Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
NOTED NAVAL OFFICER DIES
JOHN B. BERNADOU SuCcuMRs
TO KIDNEY TROUBLE
was Known as the Father of
Smokeless Powder-Hero of
Spanish-American War.

Commander John B. Bernadou. naval
attache at Rome and Vienna and one OF
the most efficient and popular officers In
the american Navy, died yesterday at the
Naval Hospital in New York. where he
had been for some time under treatment
The fatal malady was kidney trouble
Commander Bernadou was known as the
father of the smokeless powder in the
American Navy, and he was the officer
who ran the torpedo boat WiNslow In
under the guns Of CardenaS in one of the
first engagements Of the war and barely
escaped with his life and vessel Berna-
dou' then lieutenant. was assigned to
the command of the Winslow in Decem-
Der, 1897. after having served for several
months as ordnance officer at the Column
bian iron works in Baltimore. The at
tack on Cardenas was made on the night
of May IL, 1893, and for his "eminent and
conspicuous conduct in that engagement"
he was later advanced ten numbers in
grade.
During this engagement the Winslow's
steering gear was crippled and she be-
came unmanageable. Bernadou con-
t1nued in the fight with his little ship
however. until the shore batteries were
sllenced. He was slightly injured by a
flesh wound in the left thigh by a piece
OF shrapnel from the shore guns. Ensign
Bagley, who was executive officer of the
boat. was killed during the engagement
He was the only officer of the American
Navy killed during the Spanish American
war.
Smokeless Powder Achievement.
Bernadou's notable DEVELOPMENT of
smokelesS powder was ACCOMPLISHED while
he was yet a junior lieutenant He was
| born In Philadelphia in 1853 and entered
the Naval Academy in 1876 He was
promoted through the ensign grade to
junior lieutenant in 1892. He developed
a special ability in the ordnance line and
IN 1894 he was assigned to the torpedo
i station at Newport where he remained
three years. His long tour Of duty there
was due to his work on smokeless powder,
| which he took up shortly after reaching
| that station.
During this time his knowledge of
chemistry and his researches resulted in
| greatly improved methods for the produce
| ton Of smokeless powder in this country
According to the official reports. to him
is due, more than to any other officer in
the navy, the development and adoption
/. OF smokeless powder. He was transferred
| from Newport to the Columbia iron works
in August. 1897, but his powder was not
adopted till just after the Spanish war
| The department was severely criticised
| during the war by ordnance experts for
not having adopted this powder before
the war came on. as its use would, they
believed, have made the war even Of
| shorter duration.
Assigned to Ordnance Bureau.
| Owing to the wounds he received at
Cardenas and his ship being laid up for
repairs Bernadou was withdrawn from
! the ordnance bureau, where he served I'M
| til the following June 1t was when on
| this detail that the young officer i'm
pressed Secretary of the Navy Long with
| the merits of smokeless powder.
| After that Bernadou served on the In
| diana, Kentucky and Dixie up to his pro-
motion to lieutenant commander in Feb
| ruary, 1902. For two years he then
served in the Office of naval intelligence.
which fitted him for his later duty in the
| foreign diplomatic service. In 1904 he
went TO the kearsarge as navigator and
was on that ship when the explosion Of
! powder in her ammunition hoist occurred
! during taget practice off Guantanamo.
That was in April, 1906. The following
| August he was detailed to the Naval War
| College for tour Of duty. He was sent
to Rome and Vienna January 81. 1907.
| and was slated for the detail as executive
| officer of one of the battleships upon
their return next February.
Interment at Arlington.
| Commander .BernadOus remains will
be inferred in the National cemetery al
Arlington with full military honors. Flu
neral services will be held at ST. Paul's
P. E. Church, 23d street. near Washing
ton Circle, Monday afternoon at 4:1i
O'Clock. A battalion of marines, headed
by the full Marine Band. will escort the
| funeral party to the cemetery. and a
squad Of bluejackets will serve as body
| bearers
The following named officers of the
navy will serve honorary pallbearers:
Rear Admiral r. p. Rodgers, Command
ers w. S. Sims. F. c. Bowers, c. NJ
Knepper and ]. L. Jayne and Prof. P. r.
Alger.