The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-12-15

BROWN. Dead |.
WELL KNOWN MAN AND soN-IN-
LAW or HENRY g. DAVIS
PASSES AWAY.

Il w. - ~
kilograms from Arthur Lee and G
d. Ollie, from Washington, D. G.. yes
terday conveyed to Morgantown
friends and relatives news Of the
death Of Commander R. M. G. Brown
Of the United States navy. Death
came yesterday morning at an early
hour, the exact time not being given
Ia the dispatches. The funeral will
be held at the Davis Memorial church
in Ellins, W. Va. this afternoon at 2
o'clock. Several Morgantown rela
tiyes Of the decedsed will attend the
funeral
Commander Brown has been in poor
health for several years, and while In
Morgantown, where he made his home
until few years ago was confined to
room fora large part Of the time. His
illness became acute and dangerous a
few weeks ago, at the Garfield hospital
in Washington. and relatives were
summoned TO his bedside. Mr.. C. B.
Ollie, of this city, has been with him
for several days. Thursday It was an
nounced that he was apparently bet
Ter, but he began to fail and death
cop,a vostor,lcv morning
The death OF Commander Brown
ends the career of one Of the distin'
gulshed men Of the United States navy.
He was born in Kingwood, Preston
county, December q, .1S45. His par.
ents were Thomas and Eleanor Suter
Brown. When a young man he receiv.
ed an appointment as a naval cadet
in the academy at Annapolis, through
his uncle, the Hon. William G. Brown,
then member OF Congress. He was
graduated from the naval academy In
1868, and being one Of the first honor
men Of hfs class, was chosen as an in
structor in the institution for year
or two After this, he entered the reg.
ular naval service. and at once began
n career, which for adventures, brav'
cry and valuable service is eXcelled
by few. His first real fighting was in
the Korean war, and he was the first
man who entered the fort and lived,
after Il was captured. He served on
the United States Alaska where he
was mess.male of Admiral SchIey
and Dewey. Later he was victim
Gr yellow fever while cruising off the
coast of Panama, and was sent north
by the government in order to save
his life. His next adventure was at
CadIZ, Spain, where he was crushed
by a whale boat In saving the lives
OF two comrades He was taken IN
the Queens hospital, where he occu-
pIed the room formerly occupied by
Napoleon From the hospital, he was
taken to London on British man'oI'
war. and finally sent home by the Am
erican ambassador Shortly after
lhis he took the L. S. S. Trenton"
the Straits of Magellan, and
was the first navigator 10 make the
passage successfully with so large al
sIip. While aboard the Trenton he
had his greatest and most thrilling
adventure. How he saved his ship
III the Samoan storm and the lives OF
many sailors by placing his men in
the rigging as living sail is story
familiar to all Morgantown people.
For this act lie was given a special
vote Of thanks by Congress, received
Immediate promotion and was given
u sword by the State OF West Virginia.
Soon after the adventure, known In
naval annals as the Samoan incident
he was retired from active service.
Commander Brown was one of a
family Of nine children, six boys and
tire girls. Five OF the boys were
lawyers, and two Of the girls married
LAWYERS. The brothers and sisters
now living are James A. and John h
Brown, of Ktngwood; T. P. r Brown,
OF Beverly; Mrs Joseph MoTeIand' oil
AIorgantown, and Mrs Della ]. Totten,
of Oakland. George W. and Charles
Edgar Brown and Mrs. John A. Ollie
are dead.
Commander Brown was united iAi
marriage January 6, 1886, 10 K"thar'
Inc b. Davis, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs, Henry G. Davis, who preceeded4
her husband to the grave. One daugh'
ter, Miss Katharine Grace Davis
Brown. survives her father and mott
err Commander Browns mother was
a sister of Mrs. S. B. Elkins, and h
the late Mrs. Arthur Lee.
The news Of Commander Bro%n )
death will be received with deen re-
gret by his host of Morgans"%m
friends.
Deafness Cannot Be Cured
by local applications, as they cannot
reach the diseased portion Of the ear.