The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-06


estimate of those who have known him
long and we'll is to be accepted. And it
is we'll that such are his characteristics,
for tho man who acts as jailer to the
crack squadron Of Spain and on whom
the brunt Of the expected battle will
fall must be every inch man, a sailor
and fighter of the first class. Those
who know Schle@ are glad he is where
he is The glory OF the flag is in safe
hands.
Commodore Schley enters into argu-
ment as frankly and thoroughly as he
would an engagement with the enemy,
contradicts with vehemence where he
knows he is unqualifcdly right and il
not above a good round, sailorly oath
Subsequent to the Maine disaster
Commodore Schley expressed doubt that
the misfortune took place through in
fiuence outside the ship, his theory of
the occurrence being drawn from an in
cident of his own experience. While on
the New York the swift terrible word
came to him: "Firel The ship is burn
ingp Losing not an instant, he mus
tered his almost panic stricken men,
who expected each moment to be blown
to atoms. Drown the magazinel" he
shouted, leading the way to duty free
from alarm to where steel plate Of
the magazine room glared redhot from
a powerful blaze next to il, and all
hands flooded the big New York to
safety.
Fearless, outspoken, his manner is
yet ever tempered with courtesy, and
he observes the flattering niceties of ac-
quaintance and friendship with rare
punctiliousness. He is q tall, strong
looking man, with more muscle than
flesh, a complexion fair, despite the best
efforts of sea winds and eastern suns to
tan it, and lightish hair, which time
has neutral tinted and which he dis
poses carefully where it is thinning.
His eyes are blue and fine lined about
from expressing his thoughts, and his
gray mnstache- and beard conceal his
mouth and chin from criticism.
bJCnlCy Wdo
Frederick, Md, in 1889, and his very
baptism was subject to military influ-
ence. Just at this date General Winfield
Scott was in Frederick, holding court
martial. A friendly intimacy sprang up
between John Schley. father of the
present commodore, who had served in
the navy in the war Of 1912, and the
n rr{- -,,<~ xselx. <x4S ~
which was naming the son and heir of
the Schleys winfield Scott" There is
tradition that the baby showed dis
tinct tendencies the day of his christen-
ing to live up to fighting name. His
ancestors were people of Sleswick-on-
the-Schley, who came to the United
States following the revocation of the
edict of Nantes-stanch Huguenots
one Of whom, establishing himself in
Savannah, became later governor of
Georgia.
From the time his career began after
entering the Naval academy and re-
naming from 1855 to 1861 events Of
interest quickly succeeded each other.
He has medals of honor and tributes of
praise from his country, which he has
served actively in many parts of tho
world, and has improved opportunities
Of heroism and bravery to the everlast-
ing credit Of his record and to the envy
of less fortunate men in the service. He
was graduated ut the head of his class,
and in 1861, being given sea duty on
the frigate Potomac, storeship at Ship
island, was in 1869 promoted to master
and ordered to the Winona of the block
aiding squadron Of the west gulf.
Commodore Schley saw real war, be-
ing in number Of skirmishes along the
Mississippi river, engaged and operated
with field batteries and aided in cutting
out under heavy fire two schooners
which were carrying supplies to the
enemy, for which honorable mention in
special orders was accorded him. July,
1862, he received his commission as
lieutenant, serving with further honor
able mention through engagements that
led up to the capture in 1858 Of Port
Hudson, La. From 1854 to 1865 he was
executive officer of the Wateree, steam
gunboat, ON which he served ON the Pa
cific station.
Tho suppression Of On insurrection
among Chinese coolies in 1864 in the
Chin Chi islands and the landing of 100
men to protect the United States consul
ate marked his stay in those waters.
July 1S, 1896, no received the commits
sion Of lieutenant commander, and bav-
ing returned from the Pacific station
spent three years ON duty at the Naval
academy. The Benicia Of the Asiatic
station was his next post, no taking
part In 1871 i'm the overthrow Of the
forces defending the Salu river in Korea.
Head of tho department of modern Ian
guages at Annapolis followed, and it
can be said here that he is q fine lin
guist, speaking Spanish with ease and
admirable accent. Being made com.
mander in 1874, he was for five years
on the north and south Atlantic sta
tions and tho western coast Of Africa.
From "Afric's sunny strand" no was
ordered TO the "icy mountains" Of the
north polar land, in command Of tho
Greely relief expedition. From the
clutches Of arctic death he rescued Lieu