The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-06
TRUE HEART OF OAK.
Admiral Kimberly a Fine Type of the
Old Naval Hero.
Milwaukee Sentinel.

Milwaukee Sentinel.
The death on Tuesday last of Rear Ad-
miral Kimberly recalls the pathetic wording
of the old naval hero's letter in reply to
the request of the department that he
serve on the Schley court of inquiry. In
declining to serve, on the ground of failing
health, the admiral expressed his "morti-
~fcation. at being unable for the first time
to honor a naval order during e naval life
of ifty-five years"
The opening phase of this long span
of honorable service began with the years
1867. when Kimberly served as a mid
shipman on the sloop Jamestown, then en-
gagged in suppressing the slave trade or the
African coast In 1852 he was graduated
from the Naval Academy. Early in the
civil war he was commissioned lieutenant
commander, and as such served on many
ships and in many actions. Kimberly was
with Farrdgut on the Hartford at the bat
tie of Mobile bay, and his bearing in action
won the following tribute from the cap
tain of the flagship:
To Lieutenant Commander Kimberly, the
executive officer, l am indebted not only
for the fine sample Of GOODNESS and self
possession which he set to those around
him, but also for the excellent condition to
which he had brought everything belong
ing TO the lighting department of the ship.
in consequence of which there was no con-
fusion anywhere, even when, from the ter
rible slaughter at some Of the guns, 1t
might have been looked for.
In 1887 Kimberly attained the grade of
rear admiral, and two years later came the
terrible disaster at Apia, giving rise 10 one
OF the most dramatic episodes Of our naval
history, of which he was the hero. The
story OF the great Samoan hurricane of
March, 1SS9-Cf the wrecking in Apia bay
of the American and German warships,
and the marvellous escape of the British
ship Calliope, has been wildly told. Rob
ert Louis Stephenson. then at Apia, relates
in his "tootnote to History how, as the
Calliope, driven by her powerful Engines
in the teeth OF the hurricane, forced her
way TO the open sea, the crew of the Amer
lean flagship Trenton, though themselves
in the jaws. hailed the escape Of their
British kinsfolk with a cheer. which the
brave old admiral led in person. Once
more blood was thicker than water" On
the day following. as Stevenson relates,
While the crews of the wrecked vessels
were being brought TO shore by the rescue
lines. the CHEEKY spirit Of the admiral
added a new feature to the scene His
ship was riddled by the rocks and sunk 10
the gun deck. and his own fate and that
Of his men still hung by a thread. But
nevertheless, surrounded as he was by
the crews OF two wrecked ships, he paraded
the band OF the Trenton, and the bay was
suddenly enlivened with the strains OF
Hail Columbia. F."
Admiral Kimberly was with the Corean
expedition. and led the force which landed
and captured the forts. on April ?. 1892
ne was retired, having reached the age
limit.
Admiral Kimberly was Of the timber OF
which the D~ecaturs. Lawrences and Perrys
were made-true heart OF k-an his fame
viii live in the annals OF the American