Evening star., 1898-06-06

admiral's chief advisers. Captain Gridley
achieved distinction at the battle OF Manila
bay and added to his previous laurels by
winning high praise from his superiors in
the service for distinguished galantry ard
ability. He fought his ship from the con-
ming tower. while Admiral Dewey directed
the movements of his squadron from the
bridge of the vessel
May 20 the Navy Department was noti-
fed that Captain Gridley had been con-
demned by a board of medical survey and
'invalided" home. Subsequent advices re-
ceived by the department indicated that
Captain Gridley was suffering from the ef-
fects of a rupture. supposed to have been
received during the battle at Manila
On the 2sth Of May Captain Gridley. In
company with Paymaster Gait. left hong
Kong on the steamer Coptic, and died about
the time the ship reached Kobe
Among the older officers Captain
Gridley had the reputation of be-
ing one of the best equipped officers of the
navy. He was one of the best navigators
in the service. and his thorough knowledge
of all its details and requirements fully
justified the remark of Admiral Ramsey
that "Gridiey was one of the brainiest and
pluckiest officers in the naval service"
Dispatches from Manila concerning the
battle indicated that Commodore Dewey
had the utmost confidence in Captain Grid
ley: that he never interfered in the slight
est degree with his management and
handling of the ship; that he told him to
fire whenever ready. and that the broad
side which sunk the flagship of the Spanish
admiral was Gridley's own conception and
act, and, in fine. that in the entire battle
the Olympia was handled suparbiy.
Captain Gridley leaves a wife and three
childrer-two daughters and a son-whs
are now residing with Mrs Giidley's father
Judge Vincent Vincent. at Erie. Pa. His
mother, Mrs. Ann Eliza Gridley. and his
brother Iucius, reside in this city, the
former being clerk in the patent office
and the latter an employe in the Treasury
Department.
Capt. GrfdIey's Career.
Captain Gridley was born in Logansport,
Ind, in 1s45, but was appointed to the
Naval Academy from Hillsdale. Mich, In
1850 by Representative Henry Walden, the
Gridleys having removed from Indiana to
Michigan when their son Charles was only
three months old.
Under ordinary circumstances, the class
of 1860 would have been graduated in 1864
but the necessities of the civil war ad-
vanced 1t one year. On October 1, lS63
young Grldley was promoted to ensign and
ordered to the steam sloop Oneida, then
with the west gulf blockading squadron in
which squadron he remained until the close
of the war. He was in the battle of Mo-
bile bay, on August ), 1864, where his cool
ness and bravery were noted. After the
war ended he was assigned to the steam
sloop Brooklyn, which was the flagship of
the Brazilian squadron. with which he
served until 1867. being promoted to master
in November 1866 A year later he was
again promoted to lieutenant. and on March
l., 1SfS, was again promoted and commits
stoned as lieutenant commander.
In 1870 he was assigned to the steamer
Michigan Fourth rate), where he served
two years. Early in 1873 he was assigned
to the Monongahela tsecond rate), serving
one year. and in February, 1915 was detail
ed as instructor at the Naval Academy at
Annapolis, where he remained four years,
serving during the summer cruises of 1877
and 1873 as executive officer of the practice
ship Constellation. In 1879 he was made
executive officer of the United States flag
ship Trenton, on the European station,
serving from December, 1879, to November,
1881. On March TO- 1882, he was promoted
to commander and during that summer
was on duty at the torpedo station. From
October. 1882, 10 February, 1854 he was
chief navigation officer at the Boston navy
yard. On February 3, 1854, he was ordered
to command the training ship jamestown,
and on May IL, 1856. was detached there
from and ordered to command the trainiT G
ship Portsmouth. From June to November,
1886, he was the senior officer of the cruis-
ing training squadron. In July, 1887, I'D
was inspector of the tenth light house dis
trtct and stationed at Buffalo, where he
served until October 1891. From October,
1891 to July, 1892 he was assigned to spe-
cial duty at the navy yard in Washington.
In July. 1892 he was assigned to the COM
mand of the Marion, and July 10 was de-
tailed from that ship as inspector of the
light house district, with headquarters at
of the receiving ship Richmond, at League
Island, Pa, he was ordered TO the Asiatio
squadron and on July 2S. 1897, was assign
cd ta command the Olympia.