Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
KIRKLAND DEAD AT VALLEJO
Peacefully Expired in the Presence of Hi
Wife and Son.
Burial VIII Occur at Brooklyn, N. ".
Beside the Remains of One
of His Daughters.

| Rear Admiral Kirkland, U. s. N, died at
| o'clock last evening at Vallejo, Cal. lie
| expired peacefully, his wife and son being
/ In the death chamber at the time. DIR.
| Hibbetts of the u. S. S. Independence and
| DR.. Wagner, navy yard surgeon. were also
| present Father RI ginal1 of St. Vincent's
| Church was with the admiral three hours
| before he breathed his last.
The admiral had rallied from the effects
| of an operation for acute construction Of
| the bowels. which was performed on Tues
| day by DR.. w. E. Taylor of San Francisco,
assisted by several other surgeons, and
Thursday night it was stated that he had
! a fighting chance for life. Yesterday morn
| ing he seemed somewhat better and dur
| IL the day his family and friends were
| hopeful that his life might be spared. AT
o'clock pm, however. he began to sink
and as the darkness came on gradually
grew worse, until, two hours later, he
ceased to breathe, dying without evidence
| Of pain.
The funeral viii take place from ST. Vim
cents Catholic Church Of Vallejo on Sum
day. The remains have been emDdllnt..,
and will be placed temporarily in the vault
al ST. VlnCents cemetery. Later they will
be removed to Brooklyn, N. Y, for inter
ment beside the remains of his daughter
who is buried there.
The sentiment at the navy yard IS that
work should DE suspended today as a token
William A. Kirkland was uol n in North
carolina July 3. 1886, and was appointed
TO the navy from that state july : lo.,y.
he was first attached to the sloop Ports
mouth and then to the frigate ST; Law
renee and served with the Pacific SQUAD
ron until 1888. He then spent some time at
the Naval Academy, and was promoted TO
passed midshipman June % IS56 He
served with the Brazil squadron until 1872
being commissioned lieutenant March IS
1898, ana lieutenant commander July I6
Ioo2 lie was then assigned to the China
station. serving there and in the East In.
dies until 1854
Dui1ng the greater part of the civil war
Lieutenant Commander Kirkland was away
from the scene of action, but in 1864 he
was ordered home and placed in command
OF the ironclad Winnebago, Of the western
guif biockading squadron. He served ur-
der Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher in the
ccmDlhed movements of the military and
naval forces against the defenses of Mo-
pie, which resulted in the capture of that
city and the surrender OF the confederate
feet.
from 1856 to 1870 he commanded the
steamer Wasp, Of the South Atlantic SQUAD
ron. He commanded the same shin from
1870 TO 1876. and was from time to tima
connected with the same squadron mi
aoes' ne was made commander in fo69
and promoted a captain in 1880 He was
attached to the Norfolk navy yard in ISS,
and was at the Brooklyn navy ward from
! October, 1884, to 1856, and during the frs;
J ptti Va litct Tune was IN command From.
october, 1889, to July, 1891, he was super
visor OF New York karbor, when he be-
! came commandant of the League IsIanc
| navy yard at Phiade lphia
He was commissioned as commodore Jun.
q, 1913, and rear admiral March l, 1891
| Admiral Kirkland was then placed in com
| n2nd OF the European station place
| which he retained until November, 1850.
! wren ordered home His next assignment
| did not come till June /, 1896, when lie
| was placed in command of the Mare Island
| navy yard, at San Francisco, where he re-
| named until prevented from furth.r ser
| wee by the Illness and the operation whicI
! resulted in his death. He was retired OF
July ) of the present year, but was to have
| continued his command until the terralUi
ton OF the war permitted his relief by al.
officer on the active list. He was at his re-
irement, the senior ranking officer on the
active list
Admiral Kirkland's name was brought
into prominence at the time of his detach-
ment from the European squadron in Dc
toher, 1885. Dissatisfaction was first caused
by the action of the admiral in sending a
letter of congratulatioH on his election to
President Faure of France. He was repr-
manded by Secretary Herbert who helC
that thu place of the admiral, representing
the dignity of the United States navy in
EUROPEAN waters, precluded him from max
ing any comment on French politics Ad-
mlral kirkland appealed to President
Cleveland to overrule Secretary Herbert
offering as his defense that he had know.
President Faure personally and had con
graduated him in personal capacity and
not as an officer of the United States navy
Admiral Kirkland again came into public
notice through a newspaper interview in
which he made some comments on The
character of American missionaries in
Syria, whittier he had gone to give them
protection in the Armenian troubles
In recalling Admiral kirkland there was
no disposition on the part of the govern
ment to belittle his record as sailor He
as q ms If
and quick perception, and always ready to
do his duty.