The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-03
NAVAL OFFICERS DEED
Rear Admiral Carpenter Shoots
Himself Through the Head.
IN AN INSANE ASYLUM
HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM
NERVOUS DISORDERS.
His Long and Honorable Record In
the Naval Service = Appointed a
Midshipman In 155O-Only Amer
lean Commander to Open Fire On
a Chinese Ship.

Boston, Mass, April 2.-Rear Admiral
c. c. Carpenter (retired) committed
suicide yesterday in sanitarium in
this city. Admiral Carpenter was
called from the retired list to active
duty in charge of the navy yard at
Portsmouth, N. II, during the war,
while Commodore Remey was on duty
at Key West Admiral Carpenter had
brilliant record
Admiral Carpenter, for the last six
weeks, was an inmate of the Adams
nervfne asylum, in the Jamaica Plain
district, and, at the earnest request of
his family, details have been with
held from the public. He shot himself
in the head.
For a number of years previous to
his retirement, Admiral Carpenter suf-
fered severely from nervous disorders.
and, soon after being released from
service, went under medical treatment.
He had apparently recovered, but six
weeks ago there came a relapse and he
was again placed in the asylum Again
he seemed to improve, and the family
had hope that he would be himself
again.
Charles c. Carpenter was born in
Greenfield, Mass, in 1884. He was ap-
pointed midshipman from this state in
1850 and was attached to the sloop
Portsmouth of the Pacific squadron
from 1851 to 1855. He was in the naval
academy from 1866 to 1856, and was ap-
pointed midshipman in the latter year.
Later he served on the steam frigates
Mer11mac. Roanoke, Colorado and Dol
phin. He was made lieutenant in
1858 and attached to the steamer Mo-
hawk. which captured the SLAYER Wild
fire off the coast of Cuba, with 500
slaves on board.
Carpenter was transferred in 1862 to
the steamer Flag of the South Allan
tic squadron, and was soon promoted
TO be lieutenant commander. He next
saw service on the monitor Catskill of
the the, @ South Atlantic blockading fleet,
and was on board during the operations
and attacks upon the defenses of
Charleston in 1868. After the close of
the war he went to the Asiatic station
with the sloop Hartford
His first command was the steamer
Wyoming, on the same squadron, serv-
ing on her for one year, then returning
to this country. For two years he was
stationed at the Portsmouth navy ward
during which time he was conmander
Sea duty alternated with duty at
portsmouth for ten years following. In
1888 he was commander of the Hart
lord, which carried the English and
American eclipse expedition of 1883 to
the Caroline Stoll.
From 1888 to 1890 he commanded the
ship Wabash at the Charleston navy
yard, finally being transferred to
Portsmouth as captain of the yard, and
later as commandant He received his
commission as commodore in 1893 and
as rear admiral year later. AS com
mander of the Asiatic squadron in 1894
he saw many of the naval movements
of the China-Japanese war. Under his
orders was fired the first and only shot
by an American man-of-war at a. Chi
nese ship, thereby enforcing the de-
mands of this government and avert
ing the impending breach of relations
between the United States and China.
His action was commended by our gov
eminent.
Admiral Carpenter was retired in 1896.
but during the Spanish war was re-
called to act as commandant of the
Portsmouth navy yard in place of
Commodore Remey.
Admiral Carpenter leaves a widow
and family, one son being assistant
surgeon in the navy, D. NJ. Carpenter.
Another son is with the Cramp Ship
building company, and a third lives
with Mrs. Carpenter and her two
daughters at Portsmouth