Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-18

one OF unusual severity and his con-
dition had been regarded as critical
from the time he was taken. about
a month since. During the latter
part of last week. however, he was
better, and he learned with gratifica-
ton of the efforts being made
in his behalf by tri-city friends
who, through petition to Secretary of
War Alger. had sought to have him
assigned to active field duty in the
impending war with Spain as an Off
Ger of volunteers. Col. King, who
distinguished himself during the civil
war, expressed his great willingness
to accept any service that might be
assigned to him if his health would
permit. He was advancing appar-
emily toward recovery, when Monday
he suffered a relapse, since which time
he had been sinking gradually.
Lieut.. Col. Kings Military History.
Lieut.. Col. William r. King was
born in New York in 1889. He was
admitted to the West Point Military
academy July l. 1859, and was gradu-
ated and promoted to the rank of first
lieutenant, corps of engineers. june
II, 1868. He served during the wal
of the rebellion as assistant engineer
Of the department of North Carolina
being engaged on the expedition from
Newberne. and also as chief engineer
of the district of North Carolina, be.
ing present at the engagement be.
tween the union gun boats and the
rebel ram, Albermarle. in Albermarle
sound May D, 1864; also in the
operations before Richmond the
fall of the same year. and
was engaged in skirmish Oct. p,
1864. He was assistant engineer OF
the departments of Virginia and North
Carolina Nov. "a, 1864. and Dec. |
following was made captain for gal
liant and meritorious services during
the campaign of 1864. April .. 1865,
he was promoted to the rank of ma
ior for gallant conduct on the field.
He served as assistant in the office OF
the chief of engineers ut Washington
from Aug. 1, 1865, to July, 1870, col
Letting information and experiment.
ing on torpedoes, modern seacoast
artillery. penetration of proiectiles,
counterpoise gun carriages. etc.
He was member of the commits
sion to examine and report upon the
proposed Brooklyn suspension bridge
across the East river. New York, in
the spring of 1862. Later he was in
command of Willett's Point, n. T..
was engaged as experimenting engi-
neer of the improvement of the Ten
nessee. Cumberland and other rivers
in Georgia and Alabama; was a men,
Der of the board of engineers on the
bridge across the Delaware. from Phil
adelphia to Camden from Nav 10.
1870, to April 20. 1871; was secretary
of the Sutro Tunnel commission April
"a, 1871. to Jan. 8, 1872, and men,
Der of the board of engineers on the
lock and sluices designed for the canal
around the Des Moines rapids in MAY.
1875. He became major of the corps
of engineers March 4. 1879. and was
prominently identified with the
engineer department in various works
of Importance. July %. 1888, he was
elevated to the rank of lieutenant
colonel of engineers, and since
then had been in charge of the con-
struction of Fl. Schuyler. n. Y. and
a member of the different engineer
boards on river and harbor improve
ment. bridge construction and on
New York harbor lines. He was APP
pointed engineer in charge of the
upper Mississippi river Improvements
at Rock Island June 4. 1895. succeed
ing Col. Alex Mackenzie. who had
been here Is years. and who at that
time was elevated to the office of
assistant to the chief of engineers.
L. S. A. Col. King had been sta
toned at Willet's Point. Long Island.
as commandant of the engineer de-
partment of Long Island. prior to his
coming here. and he reached Rock
Island July ). 1895. this having since
been his home. For some time he
lived in a suburban home on Aiken