The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-07-21
Admiral Terry Arrived This
Afternoon i'm Paducah.
One Of the Most Prominent Naval
Officers in America
Today.
CAME FROM TRIGG COUNTY

Rear Admiral Silas Wright Terry
of the United States navy arrived
this afternoon to visit his nephew,
Mr. Muscoe Burnett, in the West End.
He will remain until tomorrow.
Admiral Terry came here from Ger
ulean Springs, where he has been for
short while. At his request no for
NAL entertainment will be given in
his honor.
Admiral Terry was born December
2S, 1s4l, IN the little village Of Wal
lonia. in Trigg county. HIS father
was Abner X. Terry, highly educat-
ed Virginia gentleman, who moved
with his family to Kentucky in 1929
and engaged in mercantile pursuits at
Wallonia until 1914, when he moved
to Csdiz and continued successfully
in business until his death in 1S48.
At Cadiz Admiral Terry received
what would now be termed a common
school education, attending the school
conducted by Prof. Quint NJ. Tyler, a
noted teacher hailing from Tennessee.
In September. 1858. through the influ.
ence of the Hoo. Henry O. Burnett.
the representative in congress at that
time from Che First district Of Ken
lucky, he was appointed as acting
midshipman. He passed highly
creditable examination and was ad-
mitted to the United States naval
academy at Annapolis, Nd, where he
pursued his studies until April, 1861.
At this time, the war between the
states having broken out, al the
students were removed to Newport,
X. l., and he. with others of his class,
was assigned to duty on the ships then
engaged in blcckading the Southern
ports. He continued in this service,
carrying on his studies in the mean
time, until the latter part of 1862,
when he was graduated.
In April, 1862. he was a memte Of
boat expedition which was sent up
South EdIsto river. They were at
tackled by a large force of Confederate
sharpshooters, and this was the first
real fight in which he was actually
engaged. but he deported himself with
as much coolne SIS as the battle-scarIed
veterans. After this he was promoted
to ensign and transferred to the flag
ship Wabash, and thence TO the Ala
bama as aide on the staff of Rear Ad-
miral Lee until July, 1868, when he
commanded the sloop Dakota, then
blockading the mouth of Cape Fear
river.
/ he served with bravery on various
vessels during the war and made some
brilliant achievements.
In 1864 President Lincoln promptly
advanced the 81 year old officer five
\
numbers of the grade of lieutenant for
gallantry, and Admiral Porter APP
pointed him detail officer on his staff,
retaining HIM in this capacity until
the close of the war.
After the war he saw some distin-
euished service in the navy.
In 1873, he came to Washington for
board Guy, where he continued fer
ii ve years. In 1898 he was promoted
to captain and given command of the
Newark. In this vessel he was with
Admiral Benham atlRio Janeiro dur
ing the Brazilian insurrection, and
was also assigned to convoy the Span.
ish caravels which were on exhibition
ct the Worlds Fair at Chicago from
New York to Montreal. During the
war with Spain his ability for train
ing men for the navy received direct
recognition, he being placed in COM
mand of the Franklin 1t Norfolk,
though he M petitioned for fight
ing ship, an was sfterward summon
cd to Washington to act as q member
OF the examining board. He was then
romoted to rear admiral and assigned
o the command Of the Washington
navy yard. His assignment as com
mandant of tine Washington navy yard
expired the LIST Of July, 1908.
He was ordered last Friday to Homo
lulu as commander Of the U. s. squad
ron there.