Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-06-10
NAVAL HERO DEAD.
Capt. Gridley, Commanders Of Dcwey's
Flagship mt the Battle of N!a-
Mia, Passes Away.

Washington, June Capt. Charles
v. Gridley, commander Of the cruiser
Olympia and one of the heroes of the
brilliant victory at Manila, is dead. The
announcements of his death was received
by the navy department late Sunday
Afternoon in cablegram from Pay
master Gelt, of the navy, dated at Kobe,
Japan, June 4, and directed to Secretary
Long. The dispatch contained this
simple statement: Capt. Gridey died
to-day. Remains accompany me on
Coptio."
Capt. Vernon Gridley is the first
American officer of great prominence
whose death is direct result of the ex-
listing war with Spain. AS commander
of Admiral Dewey's splendid flagship
and one of the admiral's chief advisers
Capt. 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 gallantry and ability.
He Fought his ship from the coming
tower, while Admiral Dewey directed
the movements of his squadron from
the bridge of the vessel.
1t was not known for several weeks
after the engagement that Capt. Grid
| ley suffered from it; and even now the
precise nature of his trouble is not dis
closed. Upon the arrival of the Zafiro
at Hcng-Kong on the Goth of May the
navy department was notified that Capt.
Gridley had been condemned by board
OF medical survey and ''invalided"
home. Subsequent advices received by
the department indicated that Capt.
Gridley was suffering from the effects
OF rupture supposed to have been re-
ceived 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 captain, in company with Paymas-
ter Gait, would leave for home as soon
as possible. On the 2sth of May they
left Hong-Kong on the steamer Coptic,
one of the vessels Of the Occidental G.
Oriental Steamship line. 1t would ap-
pear that Capt. Gridley died about the
time the ship reached Kobe. It is quite
evident now that he considered his case
serious, as he did not communicate, so
far as Ia known, with any member Of
his family after the battle of Manila.
[Capt. Gridley was born In Loga nsport.
md. IN 1886. but was appointed to the naval
academy from Hillsdale. Mich, in 1850 by
Representative Henry Waldron, the Grid
leys having removed from Indiana to Mich
tgan when their son Charles was only three
months old. Young Gridley graduated at
Hillsdale in 1863, and on October ! of that
year he was promoted to ensign and or
dered to the steam sloop Oneida, then with
the west gulf blockading squadron, in
which squadron he remained until the close
OF the war of the rebellion. He was In the
battle Of Mobile bay on August S, 1864,
where his GOODNESS and bravery were noted
After the war ended he was assigned to the
steam sloop Brooklyn, which was the flag
ship 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 -, 1868. was again promoted and
| commissioned as lieutenant commander
In 1870 he was assigned to the steamer
Michigan Fourth rate). where he served
| two years From this time until July 2S
| 1897, he filled many assignments of i'm
| portance, until on the date mentioned he
was assigned to command the Olympia
flagship Of the Asiatic squadron. Capt
Gridley leaves widow and three children
two daughters and son--who are now
residing with Mrs. Gridley's father, Judge
Vincent, at Erie, Pa His mother, Mrs Ann
Eliza Gridley, and his brother, Lucius, re-
side in Washington