The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-29
THE PATRIARCH e OF +, THE n d s.: Nay ",
the Late William Plume Moran-A
! "a Detailed Sketch of His Career
An Interesting Record . Nv

L r. Il. - y
tine announcement of the death OF
1.-the venerable y William PiGme MO-
ran, which occurred In WASHINGTON
ID. G.. last Tuesday, :Tfoni the Army
ana Navy Register OF. December 25th
the following detailed sketch of his ca
reer Is given, which will be found very
Interestingly:
styled THE Patriarch OF the Navy"
WAS born in Norfolk. Va, January 20,
1911. From has earliest years he was in
ttmately associated with the naval SER
vice a memorable incident of his
| childhood may be cited: Commodore
Barron. who ynortally wounded De-
catur in that famous duel, fought at
Bladensburg 22d March, 1920, was
gre1t friend of Mr.. Moran's father.
Barron, together with his second, Ell
liot;, practtced for the meeting at the
Moran homestead, Client, near Norfolk,
Mr.. Moran's father arranged with the
captain or the steam packet Potomac,
plying between Norfolk and Washing
| ton, that In case either of the princi-
pals was fatally wounded or killed a
red flag should fly at the masthead.
Mr.. Moran. then a boy of nine. eagerly
watched for the signal as the little boat
passed his fathers house, and he ran all
the way into Norfolk 10 the packets
L
from the captain.
| On January !, 1927, Mr.. Moran was ap-
| pointed clerk to the captain of the Port
of Norfolk and served as such until Au-
gust 13, 1888, when he went to sea az
| clerk to Captain Beverly Kennon on the
| Fandalia, spending eighteen months on
the Brazilian station
After leaving the Vandalia Mr.. Moran
| was attached to the West Indian flee;
for. ~,
ship of eighteen guns commanded by
Captain Henry Of Norfolk.
Upon his return from the West Indian
! cruise Mr.. Moran was attached to the
receiving ship Pennsylvania, at Nor
folk. until October rs. 1913, when Com
| modore Warrington offered him clerk
ship in the Bureau OF Yards and Docks
| IN the, navy department. which he &C
copied.
During the war Mr. Moran had the
closest confidence of Secretary Gideon
Wells. all orders passing through his
| hands. At this trying time he per-
formed several duties in addition to
those of registrar and detail clerk. often
rema lining at the navy department until
after midnight, sending off orders and
receiving dispatches.
When the fire which occurred in the
old navy department threatened TO de-
stroy valuable documents and books.
Mr.. Moran, with the assistance Of sew
eral young officers, worked heroically
among falling plaster until all the pa
| pers were saved. narrowly escaping in
jury from falling debris.
For over forty years Mr.. Moran signed
| the commission of every cadet appoint
| ed TO the Academy and of every officer
of the navy. And there are probably
officers in the service whose commits
| sion from ensign to admiral bear his
| signature. While detail clerk Mr.. Mo
ran issued every order. The sight of
his we'll known writing often caused
| CONSERVATION to the recipient. a story
| is told OF the case of n young officer
who. when sitting by an open fire hold
| ing a small child and talking to his
| wife, was handed an official envelope
bearing MIR Moran's handwriting. Upon
catching glimpse of the familiar chi
Biography he knew he was booked for
sea dirty and, becoming 80 agitated,
dropped the child in the fender.
Mr.. Moran's handwriting was ever the
envy OF all the officers and many vainly
tried 20 initiate it. But one succeeded,
Paymaster Charles p. Thompson. now
retired, who was so successful that his
writing and Mr.. ALoran's cannot be
told apart.
Mr.. Moran's memory was noted
throughous the navy. He had the re-
cord of every officer on the tip of his
tongue, and would remember a date
when it had seemingly faded from the
records. HIS room at the depa: tment
was always the meeting place OF officers
on their return from a cruise to talk
over the incidents of the voyage.
Mr. Moran. being naturally of very
modest and retiring disposition, was
10th 10 speak of naval "reminiscences,
but, when surrounded by his friends,
he warmed up and fairly radiated the
bits OF humOr and wisdom connected
with the naval service of bygone days.
Mr.. Moran'S career comprised the
most vital changes thai: have occurred
in the American navy--its growth and
development from the time of the intro
duction OF steam on the Dcmologos Cor
Fulton) and the Sea Gull to the present
day of she massive battleship.' During
his long extended connection with the
naval establishment he was associated
with some of the most iliustrious names
In the American navy-Farragut.G Colds
borough, Dahlgrcn. Dupont, Davis.
Foote, Porter and walker, and had
many interesting souvenirs of these
friendships.
OF his many letters, one of the most
valued is from the brave De Long, who
commanded the Inflated jeanette Ex
position. 1t was written jus. az the
Jeanette was headed for the Polar seas.
In the letter De Long (who little
thought that within a short time he
should be buried beneath the snow
drifts of the far North asks Mr.. Moran
TO say good bye once more TO his many
friends at the department and bcgs him
not to scratch him off the list under five
years.
In July, 1896, Mr.. Moran, through fail
ing health. was at last obliged 10 ac-
knowledge that he had outlived his use
fulnciSS and therefore RESIGNED.