Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-01

1894, but the Illness which caused his death
was of exceedingly short duration. While
never actually confined to his bed. he had
been in feeble health for long time and
was under medical treatment
He retired last night without having
given any indication of being any worse
than usual. and the first notice his family
received that there was anything wrong
With him was when he arose, about u "a.
and complained of difficulty IN breathing
A severe spell OF coughing followed, and
II was necessary to assist him back TO
his bed. Mrs Skerrett happened to be the
only member In the house at the time and
IN order TO get help. she was compelled to
call out the window to a gentleman who
was passing to summon Dr. Ward, who
lives across the street. The physician re-
sponded quickly and used heroic measures
to restore the aged admiral who lai ~
this time lapsed into Inconsistencies.
Hypodermic injections of nitro-gly cerine
were resorted to, but without avail and
the patient passed away just after mid
night. The cause Of death was a sufuslon
of blood in the brain. The admiral is sur
vived by a widow, three daughters ard
two sons, Miss Edith W. Skerrett. Mrs.
F. NJ Matteson. Mrs. David Milne. MIR.
Joseph 7. Skerrett and Mr.. Robert G.
Skerrett. With the exception of Mrs. Milne
and Mr.. Joseph Skerrett, who are in Phil
adelpha all the children were at the house
Immediately upon hearing of their fathers
death. The funeral will take place from
the family residence. 1912 II street north
west. at o'clock Sunday afternoon. and
the religious services will probably Ice con-
Quoted by Rev. Alfred Harding, rector OF
st. Pauls Episcopal Church. The inter-
ment will be at Arlington cemetery. 1t is
the desire of the family that rhe funeral
shall be private.
Admiral Skerrett had a long and hon
orahle career in the service of his country.
He was born in Chillicothe. Ohio. January
Is. 1888, and entered the naval service as
a mds hipman in October, 1S4S. His first
duty was on the flagship Independence Of
the Mediterranean station, after which he
was attached to the sloop Marion. in a
cruise off the coast of Africa. He was at
the Naval Academy from 1854 to 1856, and,
passing through the various grades. be-
came lieutenant in September. 1855. He
subsequently served on the frigate Poto-
mac OF the home squadron, and the sloop
Falmouth on the Brazil station, on the
storeskip Release. of the North Atlantic
station. and on the sloop Sara toga on the
coast of Africa. He became a lieutenant
commander in July. 1852 and was sta
toned at the Washington navy yard the
following year. after which he served cred
itably during the civil war on the Shenan-
doah and the guGDoat katahdi
He commanded the gunboat Aroostook
from "a to '65. and was actively engaged
with the rebel Notifications at the mouth
of the BraZos river. Tex, in June 81 For
two years after the war he was I'm COM
| mand of the naval rendezvous at Washing
ton and subsequently commanded the train
ing ship Portsmouth. While attached to
/ eAiC OIL <hSdtciLY HUH % 10 he look
the cadets on two practice cruises on the
Macedonian and Saratoga Subsequently,
while in command of the Portsmouth he
spent three years surveying in the Pacific
ocean. He was appointed captain in June
1873. while again on duty at the Washing
ton navy yard. From 1881 to 1884 he was
in command of the flagship Richmond on
the Asiatic station and subsequently had
command of an expedition to Panama. and
another one to Apia, Samoa. to settle local
troubles with the United States consul. He
was in command of the naval forces on the
Asiatic station in 1854, and was governor
of the naval asylum. Philadelphia, for two
years. He afterward served as a member
of the naval advisory board and as COM
| mandant of the Portsmouth navy yard.
In 1892 he was ordered to duty as COM
mandant Of the Washington navy yard
and served there for two years. after which
he was transferred to the command Of the
naval forces the Pacific station and
was at Honolulu during the exciting times
following the revolution. He was sus-
pected OF sympathiZing with the American
annexation party in antagonism to the pol
icy of the Cleveland administration and
consequently was summarily detached from
command of that station and transferred
to the command of the Asiatic station
| where he rendered valuable services in con-
nection with the troubles in Corea, lea ding
up to the Chino-Japanese war. While on
that station he reached the retiring age in
July, 1894. and was ordered home. Since
that time he had lived quietly In this city
He reached the full grade of rear admiral
shortly before his retirement In 1894.