The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-24

Rear Admiral Philip Hichborn, who re-
tires under the age limit on March 4,
terminated his duties yesterday as Chief
OF the Bureau of Construction and Repair
Of the Navy Department. With his retire
mcnt from active duty this branch Of the
Government loses one Of its ablest and
most efficient officers. No officer of the
nay has given more time and thought for
the good OF the service; has acted with
any better executive ability. or has pos
-sessed a more genial and amiable dis
position throughout the cares and ylcissi
tudes OF official duty than Admiral HIGH
born. These estimabIe qualities nave en-
desred him TO all who have had the pleas
ure Of his association.
He is descendant of distinguished
colonial family, and was born in Charles
town, Mass. on March 4, 1899 He was
educated in the public schools of Boston,
and with the former Senator from Florida,
the Hon. Samuel Pssco. now serving as
one of the Inter Oceanic Canal Comis-
sioners, graduated from the high school
of that city. they being the only boys in
the graduating class For few months
after finishing school he acted as as
sistant secretary to Admiral f. H. Greg
DRY. the commandaDt Of the Boston Navy
Yard. snd then became indentured to the
Government as shipwright apprentice in
the same yard, under the tuition Of Mel
win Simmons, master shipwright.
4 mutual desire to be associated with
each other led Mr.. Hichborn from the At
Iantic 10 the Pacific Coast. where his for
mer Instructor, Melvin Simons, having
stationed. In August, 1851 having OBJ
tanned position as carpenter OF the clip
per ship Dashing Wave. he set sail from
Boston for the Golden Gate. This tedious
and tempestuOus voyage of $50 days. 40
OF which were spent in rounding Cape
Horn. gave him the experience in which
he was lacking, and which proved so val
liable in later years. Upon arriving in
San Francisco he was engaged the short
time previous TO again entering into the
employ Of the Government with the Pa
ciic Mail and the California Steam Nayi-
cation companies. Entering the Navy
Yard. Mare Island. as a journeyman ship
wright, his practical and technical train
ing. combined with natural aptness. made
his advancement Iimpiy a question of time
and opportunity. Promotion came rapidly
His first duty as master shipwright was
the hauling out and rebuilding OF the
L. ). 5. Saginaw. Thus, for the time be-
ing. he was required to perform the ar
duoGs dut' es of master shipwright and
naval constructor. The navy of this pc
riod was on the lookout for Just such men
as Hiehborn. and, recognizing his ability,
rendered TO him the appointment OF as
sistant naval constructor, which at that
time he declined because his salary as
master shipwright exceeded that of the
appointment rendered. In 1863. however
seeing the advantage OF entering the serv-
ice, he applied for the appointment which
FIVE years previous he had rejected. and in
May of the same year he passed severe
examination and was duly appointed on
June 20, 1863, an assistant naval con-
structor, U. s. N. with the rank of lieu
tenant. Gold braid and uniform, which
often ruin young mans efficiency and
alisnate him from his former associates,
had no effect upon Philip Hlchborn; il
was the internal and not the external that
made him q man. so that when. In 1870,
after ten years life on the Pacific Coast.
be was detached from duty at Mare Island