around the Horn once
more The trip had been one of great
value TO the navy department, and fur
nlshed the mariners with the accurate
surveys OF parts OF the Pacific which
had 10 the time been indinerenuy. or
not at all surveyed. The trip cost Cap
tain Skerrett much trouble with his
eyesight,N and he never fully regained
his vision.
After another period Of duty Ia Wash
iugton, and a term of lighthouse duty
In Maine. Captain Skerrett was ordered
TO the Richmond. and assigned 10 the
China station. He stopped at Samoa, and
commenced negotiations for The coalins
sight al Page Page, and settled some
trouble there into which the American
consul had become involved. Later he
was conspicuous for his activity IN pro-
tecting American interests during the
Tonquin war.
He served for the next four years
az Philadelphia, and had board duty
until 1890, when he commanded the
Portsmouth Navy Yard. and later the
Washington Navy Yard In 1889, he was
sent to Honolulu. as commander-in-chief
of the Pacific station. In November 1875.
he was transferred to the China station,
u.here he is likely TO remain I'm command
until his retirement in January next
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