Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-11
ADMIRAL FAIRFAX DEAD.
He Was . Participant I'm the Trent
Affair.

He Was . Participant In the Trent
Affair.
Rear Admiral Donald MacNein Fairfax,
United States navy (retired), died at his
home on Prospect street, Hagerstown. Nd
yesterday, aged seventy-two years and ten
months. He had been i'll but a few days.
being upon the street on Saturday. Death
resulted from pneumonia. Admiral Fairfax
since his retirement from active service in
September, 1881, had resided in Hagerstown
Md; Geneva, N. Y, and Washington, but
principally in Hagerstown, where he has
been active in church and charitable mat
tiers. He was twice married. His first wife
was Virginia Rayland of Virginia. by whom
one son survives. VIM. Mcneil Fairfax Of
New York. His second wife is a daughter
of the late Admiral Foote. who was first
married to a Mr.. Reese of Westminster. Md
An Eventful Career.
Donald MacNein Fairfax was born at
Sharon Hill, Virginia, March 10, 1871 At
the age of sixteen years he was appointed q
midshipman in the navy, and attached to
the receiving and schoolship Hudson, at
New York After three months training
in naval life he started on a cruise around
the world in the John Adams, and en- route
from British India to China helped destroy
several piratical villages on the west coast
of Sumatra for outrages committed on
American sailing vessels in those seas.
After further service on board several
school ships. young Fairfax was promoted
to passed midshipman June 70. 1913. and
ordered to the Missouri, which was to take
Caleb Gushing to China via Suez. At
Gibralter the Missouri was destroyed by fire,
and the crew returned to America.
He was present on the Princeton in 1874
when Secretary Upshur and others were
killed by the bursting of a gun. Fairfax.
after this, started on anothe. voyage
around the world. and on reaching the Pa
cific coast learned of the war with Mexico
He was made acting master Of the Erie,
and took part in the capture of Mazatlan
and Lower California; was engaged in var
ious duties of the service afioat and ashore
during the next ten years, and in 1858 help
ed capture Walker and his filibustering
band in Nicaragua. He was commissioned
lieutenant during the services, and at the
breaking out of the civil war was executive
officer of the frigate San Jacinto. Capt
Wilkes.
While the San Jacinto was returning from
Africa in 1861, the officers of the vessel
among whom was Lieut. Fairfax, learned
that Messrs. Mason and Slidell. the confed-
crate agents to foreign governments, were
on board the English mail steamer Trent
The latter was overtaken near the BAHIA
mas, and 10 Lieut. Fairfax was intrusted
the task Of securing Mason and Slidell. To
his tact was due the taking Of the men
without taking possession OF the vessel. In
a personal interview with Secretary Chase
concerning the Trent affair, Fairfax was
told that The had saved this country from
great embarrassment. IL not war; with En-
gland"
His commission as commander reached
Lieut. Fairfax in July. 1862. while he was
campaigning near Baton Rouge. In COM
mand Of the monitor Nantucket he Joined
in the attack on the Charleston forts in
1868. He reached the rank Of captain In
lSH. commodore in 1S1S and ad
July II, 1880. He was placed on the retired
list September 30. 1881. after a total sea
service Of twenty years and four months
and shore duty Of fifteen years