Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-08

BOSTON, September S-The flags at the
Charlestown navy yard were raised at
half-mast today on account of the death
of Rear Admiral Henry F. Picking. which
occurred suddenly just after midnight.
Death was due to heart disease. During
yesterday afternoon and evening the ad-
mral attended to his duties and he retired
at his habitual hour. Shortly afterward,
however, he was seized with the fatal at
tack. Death followed so quickly that no
efforts to avert it were possible.
Long and Honorable Career.
Admiral Picking was one of the best
known officers in the navy. and during his
long and honorable career in the navy per-
formed many important and creditable
services. He was born in Pennsylvania
in January, 1910, and was appointed to the
Naval Academy from that state September
~, 1887. graduating four years later. when
he was appointed an acting master, a
grade corresponding to that of naval cadet
in the present establishment. He served
with notable credit throughout the civil
war. His first sea service was on the fri
gate St Lawrence of the North Atlantic
blockading squadron, and he participated
in the operations which resulted in the
sinking of the privateer Petrol. He was
also in the engagement with the confeder-
ate ram Merrimac and Sewels Point bat
teries in 1852. when the gallant Monitor
dSIleNeu HeT Idme. during that same
ne was attached to the east gulf blockad-
Ing squadron, and saw considerable active
service. During the closing days of tne
war he was assigned to duty at the Naval
Academy. and after a short service there
in 1854. he was attached to the monitor
Nahant of the South Atlantic blockading
squadron and in 1865 while holding the
rank of lieutenant took command of that
vessel, and had several hot skrmshes with
batteries on Sullivans Island.
Cruise on the Sxyatarn
HIS next service was on the steamer
Swatara of the West India squadron. and
made cruise on that vessel to European
waters during the years 1856 and 1865 Re-
turning to the United States with the rank
or lieutenant commander, he served at the
League Island navy yard one year and at
the Naval Academy for two years after
which he made a three. years cruise on
the flagship Colorado of the Asiatc sta
ton In 1873 he was ordered to ordnance
duty at the navy yard, Washington, and
remained there for year and was trans
ferred to the torpedo station at Newport
X. r.. where .Ie also remained a year, and
was then assigned to duty on the ironclad
Roanoke, at Eew York. He was commits
stoned commander in January 1875 and
served as lighthouse inspector for three
years.
He next commanded the Inflated Kear-
sarge for two years, and after another
years service as lighthouse inspector was
made naval secretary of the lighthouse
board in 1889. and served In that capacity
for fve years at the expiration of which
time he was placed in command of the
naval force on the northwestern lakes,
with headquarters on the u. S. s. Michi-
gan, and remained on that duty until 1889
when he was made photographer at the
Navy Department. In 1890 he became IN
spector of the third lighthouse district
which place he held until 1892 when he
took commar1 of the U. S. S. Charleston
and joined the South Atlantic squadron
Conservatism at Rio.
1t was as senior officer of the feet, there
being no admiral in command at the time,
that Captain Picking played an important
part in the exciting days of the Brazilian
insurrection. AS commanding officer of the
American squadron, which lay in Rio har-
Dor for months, 1t was well understood
that he held the key to the situation, for
upon the course pursued by him depended
the fate of the Brazilian republic. Cap
tain Picking acted very conservativey, one
dGy doing business with the de facto gov
ernment ashore and the next day commu-
nicating with the rebellious navy under Ad-
miral Mello
This officer he received aboard the
Charleston, and the Guasi-recognition thus
extended to the insurgent cause gave great
elation to the royalist party. But at this
jUncture Admiral Benham appeared on the
scene. and taking command of the squad
ron, turned the tide in favor of the Bra
lillian republic. Upon his return to the
| nlted states In 1874, commodore PICKING
closed his last service. He in turn
commander of the receiving ship Mime
sofa. member of the inspection board, COM
mander of the receiving ship Wabash, and
finally, in March of the present year, was
made commandant of the Boston navy
yard, which post he held at the time of his
death. His commission admiral
dated from March 3 last. He was one of
the junior rear admirals. and his death will
result in the promotion to that grade of
Capt. Alexander H. Mccormick. at present
commandant of the Washington navy yard,
leaving Capt. Barker. late of the Oregon,
at the head of the list of captains.
Condolences Sent to the Family.
AS soon as the department was advised
of the death of Admiral Picking Acting
Secretary Allen sent, through Capt. John
son, a telee -aphic message addressed to
the family of the deceased, expressive of
the regret with which the news had been
received
The question of a successor to the COM
mand of the Boston navy yard, one of the
most important shore stations in the navy
will not be decided until Secretary Long
returns to Washington. By the new rule
adopted by the department, the assignment
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