The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-28

the ironelad Cairo. which was blown Up
by torpedo In the Yazoo. Then he
commanded the Oshge In the Red river
expedition, and next the Vindicator
and the NTH division OF the Mississippi
river fleet until 1864 While In COM
mand OF the steamer Conestoga his
boat went 10 the bottom through com
ing In contact with a Confederate ram.
this making three times that Selfridge
met with accidents of that nature. He
had command of the steamer Huron i'm
both attacks on Fort Fisher and also
or the third division OF the landing par
~ OF sailors that stOrmed the fort. He
was promoted 20 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-
ic squadrons and I'm 1883 was tried by
court martial for criminal careless
ness" I'm target practice of the coast Of
Japan, when four natives were killed
by the bursting OF an unexploded shell.
lie was exonerated and acquitted. but
the trial gave point TO the story that he
had been sent 90 the bottom twice and
blown up twice, having suffered from
the sinking OF his ships when on the
been blown up" by a torpedo when on
the Cairo and also as the result OF tar
get practice AS II this were not
enough he had tempted fate by ac-
| cepting the command OF torpedo sta
tion. hut when the period arrived for
! his retirement-January, is9She was
I'm European waters.
With two OF it's members on the re-
tired list as rear admirals.o II might
seem that any family should be sstis-
fed, but there is yet another son OF the
old admiral In naval service I'm the per-
son OF Commander j. X. Selfrdge. who
entered the navy in 1864 and worked
valantly throughout the Spanish
American war and or late has filed the
position OF lighthouse inspector for the
second district. with headquarters In
Boston. Like his father and brother.
he was Massa chusetts born and edu-
Gated. and he forms the third OF the IL
lustrious trio which comprises two rear
admirals and commander of our navy
In one family. With the appointment
| Of the younger son OF Rear Admiral 7.
| o. Sefridge. Jr.. to Annapolis there
will be next May four OF the family on
the register.
The greatest interest. OF course. CEN
ters about the old admiral as the SEN
ior naval officer. now not far from his
hundredth year. He has preserved his
health remarkably and attributes IL to
his correct habits OF life, especially to
retiring early and abstemiousness In
eating and drinking. II is related that
some time during the first Grant ad-
minlstration he was present at an 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 II am a much older man than
the oldest of you. and most of'you are
now i'm what you regard as the prime
OF life. but IL you keep on eating these
late suppers you may not any of you
live as long as | shall Among that
/ company were Garfield, Bell0nap, SEN
I ator Zach Chandler and other proml-
| nent men. but today not one remains
/ alive. while the old admiral still is with
| us, a living monument TO temperance
| i'm living and the efficacy of the retired
| list as conducive TO longevity.