The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-10-25
REAR ADMIRAL DAYTON
FAMOUS SEA FIGHTER RETlRES
FORMER coMMANDER1N-CHlEF
OF PACIFIC FLEET.

South Bend, Ind, oct 2i-Rear
Admiral James II Dayton. ,orm. r
commander in chief of the Pacific
fleet and one of the most famous of
Uncle Sans sea fighters. will reach
the age limit tomorrow and VII re
retired from active duty He was de-
tached from the Pacific tleet last
July and has since spent most D.
the time In South Bend, Ind, his
native city, awaiting the 62nd birtG-
day which sounds the knell for all
naval heroes. Admiral Dayton owns d
fine residence in this city. and
now that his days OF wandering on
the high seas are ivcr. he will like
ly spend hs last days In this in.
land town, far from the ocean bill.
lows and the salty lure that leads
men to go down to the sea In ships.
Admiral Dayton was born in South
Bend. Oct. %. 1876. He Is the son of
DR.. Daniel Dayton, who came here
In the early days and was one of
the most prominent physicians In
this section of the country. Admiral
Dayton received his early education
In the schools of South Bend and Ia
the old seminary. Having a desire
for the sea, he was appointed a ca
det at Annapolis In 1862 by Schuy-
Ter Colfax and in 1866 he graduated
and soon after was commissioned
ensign. From this rank he has risen
20 his present title.
His first sea duty was on the Os-
sipee which cruised the straits of
Magellan and the Pacific and later
was with the Cyane at Pensacola.
From this ship he was transferred
to the old Monitor Mantonomaha and
then to Plymouth for three years
cruise in Europe. lie served on the
Powhattan, the Franklin, the Dictator
and the Worcester In the West India
squadron. He was on this vessel at
Orleans during the White league ri
OTIS I'm that city In 1873 and 1874.
From this ship he was appointed
| instructor of mathematics at the ma
val academy at Annapolis and re-
maned there from 1875 to 1873 and
was assigned to ordnance duty in
| Washington and the torpedo station.
He swa inspector of ordnance
material at the Otis steel mills a,
! Cleveland and the Midvale works at
| Philadelphia until 1855. He served
on the Mohican, of the Pacific
squadron from 1885 TO 1883 when re
was placed i'm charge of the naval
ordnace proving station at Annap
oils. He remained there until 1892
and then was placed in command
of Petrol. of the Asiatic squad
ron and in Behring sea, where the
served during 1898 and 1894.
Following this he was inspector
NJ the Chicago light house district
which comprised the lights on Lake
Michigan. and had headquarters al
Chicago. In 1897, 1898 and 1899 he
was in command of the cruiser De
troit and took active part during the
Spanish-American war. He was IN
the squadron commanded by Admira
Sampson doing blockade duty and 81
lencing shore batteries at Havana
and Porto Rico. He served as com
mandant OF the naval station at Sar
Juan. Porto Rico, until 1900. Wnilt
in command of the cruiser Detroit
he captured the Spanish liner Catali
ma. very valuable prize. When the
Pacific fleet was formed last veal
Admiral Dayton was on the Wes
Virginia at Manila, and hoisted his
flag as Communicating chief Of the
entire Pacific fleet
In command he was next tC
Fighting Bob Evans, who was re
tired short time ago. Admiral Day
ton witnessed many changes in I'm
Gle Sans fighting ships and speaks
highly of the modern war vessels.