Evening star., 1901-12-30
REAR ADMIRAL ROE DEAD
DISTINGUISHED NAVAL OFFICER
PASSES AWAY.
OFFICER
Retired I'm 1885 After Thirty-Four
Years of which Was at Sea.

Another distinguished hero of the war
of the rebellion passed away Saturday
evening in the person of Rear Admiral
Francis A. Roe. His death came sudden
ly, about 8 o'clock, from an attack OF
heart disease He was apparently in his
usual health in the morning and was In
good spirits at breakfast. Soon after that
meal, however, he complained of illness
and went to bed DR.. Pickrell of the navy
was Immediately summoned and did what
he could for the sufferer, but the latter
was beyond medical aid and grew gradu-
ally worse until death came to his relief
just as the night came on. His faithful
wife was at his bedside when his spirit
departed. Their son, Col. F. w. Roe of
the army. who is stationed In Florida,
was sent for at the first symptoms of dam
ger and started north at once. but VIII
not be able to reach here before tomor-
row morning Funeral services Will be
held at the family residence. 1882 18th
street, Thursday morning, and the inter-
ment will be at Arlington cemetery.
Admiral Roe's Naval Career.
Admiral Roe was native Of New York
and entered the navy in October, 1871. Dur
ing his long service he took a creditable
part in the Mexican war and the war Of
the rebellion. His first sea service was on
Tie SlOOp conn AUdIuS CTulSlLS III SOuth
American waters, after which he went to
Africa on the sloop Yorktown, which had
been detailed to look after vessels engaged
in the slave trade. From 1916 to 1S47 he
was with the Allegheny on the Mediterra-
mean station. After short service at the
Annapolis Naval Academy he was assigned
to the mail steamer Georgia A year later
he was transferred to the brig Porpoise and
made a cruise to China. 1t was then he
had his baptism of fire. Chinese pirates on
fourteen junks attacked the Porpoise and
were signally defeated and driven from
their rendezvous near Macao. While at
tached to the cruiser Vincennes on the Chi
nese station Lieut.. Roe was ordered home
and assigned to duty with the coast sur
vey. His next sea service was on the
Macedonia.
During the Civil War.
Called home again at the outbreak of the
civil war, he was made executive officer Of
the steam sloop Pensacola, which was at
tached to the western gulf blockading
squadron, and participated in many exciting
engagements. including the memorable bat
ties of Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Receiving promotion to the grade of lieu
tenant commander, he was placed in COM
mand of the steam gunboat Katahdin, and
he won his first laurels as a commander in
an engagement with the rebel ironclad Ar
kansas, which was destroyed. Two fights
were had at Donaldsonville, and for four
months he was constantly skirmishing on
the Mississippi river From the katahdn
he was transferred to the command of the
steamer Sassacus Of the North Atlantic
squadron.
In this ship he engaged in battle with the
rebel ironclad Albemarle and the gunboat
Bombshell. He was relieved from the Sas-
sacus and ordered to the Michigan, sta
toned on the great lakes.
Since the War.
He was commissioned commander July
%, 1866, and was given command of the
steamer Tacony of the North Atlantic
squadron. He was made fleet captain of
the Asiatic squadron in 1868. He was
dered to the Boston navy yard in 1872, in
which year he was commissioned a cap
tain. He commanded the Lancaster on
the South Atlantic station, in 1873, and
upon relief from this vessel was assigned
to the New London naval station. He was
promoted to the grade of rear admiral in
1884, and October 4, 1885, he was retired
on account Of age, after thirty-four years