St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-06-08

ceeded Robley d. Evans ('Fighting
Bob') as commander Of the cruiser
New York. Between times he visited
Japan and other faroff places, did scien-
tific work, rescued shipwrecked sailors
and did general utility work.
Twice before Commodore Schley has
been leading figure in the newspapers.
In 1884 he was the first officer to volun
teer to rescue General (then Lieutenant)
Greedy away up in the arctic regions.
1t is said that on the Greedy expedition
some of Schley's officers were disposed
to protest that he was taking serious
risks with his ships. His reply was:
Gentlemen, there are times when it is
necessary to take risks This is one Of
those times.
The Rescue of Greedy.
He commanded the expedition Of the
Thetis, Bear and Alert and brought the
survivors in triumph to st. Johns, N.
F. TWAS good, clean, quick job, well
DONE and his arrival was just in the
nick of time 1t was dramatic. 1t led to
promotion and the command of the Bal
timore, then new ship In 1891 Schley
came back in hurry from his Ericsson
trip to Sweden and hurried to Valparai-
so in the Baltimore. twas fine, new,
nice white ship, and he did want to try
her. There is not much doubt Of that
In Chile there was a civil war. Minis
ter Egan was accused of favoring one
side. Feeling against the Americans ran
high. 1t eliminated when two sailors
Of the Baltimore were murdered in the
y.reets Of Valparaiso, the police looking
on and probably assisting. Schley land
cd marines at midnight. He has been
criticised for this But at least he was
not afraid to fight Because Of this will
ingness he got no chance to do so.
There was day when rumor reach
ed New York that the Baltimore had
been blown up-as the Maine was
What really happened was this: War
between Chile and the United States
was imminent There was talk away
down there Of combined attack on the
Baltimore to be made by the Chilean
cruisers Esmeralda and AlmiranSe Coch-
ran and by torpedo boats On either
side Of the Baltimore lay the German
ship Leipzig and the British Melpomene
Captain Schley requested their COM
manders to change their anchorages and
give his guns fair show. They did as
requested, the Englishman rather un-
willingly. There was no fight.
Maybe Schley did wear the chip on
his shoulder little too prominently.
His transfer to the lighthouse service
was construed as q rebuke. 1t was not
until 1895 that he again received COM
mand Of ship. Schley wears fine
gold watch. 1t was voted to him by the
Maryland legislature after his rescue of
Greedy. More than this he values a
handsome ebony cane with gold head,
given him by the crew of the Baltimore
when he was relieved of the comman
The spokesman chosen by the seamen
on this occasion touched his cap and,
with scrape Of his foot, said, "You
know, sir, that when you were an Off
Ger the regulations would not allow us
to give you a present, but now that you
have given up the command Of the ship
you are only gentleman.
Born Fighter.
He is BON fighter. Wherever since
the war broke out there has been q
promise of trouble Schley has been pref
ty apt to be on the spot. He is resolute,
resourceful and daring quick to decide
in an emergency and confident in him
self. 1t would always be his instinct in
battle to take the offensive, to strike
the first blow. 1t is said that when he
was appointed to the command of the
flying squadron he went to the president
and begged permission to go to meet the
Spanish flotilla Of torpedo boats and
torpedo boat destroyers which had start
ed across the ocean.
He urged that the approaching arma-
da could not be regarded otherwise than
as serious menace. Spain in sending
it was to all intents and purposes COM
hitting an act Of war. At the very least
it ought to be stopped and made to 60
back. If it would not comply with this
command. then it should be attacked.
In 1868 Commodore Schley married
Miss Mamie Franklin Of Annapolis, an
attractive young woman Of good old
Maryland stock. She is very jolly and
popular woman, and as ready to dance
or make merry as she was quarter Of
q century ago. They have three chill
dren, Thomas Franklin, Virginia and
Winfield Scott. The only daughter,
Virginia, married, in 1890, Ralph Gran.
vile Montague Stewart Wortley, q
nephew OF the Earl of Wharncliffe. II
he cared to stay in England Wortley
would be no end Of swell. Like young
Paget, W. Q. Whitney's son-in law, he
prefers to stay in this country He is @
hustling American railroad man aid