Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-15


nesday determined to visit his daughter,
Mrs. Bradley, and get the advantage of the
fresh country air and enjoy a rest. Ac-
cordingly accompanied by his son, Mr..
Rowan Stevens, he went to Rockville in
the evening. Yesterday he was feeling
comparatively WELL except for slight pain
in the region of the stomach.
He sat up until 10 o'clock last night,
occasionally dczing, and then retired At
. o'clock this morning Mr. Rowan Stevens
was awakened by his fathers heavy
breathing and attempted to awaken him.
were Immediately summoned to the ad
miraIs side, and the former hastened to
secure his family physician, DR.. Stone
street. The doctor responded at once, but
Admiral Stevens was dead before the gen.
tleman reached the house. The remains
will be brought this evening to the family
residence. No. 1904 10Th street. Lieut..
Thomas H. Stevens of the navy, the eldest
son of the admiral, will also reach Wash
ington tonight and the arrangements for
the funeral will then be made.
Besides the lieutenant, Admiral Stevens
leaves two other sons, Messrs. Pierce c.
and Rowan Stevens and daughter, Mrs.
Robert Bradley. to mourn his loss.
A Remarkable Career.
Rear Admiral Thomas Holdup Stevens
veLs, who reached the highest rank then
attainable in the navy, and who was one
of the heroes in the battle of Lake Erie,
sharing with Commodore Perry the honors
of that occasion by his remarkable accom-
plishments with the sloop Trippe, which
he commanded. The elder Stevens was
voted a silver medal by Congress for his
bravery, and presented with sword by
the citizens of Charleston, his native place.
His son. who died this morning, was a
? nfS I-eh ant in hos ,ioa
of his country. Born in Middletown, Conn,
in May 1919. he was appointed a midship-
man in December, 1896. and in 1872 served
as aid to President Tyler. He was COM
missioned a lieutenant May 10, 1919, and
was in command Of the schooner Ewing
from 1852 to 1855 surveying the California
and Oregon coasts.
Went ut Once to the Front.
When the civil war began he applied for
duty at the front and was ordered to COM
mand the Ottawa, one of the ninety days
gunboats Lieut.. Stevens drove the fleet Of
crew of volunteers at Erie, Pa, for tn"
boat, and with it joined the South Atlantic
blockading squadron of Admiral Samuel f.
Du Pont. While commanding a division of
gun boats Lieut.. Stevens drove the fleet of
Commodore Josiah Tatnall under the pro-
lection of the forts at Port Royal. In the
battle of Port Royal which followed he ell
gagged Fort Walker at short range. He
commanded the leading vessel in the COM
bined attack of navy and land forces on
Fort Clinch March 3, 1862, and the capture
of the town of st. Mary's, Ga, and also
commanded the first expedition up the st.
James river, occupying Mayport. Jackson
Vile. Magnolia and Palatka, and Forts
Steele and Finigan, capturing on the same
trip the yacht America. In May, 1862, he
left the South Atlantic blockading squad
ron to take command of the steamer
MaratanZa. With this vessel he was pres
ent at the battle of West Point, and COM
msnded the first expedition to Cumberland
and White House to open the James river
taking part in the demonstration at Peters
burg ard the battle at Malvern HILL
The Episode of the Gladiator.
On the Fourth of July 1862 he captured
the confederate gunboat Teaser and on
the 18th of the same month he was ordered
to the command of the ironclad Monitor
with which he covered the flank of the
army on the James river and it's rear dur
ing the withdrawal from the Peninsula
While attached to Commodore Wilkes fy-
ing squadron he captured five prizes in
1857 and chased the confederate privateer
Florida on the Bahama banks. few days
afterward, on October Z. 1862. while off St
George. Bermuda, he stopped the steamer
Gladiator, which had the appearance of
blockade runner, notwithstanding she was
under the convoy of the British sloop-of-
war Desperate. Both Stevens and the En-
glish captain cleared their decks for action
but the Gladiator was not allowed to pro-
fed to its character. He assumed COM
mand of the ironclad Patapsco in August.
1863. and in the engagement with the forts
in Charleston harbor performed service of
a most gallant character. Long before this
his courage and gallantry and persistent
pursuit of the enemy wherever he could
find 1t had gained for Commander Stevens
the soubriquet of Fighting Tom" and
by this name he was known throughout
the entire north and detested through the
entire south.
Brilliant Services Mt Mobile.
He had a most severe engagement with
the batteries on Sullivan's Island, and then
led a boat attack on Fort Sumter. He
afterward commanded the Oneida Of the
Western gulf blockading squadron, but was
temporarily transferred to the iron-clad
Winnebago for the operations before Mo-
bile In 1864, end was again conspicuous
for the mastery manner in which he han
died his vessel and his dazzling personal
daring. He commanded the Oneida off the
coast of Texas in 1866. He was made a
captain in July, 1865: commodore in
November, 1872, and was commissioned a
rear admiral October q, 1879 In this
capacity he commanded the Pacific feet,
ard after acting as president of the board
of visitors at the Naval Academy he was
retired May q, 1881.
On account cf the distinguished services
he had rendered his country and his long
residence in Washington, Admiral Stew.
ems was one of the best-known and most
popular citizens of the District He was
a man of genial social qualities and also
keenly interested in every thing that would
serve to advance the material interests and
prosperity of the community. He was in
terested in a number of enterprises from
time to time, and gave them close personal
attention and valuable assistance by: his
ripe judgment and keen foresight : Ad-
miral Stevens death is rezarled as being
due to a general and sudden breaking
nj aff q