The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-13
COMMODORE WATSON.
The 0dloss Selected to Invade the Spanish
Csast--Lashsd FAR agut the Rigging.

| The 0nloss Selected to Invade the spasisl
Csast--Lashsd Far, sgut toths Rigging.
Commodore WATSON, who was 80
.lected for the important work Of me
nacins the Spanish coast, is an abl
| and efficient officer, as modest as he II
able, and who has been performing
duty Of the utmost importance ant
value to the country concerning which
very little has been printed. Commo
dore John Crittenden Watson, who
with fleet composed for the most par
Of small ships has been maintaining
the blockade Of Havana and otheI
North Cuban ports, is a man who by
virtue Of his commission Is the senior
both Of Sampson and Schley, and yet
reports to the former. Commodore
Schley Is, on the naval register, acting
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS senior by two
numbers, and by the same token Com
modore Watson ranks ahead Of Schley.
II is probably not remembered by
many that 1t was the same Commodore
Watson, then young lieutenant, who
dashed Farragut to the rigging during
the battle Of Mobile Bay. This Incl
dent Of the great struggle between the
States long since became historic, and
poets and artists have found in 1t the
inspiration for some Of their best and
most spirited work. This Is the story
briefly told:
The powerful Confederate ironclad
Tennessee attacked the Hartford
fercely. Farragut took up his position
in the port mizzen rigging, the better
to observe the progress Of the fight
and to direct and cheer on his men.
Lieutenant Watson, seeing the great
danger to which the intrepid admiral
was exposing himself, procured rope
and dashed him In his place. In let
tor which Lieutenant Watson wrote to
his mother after the battle, he men
tions in detail the reckless bravery Of
Farragut, and adds: AT length ! lash
ed him to the rigging with my own
hands, having In vain begged him not
to stand in such an exposed place."
The relations which existed between
Admiral Farragut and his nag lieuten-
ant were of the most affectionate de-
scription. In his official report Of the
Mobile battle, Farragut showed what
he thought Of young Watson. "Lieuten-
ant Watson" he wrote, has been
brought to your attention in former
times. He was on the poop attending
to the signals and performed his duty,
as might be expec ed, thoroughly. He
is scion worthy Of the noble stock he
sprang from, and I commend him to
your attention"
There is no better blood in the navy
than flows in the veihs of Commodore
Watson. He was born In Frankfort, .
KY, Aug. "a, 1912. His father, Edward |
Howe Watson, was skilful and popu-
lar physician Of the old school, and his
mother, Sarah Lee Crittenden Watson.
was a daughter of John Jordan Crit
tenden, the famous Kentucky states
man, rival Of Henry Clay, governor at
one time OF Kentucky and attorney
general III William Henry Harrison's
cabinet.
Commodore Watson was married in
1873 to Miss Elizabeth Thornton, dis
tant connection, and daughter Of Judge
James Thornton Of San Francisco The
result Of this union was eight children,
seven Of whom are living. The eldest
son, John Edward Watson, is an en-
sign in the navy, and is now attached to
the cruiser Detroit. Commodore Wat
sons naval career has been notable
one. He entered the Naval Academy
Sept. 20, 1856, and was graduated in
June, 1860, standing high In his class.
He was Immediately assigned to the
rank Of midshipman, and Aug. Is join
ed the SusQuehanna in that capacity
for cruise to Europe. While he was
abroad the civil var broke out, and
he returned at once to take part in it.
He was promoted to the rank of mas
ter Aug. 81. 1861. His career as
fighter did not really begin, however,
until Jan. 10, 1862, when he was or
dered to the Hartford as navigator.
This was Admiral Farragut's flagship.
He was commissioned a lieutenant
July 16, 1862, and in January, 1864, he
was made flag lieutenant to Farragut,
He was at the battles of New Orleans,
Mobile Bay, Vlcksburg and Port Hud-
son. In letter to his son Loyal dur
ng the war Admiral Farragut tells of
voluntee 'ng to slip of and
blow up blockade runner. Among
,ther things he says: 1T was an anx-
GUS night for me, as l am about as
ond of Watson as am Of your own
lear SELF"
The ship referred to by Farragut was {
up as effectuallly and
as was the Merrimac the '
ther day by heroic Hobson and his
qually heroic crew. '
At the close Of the civil war Lieu.
enant Watson WIS ordered to the I
'olordo, on the European station. He
vas made Lieutenant commander July
6, 1866; commander Jan. %, 1874;
aptain March 8. 1887, and commodore +
Iov. 7. 1897. During the last thirty q
ears he has commanded number Of O
be best ships in the navy and held i'm v
ortant posts on shore. His wife and II
married children reside at the Naval d
lone in Philadelphia, Of which insti- fl
ltion he was governor for number T
years. e
o,,s. "a