Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-30
Cen. FLAGLER GONE,
Chief of United States Ordnance
Department Dies at Old
Point Comfort.
TRUE FRIEND OF THE ARSENAL.

Important Improvements Made at the
Years of His Command-Deeply Attached
to the Post, In the Interest of " hich He
Always Labored-His Last Illness.
Brig. Gen. Daniel w. Flagler, chief
of ordnance, u. s. A, died at o'clock
yesterday afternoon at the Hygeia
hotel, Old Point Comfort, Va.
While not unexpected. the news OF
Gen. Flagler's death will occasion n
severe shock to his friends in the
three cities. where he was so we'll known
on account of his long connection
with Rock Island arsenal, for which
| institution he did such valuable serv-
ice, not only as commandant, but as
head of the ordnance department. 1t
was announced in THE ARGUS a few
days ago that Gen. Flagler was very
low, and upon communication with
Maj. S. Z. Blunt, commandant at the
arsenal. it was ascertained that if the
ordnance chief was rapidly nearing
the end of his earthly career, his con-
dition was in a large measure due
to hard work and close confinement
during the war rush. Gen. Flagler
was an indefatigible worker, a model
soldier and an officer of exceptional
ability man of whom it might be
said gave up his life for duty
Gen. Flagler's last illness began
with influenza which he contracted
shortly after his last visit to Rock ISL
and arsenal a few months ago. Dur
ing his residence here Gen. Flagler
was member of Trinity church.
Commandant at Rock Island Arsenal.
Gen. Flagler was commandant at
Rock Island arsenal from June Is,
1871, until May. 1886, when he was
transferred to Frankfort arsenal,
Philadelphia. He made brilliant
record in the civil war. On recon-
mendation of the chief of ordnance,
Capt. ID. w. Flagler, then on duty at
Rock Island arsenal, was assigned to
the command of the post on the date
given above. He served for a period
Of nearly fifteen years, or about half
the constructive stage of the arsenal.
He fully comprehended the far-reach
ing scope of the work before him and
gave it the best years of his life. 1t
became part of him and he was
deeply attached to it. The plans as
he received them were imperfect in
the details compared with the elabor-
ate plant that has grown from them.
The cOmmandant proved that ord
nance stores can be manufactured
here and distributed to the army
cheaper than they can be fabricated
in the east and brought west. Dur
ing his command eight shops were
entirely built-the commanding of1i-
GERS quarters, buildings for officers
quarters. the soldiers barracks, post
buildings, complete system of sew
ers, the MoliEe bridge, roads, streets
and avenues, the water power wall
and ornamentation of grounds. Dur
ing the Is years the arsenal was
largely shaped and adapted to its pur-
pose as we see it today.
Gen Flagler was proud of the arse
nal here, and was ever on the alert to
increase its Importance as a govern
ment manufacturing plant. In his
death the people of Rock Island, the
three cities and the arsenal, have lost
a valuable friend.
Gen. Flagler's successor will prob
ably be either Col. James w. White
more, who is ranking officer in the
ordnance department, or Col. A. X.
Burlington, both OF whom have served
as commandments at Rock Island arse
nal.
Gen. FIagIer'S Career.
Gen. Flagler vas BIN in New Ivlk
and was appointed TO the military
academy from that state July, 1856.
He was graduated No. 3 in the class
of 1861, and was appointed second
lieutenant of ordnance. He served
with credit throughout the war of the
rebellion.
His earliest military service was in
connection with the drilling of volun-
teers at Washington. ID. C., after
which he acted as abide camp to Col
in the Manassas campaign,
being engaged in the first battle of
Bull Run. He was afterward aid-de-