The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-06

Dating from yesterday, Captain Mer-
ry, in command of the naval station
here, will rank as rear admiral of the
Navy. on the retired list. This change
will not be effective in any material.
way until the arrival of his new COM
mission, which will be followed imme-
jiately by the hosting of the admirars
flag over the station. Pending that
actual change, Captain Merry it will
still be, and he will so sign himself
The retirement of Captain Merry is
an involuntary act on his part, and is
the result of the operation of the naval
personnel bill. under which the Pres
ident must retire any officer of the
Navy upon the completion OF forty
years of active service. Captain Merry
was appointed an ensign in the Navy
from private life in 1862 He was as
signed to service in the Osceola ana
was enabled to see some of the hardest
Of actual fighting. The most important
action in which Ensign Merry was en-
gagged was when he was ordered ashore
during the famous battle of Fort FISH
er. The landing was made in the race
of a terrific fire and the young naVaI
men acquitted themselves with great
credit Among the officers who were
in charge of the men who made the
land fight for the Navy section was
Admiral Evans who there received the
injury which caused his limp. This
battle almost at the close of the war
was a severe one upon the officers, as
a large proportion of them were hurt-
Ensign Merry was twice wounded. and
TO this day suffers some inconvenience
from the wounds of nearly forty years
ago. After this engagement the young
officer had to be sent north. and was
ont of active service for some -FOUR
years recovering from his wounds
Since that time Captain Merry has
seen every service that a naval offlcer
is called upon to perform. de mas
been on duty with every squadron ex-
cept the South Atlantic, and or speclai
work has had more than his snare
In fact of the forty years passed uh"
der the flag. Captain Merry has oeen
at sea for eighteen and a half years
and on shore duty only sixteen years
and four months The unemployed
time has been principally while sul1er-
ing from wounds after 1865.
captain Merry saw his greatest tours
of duty in the China seas, having been
half of his sea time on that station
He spent three years at one time IN
the Mediterranean sea, making up SAIL
ing directions. which involved a COM
pIete study of the sea. and which TOOK
him all along the lines of both shores
This sea service was followed by de-
tails which involved command OF
school ships at Boston and elsewhere.
There was about this time also seVerai
special details which gave TO Captain
Merry service in almost every sea coast
city of the world.
Between Captain Merry and General
Greedy, chief signal officer OF the army
there has always been great TREND
shin. and this dates back many years
At the request of General Greedy, Wheh
that officer had determined TO make d
dash into the north country in accord
ance with the obligation of the United
States government, TO establish certain
observation stations there. Captain
Merry proceeded north and secured lot
the use of the expedition the whallng
steamer Proteus. which two years later
while making a relief trip was lost IN
the ice The selection of the snip ana
men reflected upon Captain Merry the
greatest credit. for while the ship had
To be chartered for a trip which was
expected to last for at least I'VE
months. the object being the landing
OF General Greedy and his party with
,--.---t-i-7- - I1|v Fran lli7 Pay, the
ran was made right into the bay. the
l.udine effected. where the shores were