The herald., 1898-06-06
The FIRST GREAT NAME
ON THE LIST OF WARS
VICTIMT
CAPTAIN VERNON GRIDLEY
Commander of the Cruiser Olympia,
Dead of Injuries Received at the
Battle of Manila
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, June 5.-Captain Chaa
" Gridey, commander of the cruiser
Olympia, and one of the heroes of the brill
liant victory at Manila, is dead. The an
nouncement of his death was received
at the navy department late this after
noop in cablegram from Paymaster Gait
of the navy, dated Kobe, Japan. June 4.
and directed to Secretary Long. The dis
patch contained this simple statement:
Captain Gridley died today. Remains
accompany me on Coptic."
Captain Vernon Gridley is the first
American officer of great prominence
whose death is a direct result of the exist
ing war with Spain. AS the commander
of Admiral Dewey's splendid flagship, and
one of the admrals chief advisers, Cap
tain Gridey achieved distinction at the
battle of Manila bay and added to his pre-
vious laurelt by winning high praise from
his superorn in the service for distin-
guished gallantry and ability. He fought
his ship from the coming tower While Ad-
miral Dewey directed the movements or
his squadron from the bridge of the vessel.
1t was not known for several weeks after
the engagement that Captain Gridley had
suffered from it; and even now the pre-
else nature of his trouble is not disclosed.
Upon the arrival of the Zaiiro at Hong
Kong on May 90 the navy department was
notified that Captain Gridley had been
condemned by board of medical survey
and invalided home. Subsequent advices
received by the department indicated that
Captain Gridley was suffering from the
effects of rupture, supposed to have been
received during the battle at Manila, but
no details were given. 1t was not sup
posed that his illness was very serious, as
the department was Informed that the cap
TAIN in company with Paymaster Gait,
would leave for home as soon as possible.
On May 2S they left Hong Kong on the
steamer Coptic. 1t would appear that
Captain Gridley died about the time the
ship reached Kobe. 1t is quite evident now
that he considered his case serious, as he
did not communicate, so far as is known,
with any member of his family after the
battle of Manila.
Captain Gridley was not dress nrade
officer" Among the older officers, how
ever, especially with those with whom he
served, he had the reputation Of being one
of the best-equipped officers of the navy.
He was regarded as one of the best navi-
gators in the service, and his thorough
knowledge of all its details and require
ments fully justified the remark of Admit
raj Ramsay, that "Gridley is one of the
brainiest and pluckiest naval officers in
the service"
Dispatches from Manila concerning the
battle indicated that Commodore Dewey
had the utmost confidence in Captain
Gridley; that he never interfered in the
slightest 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 Span
ish admiral was Gridley's own conception
and act and, in fine, that thro dghout the
entire battle the Olympia was handled
superbly. The distinguished bravery and
ability of Captain Gridley were recognized
by the president, and had he lived. pro-
motion doubtless would have been his
substantial reward.
Captain .Gridley leaves widow and three
children-two daughters and son-who
are now residing with Mrs. Gridley's Ia
ther Judge Vincent, at Erie, Pa HIS
mother, Mrs. Ann Eliza Gridley, and his
brother Lucius reside in this city, the
former being a clerk in the patent office
and the latter an employe in the treasury
department.
Captain Gridley was born in Logans-
port, Ind, in 1915, but was appointed to
the naval academy from Hillsdale, Mich,
in 1860 by Representative Henry Waldron,
the Gridleys having removed from Indiana
to Michigan when their son was only three
months old.