Evening star., 1898-06-28
COMMODORE WATSON.
fhe Commander of the Newly Formed
n Eastern Squadron.

II Eastern Squadron.
Commodore John Crittandon w,tsor
has been selected to command the snuad.
ron TO be sent against the Spanish home
ports, Isl one of the most distinguished Off
GERS of the navy. Probably the most no+a-
Die incident in his career was the mart he
prayed at the memorable battle Of Mohile
Bay When Commodore Watson. then a
young lieutenant, lashed Admiral Farra gut
TO the rigging Of the flagship Hartford and
enoeaVofed to protect him as much as pos-
sipie from the herce fire of the enemy The
records or that decisive engagement show
tnat when the confederate ironciad Ten
hessee made desperate attack upon the
1artlord, farragut took a position in the
port mizzen rigging, the better to observe
the progress of the fight and to direct and
cneer his men. Seeing the great danger to
which the admiral was exposing himself.
Lieutenant Watson begged him not to re-
MAN IN such an exposed place, and, being
unable to induce him to leave, procured a
rope and lashed him securely TO the rig
ging.
In an official report Of the battle of Mo-
bile Bay Farragut said that Lieutenant
Watson performed his duty thoroughly and
commended him to the officials of the de-
partment, adding: He is scion worthy of
the noble stock he sprang from"
Commodore Watson was born at Frank
fort, KY, August "A, 1912, the son of Dr.
Edward II. Watson. a prominent physician
of that state, and Sara Lee Crlttendon Wat
son, daughter of John j. Crittendon, at
one time governor of Kentucky and for
merly Attorney General in the cabinet of
President William Henry Harrison. Com
modore Watson entered the Naval Acad-
emy in September, 1856. and was graduated
four years later with high honors. His
first service was on the SusQuehanna in
which he made a cruise to Europe. The
civil war broke out while he was abroad,
and he returned at once to this country and
served throughout the entire struggle. In
January, 1862, while he held the rank of
master, he was ordered to the Hartford,
Admiral Farraguts flagship, as navigating
officer, and served on that vessel in many
of the battles which have made her name
historic He was commissioned a neuten-
ant in July, 1861. and in January, 1854, he
was made flag lieutenant to Admiral Far
ragut, in which capacity he served in the
battles of New Orleans, Mobile Bay, Vicks-
burg and Port Hudson.
Since the war Commodore Watson has
commanded a number of the best ships in
the navy and has held important COM
mands on shores Before his recent assign
ment In command of the blockading squad
ron on the northern coast of Cuba. he was
for several years in charge of the naval
home in Philadelphia. He reached his pres
ent grade of commodore November Z, 1897.
and by virtue of his commission in that
grade is senior nto botn Acting Admiral
Sampson AID Commodore schley In 1873
Commodore Watson married Miss Eliza
beth Thornton. daughter of Judge Thorn
ton Of San francisco The result of this
union was eight children, seven Of whom
are living. Thss eldest son, John E. Wat
son, is an ensign in the navy. and is now
attached to the cruiser Detroit, one of the
vessels of Admiral Sampson's fleet.