Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-12-19
Col. 7. M. Brooke Dead, Full OF
Years and HOnors


tary Institute, died at his home on
lower Main street, Lexington, Fri
day afternoon, from the infrma-
ties incident to old age. He lacked
but q few days Of having round
ed out his four score years. For
the past several years Colonel
Brooke had been In failing health,
but only within the last few weeks
had he been seriously ill. His con-
dition became alarming a few days
before his death and his son, Lieu
tenant Geo. NJ. Brooke of the Unit
ed States Army. was summoned.
The funeral services were held
Monday morning at IL o'clock
from r. 4, Lee Memorial Episco-
pal church, conducted by the rec
tor, Rev. W. Cosby Bell, and the
remains were laid to rest in the
Lexington cemetery with military
bonors. The battalion of cadets
acted as military escort, and after
the body was lowered in the grave
a salute of three rounds was free.
The Lee-Jackson Camp Of Confed-
crate Veterans and Camp Frank
Paxton Sons of Veterans, attend
ed in a body; also the faculty of
Washington and Lee University.
Eight cadets served as active pail
| bearers.
Colonel Brooke was born near
Tampa, Florida, December IL, IT,
| 20. His father was General George
M. Brooke of Virginia, distln-
guished soldier of the War Of 1872,
and his mother was Miss Lucy
Thomas of Duxbury, Mass. He
was appointed midshipman in the
United States Navy at the age Ct
fifteen, and reported to Captain
Farragut on the Delaware. he
was later transferred to the sloop-
of-war Cyane, on which be cruised
for three years. Returning home
he entered the Naval School at An
napolis, graduating in 1S47 in the
| first class ever sent out from thlf
famous school. He spent several
wears on the Coast Survey, and
from 1851 to 1858, he was sta
toned at the naval observatory at
Washington, d. G.. He cruised In
japanese waters for several years
previous to 1860, making surveys
and charts of many islands of the
Pacific ana a part of the eastern
coast of Japan. A typhoon wrecked
his vessel in 1869 while in Japan
and he remained in that leland un-
til the following year.
The japanese government invit
cd Captain Brooke to accompany
their first EN- bassy to the United
States, which he consented to 90
His services were so highly appre
ciated by the japanese that thel
requested him to take from ches
j containing 800, 900 what he though
, a proper consideration for his as
: distance. He declined to take any
thing. When the embassy was re
: ceiyed in Washington, the ambas
, sador asked as his first request
a that the services rendered Japal
n nv Captain Brooke should be re
corded in the archives Of the Unit
ed States.
8 At the outbreak Of the Civi
g War, Colonel, then Captain, Brook
entered the Confederate Navy. l
u 1851 he applied to the Virgin
n (tte Merrimac) the principle 0
II extended and submerged ends
: which is now used by the mos
r powerful war ships. His chang
ing of the Virginia, or Merrimat
from a wooden to an iron-clad vel
y eel. practically revolutionized tn
D construction of war vessels an
70 led to the great iron-clads OF tn
J present.
Colonel Brooke was distlr
81 pulshed for his high scientific a
It tainments. His invention OF deel
!, sea sounding apparatus enable
ii scientist TO ascertain the nature
n the oceans bed, and Tade prac
t. icable the laying Of the first Altar
70 tic cable between America an
Europe. He was also the auth'
l. of improvements in guns, sho
g. eheIls and munitions Of war.
t. After the conclusion OF the Vi
as il War, Colonel Brooke was a.
At pointed professor of physics at u
IN Virginia Military Institute in /
g. &c, becoming colleague OF b
'e old. time friend and admirer, Cor
modore Matthew F. Maury, IL
"Pathfnder of the Seas." he
he labored in his shosen field WI
t. fidelity, and thousands of M
ms throughout the country who sat
. his feet at the "West Point OF Il
=, South" will learn of his death WI
o sorrow.
8 Colonel Brooke had receive
~ numerous decorations and media
e from European countries, in reco
=. milton of his discoveries and
y, yentions and other contributio
~. to science. At different times
" received attractive offers for his &c
vices under foreign government
". w which he always declined,
" Colonel Brooke was twice ms
= rjed. His first wife was Miss Ii
~ zie Garnett, sister of General Rio
=. ord Brooke Garnett, whom he ms
4