Evening star., 1900-11-29

sank away. His wife was the only member
of his family with him at the time. His
only child. Valette McNair, cadet at the
Naval Academy, was not informed of his
fathers illness until too late for him to
reach here in time to him alive. 1t was
not realized that the admiral's illness was
so serious until it was too late for his son
to reach his bedside. He was stricken with
apopleXy shortly after 3 o clock, and passed
away almost Immediately. He was dead
even before the arrival of the physicians
who had been summoned Immediately after
the attack. The admirars health had been
failing for a year or more, and l. was on
that account that he was relieve at his
own request from duty as superi 1tendent
of the Naval Academy last spring. Since
waiting orders. Had he lived until then
he would have been retired for age January
IL next. 1t is said that he had a Fremont
ton that he would never reach the age of
retirement-siXty-tw years
A Long and Honorable Career.
Rear Admiral McNair was born in Penn
sylvania, January 13, 1899, and had long
and honorable career in the service Of his
country Graduating from the Naval Acad-
emy in 1857, he took his first cruise as an
acting midshipman on the frigate Mime
sofa Of the East Indian squadron. While
a student at the academy he had previously
gone on practice cruises on the Preble and
the Plymouth to European ports. During
the years 1859 and go. he served on the
coast survey steamer Verina. and on the
cruiser IroQuoiS of the Mediterranean
squadron. Just prior to the outbreak OF
the war of the rebellion he was in the
West Indies fleet, where he later at
tached to a ship engaged in the pursuit
of the Sumter. He was lieutenant in Ad-
miral Farraguts famous fleet, and took part
in the engagements and passage of Forts
Jackson and ST. Philip and in the capture
OF T.iant McNair also took
an active part in other engagements on the
Mississippi, including the engagements
which resulted in the destruction OF the
rebel ram Arkansas and the capture OF
Natchez. Subsequently he served as
executive officer Of the Juniata Of the
South Atlantic blockading squadron. ana
took part in both attacks upon Fort flsner
He received a special commendat1on from
his superior officers for merftorlous conduct
in those engagements.
After the Civil War.
The close of the civil war found him on
the Brazilian station, where ne served 1or
several years on the flagship Brooklyn the
Franklin and the Macedonia. In 1868 he
was stationed at the Naval Academy for
short time and then transferred to the flag
ship of the European squadron. HIS next
assignment was as equipment omceT at the
League Island navy yard, where he re-
manned until 1871, when he was again sta
toned at the Naval Academy for four
years, after which he was assigned to the
command Of the Yantfc, and later to the
command of the historic old Kearsarge
subsequently lost on the reefs of Roncador
He was commandant Of cadets of the Naval
Academy from September, 1873, to Septem-
ber 1852, and part Of the time was in COM
mand of the practice ship Constellation.
In 1888 he was member Of the court OF In
quiry in the matter of the loss OF the
cruiser Jeanette in the arctic.
From 1883 to 1856 he served as captain of
the Mare Island navy yard, and then went
to the Asiatic station. in command of the
Omaha.
Naval Observatory Superintendent.
He came to this city in 1890 as superin-
tendent of the naval observatory and re-
mained at the head of that institution for
four years. In 1895 he was placed in COM
mand of the United States naval forces on
the Asiatic station, his flagship being the
olympia, and remained on that duty until
early in 1898, when he was relieved by Ad-
miral Dewey. Returning to the United
States, he was assigned to duty in this city
as president of the naval examining and re-
firing boards, and shortly after was made
superintendent of the Naval Academy, and
held that assignment until relieved by Com
mander Wainwright last spring. Admiral
July 3. 1893, and was the senior o1ucer of
ing next after Admiral Dewey, who was
signal services at the battle of Manila bay