The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-03-01
MIR. M'cULLoMs PAPER.
Interesting Incidents of Admiral Cher
 ardi's Career Recited.

-~-- 6N @AdA4lOEl OL ll- EOlllIdQCS p Admiral Foote post assembled last Saturday night in the post room to hear the paper of Comrade H. M. McCuI- lom on Rear Admiral Gherardi read. The paper is as follows:
 Admiral Gherardi was born in Jack son, La, November 10, 1892. He was nephew of George Bancroft, the his- torian, who was secretary of the navy during the Polk administration, and in- stalled the naval academy at Annapolis.
 Bancroft Gherardi was appointed from Massachusetts June 29, 1S46, be-. ing but 13 years and eight months of age. He saw his first sea service on board the U. S. ship Ohio, full rigged ship of the line, carrying crew of 800 men and "A guns. The vessel was at tached to the Pacific squadron and was sent to Mexico during the Mexican war.
 After four years service on the Ohio, he was ordered to the Saranac of the home squadron. In 1850 he went to the naval academy for a course of technic- al instruction. In 1852 he was pro- noted to passed midshipman, and or dered to the steam sloop St. Louis on the European station. It was during this cruise that the Koszta affair at tracted the public attention, and grim old Ingraham gained the applause of his countrymen by his defiance of an Autrian fleet. Koszta was a Hungar- ian refugee. who claimed the protec- ton Of the U. S., he having declared his intention of becoming citizen of the republic. He was being held as a prisoner on board the Hussar, an Aus trian man-of-war. Ingraham demand ed his release and emphasized his de- mand by clearing decks for action.
 The refugee was given his freedom.
 September 15, 1855, Gherardi was pro- noted to master, and on the following
 day, September IS, 1855, received his
 commission as lieutenant. He was I navigating officer on board the Mag
 ara when that vessel was employed in laying the first Atlantic cable, and re-
 ceived medal in commemoration of
 on the Saratoga, and as a volunteer
 aided in the capture of Walker, the
 Nicarauguan fillibuster..
 At the outbreak of the civil war he
 was on the Lancaster, on the Pacific
 squadron. He asked several times for more active duty, but without success. July, 1862, he came east, but was not
 successful in getting active service at
 once A friend of his, MT. F. M. Peck,
 was clerk in Tiffany's. One day a
 Massachusetts regiment was passing by
 and lady customer said it was a pity
 so many gentlemanly looking men
 should have to go to the front when
 there are enough hard characters and
 rlff-raff in our large cities to take their
 places. MT. Peck replied that there
 were many gentlemanly men who
 would be glad to go to the front and
 mentioned Gherardi, who had been pro-
 noted to lieutenant July 16 as one
 who would like to get the ear of the
 assistant secretary of the navy, MT. G.
 v. Fox, to induce him to send him to
 one of the squadrons. The lady re-
 piled she thought she could get the
 ear or MT. Fox as she happened to be his wife, and if Gherardi would go to
 Washington she would see what could
 pc done for him. The outcome was he was ordered to the Mohican. and his } hrst engagement was at Fort Macon. His next command was the Port Royal in the West Gulf squadron-fS6s-e4 -e4 SoSAA k'eALt All lltS capture or Mo- < Die bay. The Port Royal was flashed tc the Richmond Capt. Thornton H, Jenkins, who commanded the Rich- mond and was flag officer of one diyi-
 sion, in his report says Gherardi was
 cool and courageous from the first mo-
 ment of attack until he was ordered
 to cut the flashing and pursue the rebe . gunboats Selma, Fort Gaines and Fort z Morgan. One was captured, one sunk : and one escaped. The Port Roya 7 came out crippled and was sent te
 New Orleans for repairs. Gherardi wa, q ordered to the command of the Pequoi : of the North Atlantic squadron. H. : was promoted to commander July 25
 1866, and commanded in turn tht :, Jamestown and receiving ship Inde l pendence of the Pacific squadron H. : was promoted to captain November 9 1874, and commanded the Lancaster a, flagship of the European squadron, ant
 was present at the bombardment o 2 Alexandria November 2, 1884, he wa, again promoted, this time to commo ' dore, and after one years service o1 the promotion examining board was de tailed as governor of the naval asylum < at Philadelphia. He was promoted t, : Rear Admiral August 26, 1887. Afte T two years service as commandant o ' the Brooklyn navy yard, he succeeded ! to the command of the North Atlanti [. squadron.
 z Admiral Gherardi was present at tn E. abdication of Legitime and the captur e of Port-au-Prince by Hypolyte, and wa r instrumental in restoring peace and or 5. der in Hayti. St. Nicholas Mole be # came mark of popular attention an, . negotiations for a coaling station wer
 at once begun by the state pepartment
 It is believed that if the admiral ha
 not been handicapped by bungiin,
 U. S. minister to that country the ne ! gotiations would have prevailed. Shortl after the close of the Haytien affai came the threatened war with Chill ! The admiral was ordered to Monte ss' video with his fleet, and to hold him : self In readiness for orders. The wa - cloud passed and the admiral was re = called and directed to proceed over ~ land to San Francisco and order hi \ ships of the Pacific squadron to tn
 Atlantic to participate in the naval re ,e views at Hampton Roads On his al < rival he was placed in command of a the vessels comprising the squadron 1, of Rear Admirals Benham and Wake
 After the review he sailed with hi
 fleet and participated in the celebra