The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-02
FUNERAL OF CAPT. PARKER.
Rcnrntms or This Notcd Naval Oniccr
VIII Esc Inferred In THIS city.

VIII ESQ HntcrrcN IN THIS CITY.
To-day at noon there will take place
from Christ Episcopal church the fu-
neral of Captain William liarwar Par
ker. formerly of the United States navy.
and later Of the Confederate States
who died in Washington We'd
nesday.
Captain Parker was the third son of
Commodore Foxhall y. Parker. l.. S.
N, born in Norfolk, in 1927; entered the
United States navy in 1871. Ills first
cruise was in the Mediterranean and
coast of Brazil in the frigatc Congress.
He was transferred la the United states
line of battleship Columbus. and made
n voyage around the world: served in
the frigatc Potomac during all the time
of the Mexican war; was with the naval
detachment garrisoning Point Isabel
when General Taylor was fighting the
battles of Resach lie Ia Palma and Buc-
ma Vista: was active in the landing of
General SCOTS troops i'm boats near
Vera Cruz. and in landing the heavy
siege guns for the trenches at Vera
Cruz. Served In this battery Of heavy
guns, n was mentioned in dispatches
for conspicuous gallantry. After being
made passed midShipman he served on
board the sloop Of war Yorktown on the
coast of Africa, and was wrecked in
that vessel on the island Of Maio. Of the
Cape de Verde group. lie served in the
United States coast survey; was as
s'ioAhi ~ NsS VI IL ne
United States Naval Academy for years
and was author of text books on sea
manship n boat hoWitZer drills. which
were used at that institution. His last
cruise I'm the United States navy VAS
in the frigatc Merrimac. in the Pacific
ocean,. He resigned IN 1861 at the Naval
Academy and entered the Confederate
navy. He was first stationed at Rich
mond and then appointed to command
the gunhoat Beaufort. and was in the
front Of the battle at Roanoke island.
having five of his small crew badly
wounded. In the same vessel he par
ticipated in the battles Of the irOn-Clad
Virginia CMerrimac) in Hampton Roads.
In obedience to the orders Of Captain
Buchanan. he boarded the frigatc Con
gresS after h surrendered. and rccciv-
ed the sword Of her commander mo the
cOlors Of the ship. He was driven from
the side of the Congress by the fire of
the shore batteries at Newport News.
two of his officers and n number of his
men being killed by this fire. He was
next in Charleston. as executive officer
of the iron-clad Chicora. ana was in thai
ship when the United states Ll0ckading
fleet was driven from It's station off
Charleston The steamer Keystone
state surrendered to the Chicora I'm that
action. Later he was made s~upprintcn-
dent OF the naval school on board The
steamer Patrick Henry. at Richmond.
Many of the boys to whom he rave a
good start in education are nOW dis
tinguished men at the bar. in tho pulpit
and places Of civic trust. All bear wit
ness to his cvtraorGinarv mowers as n
teacher. Wien Richmond was eVaclIat-
ed he hurn" the Patrick Henry. aud
with his young guard of cadets formed
a battalion for shore service ana took
charge Of The treasure of the Confcln-
rnie government. which he carrirn
through IN" States Of Virginia, North
and South Carolina and delivered it to
tho authorities in Georgia.
After The war he was in the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company and COM
mnnded several OF the finest shins Of
nat company in voyages between san
Francisco ana Panama n Japan.
About tn" year 1915 he took charge or
the Maryland Agricultural College. in
Prince George county. This institution
al the time was hurdoncl with debt.
and was far from being in a prosperous
condition. In a few years il was cleared
OF debt ana n0urishinp. In 1881 he was
made United States Minister resident
AT Corca. but did not continue long at
that post. lie was for some time en-
gagged in literary work II published
that admirabl" hook. ;'Recollcctions of
a Naval officer" and n hand boob on
astronomy. In 1855 he was made the
agent of The Pacific Mail Steamship
Company at Colon. and held that posi-
ton until he Atlantic service of thai
company passed into the hands OF The
Panama Hallway Company.
For som" years Captain Parker rcsid-
cd in Richmond. engaged in literary
work. as contributor To magazines ana
newspapers. y few months ago he re-
moved to Washington. and Yesterday
the news of the death of this admirable
and talented man came 10 his friends
in this city.