The Washington times., 1901-10-20
DEATH OF ADMIRAL BUNcE.
The Retired Naval Officer Expires at
His Home in Hartford.


HARTFORD. Conn. Oct. 19.-Rear Ad-
miral Francis NJ. Bunee. U. S. Navy. re-
tired. died this morning at his home here.
Francis Marvin Bunce was born In
Hartford, Conn, December 25. 1895, the
son of James Marvin Buuce. He entered
the Naval Academy May 2S, 1852, and
upon graduation. in 1857. was assigned 20
the sloop Germantown, of the East In
dian Squadron. He served on that sta
tion for two years, and was then trans
feTred to the sloop Macedonia. In April.
1861, he was commissioned lieutenant and
assigned to the Penobscot. on the North
Atlantic Blockading Station. In the early
mishes at Yorktown and Gloucester and
the engagements at Fort Fisher and the
other rebel batteries at the mouth of the
Cape Fear River. His next transfer was
to the Pawnee, and then to the Cats
kill.
Commissioned lieutenant commander
January 1e, 1863. he was placed in COM
mand of the Dictator, and shortly after
ward OF the ironclad Monadnock In the
assault and capture Of Morris Island the
following July his successful management
of one OF the boats employed in landing
troops won for him signal praise In re-
moving distractions from interior chan
nels, from Stone River. South Carolina,
to Morris Island. and in the emba rkat!on
of General Strongs brigade OF five regf-
ments and their transportation through
these channels TO Morris Island his sery-
ices were effective. He then served on
the Patapsco. participated in the night
boat attack on Fort Sumter and took part
in the siege of Charleston until wounded
by an explosion of cartridges in Novem-
Der 1868. Later he was ordered on the
staff of Admiral Dahlgren as chief OF
scouts. and served in that capacity until
ordered to the command of the monitor
Lchigh. On April 6, 1864, he was detached
from the South Atlantic blockading
squadron and ordered north.
extended
made by monitor was successfully car
ried to completion by him in command OF
the Monadnock from Philadelphia to San
Francisco in 1886. For this service he
received the thanks of the Navy Depart
ment and was recommended for reward
to the President by the Secretary of the
Navy. He reached the grade of COM
mander November !, ISL. and commanded
the Ashuelot, Asiatic Station. until 1873
His last sea service was on the Atlanta.
He was next on duty at the Navy Yard
again in 1877. Commissioned captain
January II, 1888, me was made senior
member of the board on timber preserva-
tion for naval purposes. He was pro-
noted to commodore March l, 1895, and
placed in command of the North Atlantic
Station. On May l. 1897, he was detached
from this station and placed in command
of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He was re-
tired on December 25 1893, after a service
of seventeen years and five months in the
navy.
Admiral Bunce was in appearance a
typical commanding officer. being over
six feet in height and splendidly proper
toned He had the reputation In his ear
lier days of being one OF the strongest
men in the navy. His having been born
on Christmas Day was cited by the men
under him accounting for his success
In establishing an atmosphere of cor
iiality and good fellowship among the en-
listed men wherever he went. Though a
strict disciplinarian. he was neither harsh
nor unnecessarily severe. and his genial
temperament made him one OF the most
popular officers in the navy among the
officers and men alike He married in
1854 Mary +. Bull. of Hartford. and had
lived in that city since his retirement.