Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-08
ADMIRAL SHUFELDT DEAD
One Of the Most Eminent Officers of the
American Navy.
His Distinguished Services Before,
During and Since the War
of the Rebellion.

Rear Admiral Robert W. Shufeldt, one of
the most eminent officers of the American
navy, died at his residence in this city at
the corner of 18th and De Sales streets this
morning about 1870 o'clock. He had been
an invalid for several years and his end was
not altogether unexpected. About five years
ago he had a severe attack Of the grip, from
which he never entirely recovered; and last
year, while visiting near Hamilton, Va, he
was thrown from a carriage by q runaway
horse and sustained a severe shock to his
system. AS soon as he was able to stand the
journey he was brought to this city, and has
remained here ever since, confirmed in
valid.
The immediate cause of his death was an
acute attack of bronchitis, which his en-
feebled constitution was unable to with
stard. DR.. Gunnell Of the navy and DIR.
BromUell We're his physicians and were with
him at the time of his death. The members
of his family were also at his bedside this
morning. These were his daughter and his
two sons. His eldest son is marshal OF the
United States consulate at Shanghai, and
his other son is retired army officer.
Although the arrangements for his funeral
are not completed, it is more than probable
that he will be buried al the Arlington cem-
etery Saturday morning.
His Distinguished Career.
Rear Admiral Shufeldt had a distin-
gushed career and rendered excellent Ser
vice to his country before, during and since
the war. He was born in Duchess county,
N. Y, February, 1922, and entered the navy
as midshipman in May, 1899. During his
early career he cruised in South American
and African waters In June, 1854, he re-
signed his commission in the navy and took
an active part in the organization of the
steam commercial marine of New York.
He serNed-t two years in the Collins line of
steamers between New York and Liverpool
and superintendent the building of the
steamers Black Warrior and Cahawba, both
of which he subsequently commanded.
He was next engaged in the effort to open
the transit route across the isthmuS of Te-
huantepec. At the outbreak of the war he
was in command of the steamer Quaker
City, running between New York and Ha-
vana, and was appointed by President Lin
coin consul general to Cuba.
He held this Office for two years under
specially trying circumstances. and was
then sent to Mexico on special mission in
connection with the invasion of the French.
He re-entered the navy with the rank of
commander in 1862 and was placed In COM
nland of the Conemaugh. He subsequently
commanded the Proteus of the gulf squad
ron. He took part in the capture of Morris
Island, the attacks on Fort Wagner and in
the attack upon St. Marks Fla.
After the war he visited Asia. in COM
mand of the Hartford, and served as chief
of the bureau of equipment and recruiting
from February, 1873, to November. 1878,
during which time he reorganiZed the naval
apprentice system He was commissioned
as a comr Cdore in Septe mber, 1876, and
had command Of tie naval forces at New
Orleans during the election troubles of that
year.
The Treaty With COrca.
In 1878 he had as his flagship the steam
soop Ticonderoga, and made a commercial
and diplomatic cruise around the world un-
der the auspices or the State Department.
He was appointed arbitrator by the En-
glish and American governments to settle
the Lirerian boundary question, and he was
also authorized to open negotiations with
the kingdom of Corea for the protection of
American life and property. He succeeded
in this latter mission, and the treaty with
Corea was signed in May, 1883. 1t was the
first treaty ever made by that country with
ary western power, and opened 1t to the
commerce of the world.
Subsequently he was president of the ma
val advisory board which designed the first
steel cruisers of the new navy. and was af-
terward superintendent of the naval OBJ
servatory. He reached the grade of rear
admiral in 1883, and was retired on ac-
count of age in February, 1854, since which
time he has mainly resided in this city. In
1860 he wrote a thesis on the African slave
trade with Cuba, which attracted the at
tention of the government and led to a
treaty with Great Britain which caused the
eXtirpation of that traffic between Africa
and the Island of Cuba.