Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-06-06
OLYMPIA CAPTAIN DEAD
His lnlnry Was Received During the Battle at
Manila.
THE HEROIC GRlDLEY PASSES AWAY.



v. Gridley, commander of the cruiser
Olympia. and one of the heroes OF
the brilliant victory at Manila, Is dead.
The announcement of his death was
received by the navy department late
this afternoon In cablegram from
Paymaster Gait of the navy, dated 81
Kobe, Japan, June 4th, and directed
to Secretary Long. The dispatch con-
tanned this simple statement;
Capt Gridley died today. Remains
accompanying me on Coptic."
Capt. Vernon Grldley is the FIRST
American officer of great prominence
whose death is n direct result OF the
existing war with Spain. As the com
mander of Admiral Dewey's splendid
flagship, and one of the admirals chief
advisers, Capt. Grldley achieved dis
tinction at the battle of Manila bay
and added to his previous laurels by
winning high praise from his superlors
in the service for distinguished gal-
lantry and ability. He fought his snip
from the coming tower, while Admiral
w. directed the movements OF ms
squadron from the bridge of the vessel
| II was not known for several weeks
after the engagement that Capt. Grid
| ley had suffered from 1t; and even now
| the precise nature of his trouble Is not
| disclosed.
HongkonE on the goth Of May, the
navy department was notified that
| cant. Gridley had been condemned by
a board of medical survey and "inVa-
| lided" home. Subsequently advices re-,
ceived by the department indicated
| that Cant. Gridley was suffering from
l N.a Of EllnnDEeSu
| have been received during the battle
| at Manila, but no details were given.
| 1t was not supposed that his Illness
| was very serious, as the department
| was informed that the captain, in COM
pany with Paymaster 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 and ORR
entail steamship line. II would appear
that Capt Grdlcy 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 Ma
Mia.
Cpat Gridley was not a dress pa
rade officer" Among the Older Of
| GERS, however, especially among those
with whom he served he had the repu-
tation of being one of the best equipped
| officers of the navy. He was regarded
as one of the best navigators in th'
service, and his thorough knowledge o
all its details and requirements fully
| justified the remark of Admiral Ram
sey that "Grldley Is one Of the brainies
and pluckiest officers in the nava
! service"
I Dispatches from Manila concerning
the battle indicated that Commodor
Dewey had the utmost confidence il
Capt. Gridley: that he never interferej
in the slightest degree with his man
agement and handling of the ship; tina
he told him to fire whenever ready. ant
that the broadside which sunk tn
, flagship of the Spanish admiral wa
Gridley's own conception and act, and
in fine, that throughout the entire bat
tie the Olympia was handled su
perbly. The distinguished bravery an
ability of Capt Grdley were recog
, nized by the President. and had h
lived, promotion doubtless would hav
I been his substantial reward.
Capt. Gridley leaves n wife and thre
chldren-two daughters and SON
who are now residing with Mrs. Grid
leys father, Judge Vincent, at Fri,
Pa. His mother Mrs. Ann Eliza Grid
i ley, and his brother, Lucius, reside 1
this city. the former being a clerk /
the patent office and the latter an EN-
5 ploye In the treasury department.
t Capt Grldley was born in Logans
port, Ind, In 1916. but was appointed
5 to the naval academy from Hillsdal,
Mich, in 1860, by Representative Henri
= Walron. the Gridleys having remove
c from Indiana to Michigan when thei
. son was only three months old