The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-17
LIEUT.. COM. r. M. G. BROWN
Retires from the Navy Because of
Injuries Received.

Brown, U. S. N, has been placed
upon the retired list, on account of
physical disabilities incident to the
services. When young officer a
boat fell upon him and he sustained
severe injuries. In the great gale
at Samoa, when the Trenton was
wrecked, he received many inju-
ries, from which he has since suf-
fered. The chagres fever, contracted
at Panama, also made such inroads
upon his health that he was forced
to petition to De relieved from
active service.
Lieut.. Commander Brown has a
most remarkable and interesting
record.
He was born IN West Virginia,
and was appointed from this state
to the naval academy, then at New
port, entering in July, 1864. He
graduated in June, 1868, number
three in a class of eighty. He sailed
from New York upon the Alaska in
April 1870, for China, and made a
three years cruise IN that vessel.
He took part in the Corean expedi-
ton. lie commanded the sailors
landed as infantry from that ship,
and was in the final charge at fort
Mckee. In the official reports on
the action he was mentioned as
among those first in the fort.
On June II, 1873, he assumed
command of the torpedo ram Alarm,
$4,000 having been appropriated
to fit the Mallory propeller to this
vessel, and carried on All extensive
series of experiments to test its
value.
He was ordered to the Lackawana
in the south Pacific station, in May,
1884. Shortly after he made an
adverse report upon the Panama
canal scheme, which attracted wide
attention at the time. While on
the isthmus he contracted chagres
fever and had to return home in
1885.
In October, 1889, he was ordered
as navigation officer Of the flagship
Trenton, bound for the Pacific. lie
was especially commended to the
navy department for the manner in
which he navigated the Trenton
through the straits of Magellan and
Smyth's sound.
In the memorable gale at Samoa
he maintained his reputation for
GOODNESS and daring in a remarlla-
BILE degree. Capt. Farquhar of the
Trenton, in his report of the hur-
ricane, which was approved and
forwarded by Rear Admiral KIM
berly, says: "Lieut. L. NJ. G.
Brown, the navigator, was by my
side the whole time, and by his
excellent Judgment, one time at
least, the ship was cleared of a reef
Had we struck it, | fear few of the
$50 people on board Of the Trenton
would be aliye to-day"
In a letter from Rear Admira
Kimberly, in reference to the los
of the Trenton, to the secretary O
the Navy, he says: "The flagship
now without steam or rudder, he
anchors dragging, drifted almos
at the mercy of the gale along tn
edge of the eastern reef, at time
not more than twenty feet from
total destruction.
every endeayor was made t
control her movements, and he
commanding officer states in hi
report that upon at least one occa
sion it was thought the excellen
judgment Of Lieut.. r. NJ. G
Brown, the navigating officer, tina
the ship cleared the reef and tn
$50 lives on board were saved"
1t was while handling the shi
on this occasion that navigatin
officer Brown put the ships con
pany in the rigging, thus making
living sail, which was as effective ;
1t was unprecedented.
Liet. Commander Brown has f
the past few years been on speci
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