The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-03-08

the ironclad Cairo, which was blown UP
by a torpedo in the Yazoo. Then he
commanded the Usage in the Red river
expedition. and next the Vtndicator
and the fifth division of the Mississippi
river fleet until 1864. While in COM
mand of the steamer Conestoga his
boat went to the bottom through COM
ing in contact with Confederate ram,
this making three times that Selfridge
met with accidents of that nature. He
had command of the steamer Huron in
both attacks on Fort Fisher and also
of the third division Of the landing par
Ity of sailors that stormed the fort. He
was promoted to commander in 1869
and during the next three years con-
Quoted the survey of ship canal route
across Darien. Later he had COM
mands in the north Atlantic and Asiat-
| c squadrons and in 1888 was tried by
court martial for criminal careless
ness in target practice off the coast OF
Japan when four natives were killed
by the bursting of an unexploded shell.
| He was exonerated and acquitted. but
the trial gave point to the story that he
| had been sent to the bottom twice and
| blown up twice, having suffered from
| the sinking of his ships when on the
l Cumberland and Conestoga, having
been blown up by torpedo when on
| the Cairo and also as the result of tar
/ get practice AS if this We're not
enough he had tempted fate by ac-
cepting the command of torpedo sta
ton. but when the period arrived for
his observation-disclosures, 1S9S-he was
in European waters
With two of it's members on the re-
tired list as rear admirals, 1t might
IL. 10 to-
4 fed, but there is yet another son of the
old admiral in naval service in the per-
son of Commander j. r. Selfridge, who
entered the navy in 1864 and worked
valiantly throughout the Spanish
American war and of late has filled the
position of lighthouse inspector for the
second district, with headquarters in
Boston. Like his father and brother,
he was Massachusetts born and edu-
Gated and he forms the third of the IL
lustrious trio which comprises two rear
admirals and a commander of our navy
in one family With the appointment
of the younger son of Rear Admiral ~.
o. Selfridge. Jr., to Annapolis there
will be next May four of the family on
the register.
The greatest interest, of course CEN
tiers about the old admiral as the sem
ior naval officer, now not far from his
hundredth year. He has preserved his
health remarkably and attributes it to
his correct habits of life, especially to
retiring early and abstemiousness in
eating and drinking. 1t is related that
some time during the first Grant adj
ministration he was present atsan even
ing party, at which he was urged to re-
main after he had announced his deter
mination to retire. He would not be
persuaded and remarked as he left the
room, Il am much older man than
the Oldest of you. and most of you are
now in what you regard as the prime
of life. but if you keep on eating these
late suppers you may not any of you
live as long as SHALL Among that
company We're Garfield, Belknap, Sem
ator Zach Chandler and other promi-
nent men. but today not one remains
alive while the old admiral still is with
us. living monument to temperance
in living and the efficacy of the retired
list as conducive to longevity.