Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
AN OLD NAVAL HERO
Death of Rear Admiral
Thomas O. Selfridge.
NEARLY CENTENARIAN
FOR YEARS THE OLDEST OFFICER
IN THE SERVICE.
The Department Takes Steps to Pay
NEARLY CENTENARIAN
The Department Takes Steps to Pay
Respect to His Memory - obse-
quies to Be Devoid Of Display.

Rear Admiral Thomas o. Selfridge, re-
tired, died at the Mclean Asylum at Wav-
erly. near Boston. yesterday. The Navy
Department was informed Of his death by
his son. Rear Admiral Thos. o. Selfridge jr.,
who called at the department this morning
for that purpose. He had an Interview with
Rear Admiral Taylor, chief of the bureau
Of navigation. and made partial arrange
n,ents for the obsequies. He stated that
the family desired a quiet funeral, the de-
ceased himself having specified that he
did not want any military escort nor any
music at his funeral.
1t was decided that the admirars remains
shall be inferred beside those of his wife
at the Forrest Hill cemetery, near Boston,
tomorrow at noon, and that thirteen minute
guns be fired at the Boston navy yard dur
ing the ceremonies. Orders were given for
Rear Admiral Johnson, commanding the
Boston yard and his staff to attend the
obsequies as the representatives of the navy.
Eight seamen from the Boston will act as
body bearers, and there Will be no military
escort.
Admiral Selfridge's Career.
Rear Admiral Selfridge was within two
years Of being centenarian. and since
1850 was the oldest officer in the navy. He
was born in Boston on April "a. 1904, and
entered the navy as a midshipman January
1. 1918. His earliest service was in the
West Indies. Brazil and the Mediterranean.
In 1874 he was assigned to the Columbus
which was the flag ship Of the East India
squadron in 1S45-'46, and afterward of the
Pacific squadron during the Mexican war.
In May, 1S47. he was transferred to the
sloop Dale. In which he took part in the
engagement and capture of MaZatlan and
Guaymas. receiving a severe wound at the
latter place. which obliged him to give up
command Of the Dale.
In the Civil War.
He returned home in 1S4S, and was on
duty at the Boston navy yard until 1861,
when he had command of the steam frigate
Mississippi In the gulf squadron for a few
months. Owing to his wound he was inca
FACILITATED for sea service, and he had charge
of the navy yard at Mare Island Cal, from
1862 to 1865. He was promoted to captain
in 1865, commodore In 1862 and was retired
in that rank April "a. 1866 He was presi-
dent of the examining board in 1S69-'1O,
light house inspector and also member of
the examining board in 1S70-71. In 1870
he was appointed rear admiral on the re-
tired list, to date from his retirement in
1866, under authority of special act Of
Congress.
Lived in This City.
After his retirement the venerable adj
miral made his home in this city at 2O13
street Last spring he went to his usual
summer retreat near Boston, and at that
time showed no indications of ill-health ex-
cept such as are natural to old age. Owing
to his extreme age his death was not I'M
looked for by his friends, and when he was
placed in the sanitarium near Boston 1t
was felt that the end was near.
Up to the time of his death the Selfridge
family was represented in the navy by
three generations. father son and grand
son. and what was even more remarkable
was that both father and son were the
retired list with the rank Of rear admiral.
The deceased leaves two sons-Rear Adj
miral T. o. Selfrdge, jr. retired, who lives
at 1867 kalorama avenue, and Commander
James r. Selfridge, now in command of
the gunboat Princeton, on the Asiatc sta
ton. The grandson is Midshipman Duncan
j. Selfrdge. in the third class at the Naval
Academy