Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-28
COMMODORE $. soHLEy.
interesting sketch OF the Career OF a
DistInR niahcd NnNnI OHnCer.

Interesttnu sketch of the Career of n
Distinguished naval Offcer.
Writers familiar with his career as we'll
as those who enjoy a personal acquaintance
unite in saying that in Commodore schley
are combined the three ideal attributes OF
n commander-rapidity Of decision. GOODNESS
in action and courage that knows no fear.
To these may be added an equally COM
t~rait-modesty. The victory be-
to every officer and man on the fleet
he said in reference to the naval triumph
at Santiago, aud emphasized the admirable
by calling upon the officers TO
cheer 'the men below" and the men behind
guns"
Rev. DR.. Elliot Grifns gives in the In
dependent n sketch of some of the commo-
dore's notable achievements prior to the
present war, showing his readiness to lead
where any dared TO follow.
During four years in Japan writes
DR.. Grif1s, II saw most Of the wooden ships
famous in the civil war, besides meeting
the g~ray-haired veterans and the young
officers trained by Farragut, Dupont, Porter
and Rodgers. In the seas surrounding the
mikado's domain a brilliant chapter OF
American naval history has been written.
1t is pleasant today to see how grandly
certain of our officers have fulfilled
the promise of twenty-five years ago. l
speak of one of my naval acquantanoes on
the Asiatic station.
In 1871, besides the beautiful frigate,
Colorado, and the coverts Alaska and Benz
cha. there were the two gunboats, the Palos
and the Monocacy-now the lone survivor
of our wooden fleet in the far east, and I'M
at1o 80 tnl.1 ,a.N l., Nha Manila trtttnNnh
Lieutenant Commander Schley was one OF
the most popular and efficient officers. On
the Benicia he seemed to understand to
perfection the powers, limitations and lido
syncracies of the American sailor. Severe
in discipline, standing no Sinking, he yet
the power of a joke to tighten toll
and make men forget inconsistencies and
trouble. Schley came Of that old "Pensyl-
vania German stock which has branched
out into Maryland and Virginia, producing
some of the ablest Americans in all de-
partments of human achievement. One Of
that stock today, inheriting the skill of gen.
e~rations, expert with the rifle on chamois
and deer, and with war memories Of Buck
tall regiments, is rated chief gunner Of
the cruiser Columbia, though but 1S years
old.
Schley, born in Barbara Frietchie's county,
through which flows the Monocacy, Joined
the navy as midshipman in 1855. Under
Farragut he fought in the naval battles Of
1868, which led up to the capture Of Port
Hudson. One of his shipmates, a brother Of
mine, tells of his dash, courage and GOODNESS
under fire. Indeed, on one occasion, Schley
developed a most convenient deafness to
messages and color blindness to signals, I'M
til he had hammered a confederate battery
to pieces. Farragut's reprimand, however,
was like that given by Tatnall to American
sailors for serving the gun of the British
Plover against the Chinese forts. 1t was a
burr outwardly, but in true inwardness it
was nuts"
When Korea's royal line became desinent,
and that human tiger, the Tai Wen-Kun,
ruled the Hermit nation, our govern
ment sent q fleet, offering both the olive
branch and the arrows in the eagles claws,
and bidding the refuses take either. Kissed
on to their treachery by the old regent in
Seoul, the Koreans fired, not one shot, but
with hundreds of jingals and cannon on our
survey boats in the Han river.
This was too much for Fighting John
Rodgers" and following as it did the MUIR
der, in 1866, of the crew of the American
schooner, General Sherman, was too much
for Minister Low. Waiting ten days for an
apology or explanation, and none coming,
Lieutenant Commander W.. S. Schley was
put in command of the land expedition OF
chastisement, consisting OF $50 men and
seven howitzers.
The Colorado, Benicia and Alaska Con
which John Crittenden Watson, now Com
modore, was an %officer), could not get up
the shallow Han river; but the Palos and
the Monocacy Ia double-ender), were sent to
shell the five forts. These were immensely
gay with banners, that seemed to be en-
broidered or painted with all the zoology
the Apocalypse. Under the winged serpents
and the leopards with %pinions, glared the
white-coated tiger hunters from the north,
who, in 1866, had driven off Admiral Roze
and his French marines.
British officers on their iron-clads had
freely sneered and TESTED at the Anticipated
tubs" Of our navy; but as of yore and now,
the men behind the guns were more than
ships or arms.
Five stone walled forts, the chief one in
size and the strongest perched like a fal-
con on a pinnacle, were to be taken; but the
Monocacy's 11-inch shells, the valor of our
marines and the splendid craftsmanship OF
our Dahlgren batteries on land, gave Schley