Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-29
ADMIRAL TEMPLE DEAD
Stricken by Apoplexy While Alone in His
Room.
Brief Sketch of His Long and Honor
able Career in the United
States Navy.

Rear Admiral William G. Temple, United
States navy, retired, died at his apartments
at the Portland yesterday afternoon, about
$50 O'Clock, from an attack Of apopleyy,
which first manifested itself about noon Of
the day before. He was stricken while
alone in his room, and his condition was
not discovered until an hour later when a
waiter went to his room with his luncheon.
The admiral was lying on the floor in a
comatose state, and the waiter thought he
was dead. He gave an alarm at once. and
Medical Director Wales of the navy. an
intimate friend of the invalid, was promptly
on hand. hasty examination showed him
that the case was beyond medical aid. and
he directed his efforts to easing the last
hours or the invalid. Admiral Temple was
unconscious when found. and remained in
that condition up to the time of his death.
Mr.. Edward L. Temple, a nephew, arrived
here yesterday afternoon from Rutland,
VT, and Will have charge of the funeral
arrangements. The admiral had no family.
His wife. who was a daughter of Gen. j.
G.. Totten, died near:y five years ago. No
children resulted from the marriage. The
nearest relatives are two naphews and two
nieces- Edward L. Tctten. who resides at
the old Temple homestead, built in 1912, in
Rutland, Vt. the admiraIs birthplace,
Arthur Temple. Alice Temple and Mrs.
John A Mason of Chicago Ill. A sister of
fis wife, Mrs. Charles H. Graves, and her
husband of Duluth Mimi. have spent sew
eral winters during the last few years at
the Portland.
An Excellent Naval Record.
Admiral Temple has an excellent naval
record He was born at Rutland. VT, in
March. 1924, and entered the navy as a
midshipman in 1910. graduating from the
Naval Academy six years later. He was
with the Boston when that vessel was
ticirated in the bcmbardment and capture
of Vera Cruz in 1917, as an officer of the
steamer Scourge. and he took part also In
the subsequent engagements at Alvarado.
Tuspan and Tobasco. frequently command
Ing parties against the Mexican forces, and
sometimes commanding batteries.
Subsequently he assisted In the survey Of
the interoceanic railroad and canal across
the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec and then took
a cruise In the Pacific on the frigate Lam
caster. in 1850. By this time he had reach
ed the rank of lieutenant and was placed
in command of the steamer Flanbian at
New York for a short time.
He had a very active career during the
late civil war. In July, 1867. having reached
the grade of lieutenant commander. he was
detailed to command the gunboat Pembna
in the western gulf blockading expedition.
and from November, 1Si2, until September.
1854, he was fleet captain of the eastern
gulf blockading squadron. While on such
duty he led a force OF sailors in defense Of
the approaches or washington, at the time
when the capture of that city was seriously
threatened by Gen. Eariy's brigade. in Jrly.
1854. Admiral Temple commanded the
steamer Pontoosuc from November. 1854
to May, 1865. and participated in the at
tack on Fort Fisher. the capture of Will
mington, the bombardments of forts on the
James river and in the capture OF Peters
burg and Richmond He became a full
commander in March, 1865, and commanded
the steamer Tacony, attached to the North
Atlantic squadron, until 1866. when he was
detailed to four years term of ordnance
duty. He reached the grade of captain in
1870. and his career was comparatively I'M
eveEtful until 1854. when he escorted King
kalakaua of the Hawaiian Islands on the &C.
casion of his memorable visit to this coun-
try. for which service he subsequently re-
ceived the decoration of knight commander
of the Royal Order of Kamehamcha l. He
became a commodore in June. 1878, served
as a member of the examining and retiring
board and became its president in June.
1881. He attained the highest rank in the
navy, namely, a rear admiral, February %.
1854 and voluntarily went on the retired
list of the navy seven days later under the
forty years service law.