The Portland daily press., 1897-01-04
OBITUARY.
Benjamin C. Miles.


BENJAMIN C. Miles.
Mr.. BENJAMIN G. Miles, an ex-officer of
the Portland police force, died in this
city yesterday after long illness. M.
Miles was born in Limerick and learned
the trade of a blacksmith After the war
broke out he joined the ranks of the
Tenth Maine Infaptry in which lie served
calamity during the rebellion. AT the
battle of Cedar Mountain he was badly
wounded in the HAND.
After the war be was made private
watohman Mt the Grand Trunk station
and soon after joined the pellce force,
serving for fifteen years and retiring the
same year that Marshal Bridges term of
service ended. Mr.. Miles was an excel
lent officer He had "lots Of sand'' in his
composition and old members of the
force testify to the skill and Judgment
with which he kept in order beats in the
toughest" part of the city.
After his retirement from the force Mr..
Miles bought farm on the Cape and
lived there for some years. Then he
moved on to the Fill in Portland, and
from thence to Boston, where he re-
manned until a few months ago, when he
returned to this city. He leaves widow,
two sons, Dana an ex-officer of the
force, and Edward A., driver OF steam
fire engine No. 5, and daughter, Mrs
Hatch. He was Nom Der OF Bosworth
Post No. 2, g. A. r. and of Munjoy
lodge, K. of p.
Admiral Skerrett.
Rear Admiral Joseph S. Skerrea died
at Washington Friday. He was in his
Gath year.
Admiral Skerrett had long and hon
orabie career in the service of his c0un
try. A native of Ohio, he entered the
navy as midshipman in October, 1S4S,
passed through the various grades, be-
came lieutenant in 1866. lieu ienant
commander in 1869, and was stationed
at the Washington navy yard the fol-
lowing year, after which he served cred
itably during the civil war on the Shen-
andoah and the gunboat Katahin. He
commanded the gunboat Aroostook
lIUlu lOO1 W 4OOOS Abo Whc oSoAVOAJ cR-
gagged with. the Confederate Notifications
at the mouth of the Brazos river, Texas.
in June, 1864.
Subsequently he spent three years in
surveying in the Pacific ocean, had COM
mand of the expedition to Panama and
troubles with the United States consul;
was governor for two year of the Naval
Asylum at Philadelphia; later was in
command of the naval forces on the Pc
cific station, and was at Honolulu during
the exciting times following the reYolu
ton.
During the Tonquin war Capt. Skerrett
was especially active in protecting Anne
rican interests, acting as commander
in-chief of the Asiatio squadron from Oc-
ober, 1888, to January 1884, when he
was ordered home and attached to the
Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, of which
he Became governor in 1886, serving I'M
til 1888. @
Having been promoted to be commo-
dore in August, 1889. he was made a
mem Der of the celebrated advisory board
under which the nickel steel arInor, the
best in the world, was discovered and
adopted.
He commanded the Portsmouth navy
yard in 1890 and the Washington navy
yard from September OF that year until
December. 1892, when he was sent to
command the Pacific station at Honolu-
lu. In November, 1893. he was sent in
command OF the. A siatic squadron.
In 1894 he was made rear admiral and
was placed by request upon the retired
lat in July, 1894.
Admiral Skerret leaves widow, two
sons and three daughters. He was well
known in Portland, having lived here
while In command of the First light
house district.
Rev. Marchant HolIey.
Pennington, January 2.-Rev. Mar
chant Holley. a well known local preach
or of the Methodist denomination, is
dead, aged So.