Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-25
TABLET TO eR|DlEY UNVEILED
SIMPLE BUT IMPRESSIVE SEW.
ICE AT ANNAPOLIS ACADEMY.
Tributes to Dewey's Captain at Ma.
Mia Paid in Addresses by
Naval OMcers.

Simple. but impressive, ceremonies
marked the unwilling Of bronze tablet
to the memory Of Capt. Charles Vernon
Gridley. L. g. n, yesterday afternoon at
Bancroft Memorial Hall at the Annapolis
Naval Academy. Oniciais Of the Acad-
envy and friends and relatives of the
officer who commanded Admiral Deweys
flagship at the battle of Manila bay. at
tended the ceremonies.
After the Academy band played Lead.
Kindly LAght.'' Chaplain II. II. Clark
u. S. N. pronounced the invocation
Miss Charlotte GrIdley. a niece OF the
dead naval hero, unveiled the memorial
which was draped in American flags.
Commander George r. Clark. L. s. N.
made the presentation address.
ut Is known fact said Commander
Clark. that Capt. Gridiey rose from q
morning 1.-THE day Of the battle Of Manila
bay). He was a sick man when he went
into the coming tower OF the Olympia,
and ne came out OF It a physical wreck
Was True to His Duty.
ION the evening Of the battle he was
SO seriously i'll that the bed and not tho
bridge was his place. But he was not
the man to heed the official medical con-
poSccu tEVi HitI1p dtu, o.
though suffering intensely. insisted on re-
naming on his ship. Speaking OF his Ill
ness later. Capt. Grtdley said: Going to
Manila has killed me, but I would do It
again If necessary He was not a dress
parade officer.
the best navigators in the service, and
his thorough knowledge OF details and
requirements fully justified the remarks
Of Admiral Ramsey that 'Gridley was
one Of the brainiest and Quickest OFF,
GERS in the service Capt. Gridley was
successful in life in that he won. the
respect. the confidence, the admiration.
yes. the affection, Of all OF his associates.
and happy in his death In that he died
In the defense of his country. Truly
or and distinction"
Accepted by Capt. Bowyer.
Capt Bowyer. superintendent Of the
Academy. said in accepting the me-
mortal:
ION behalf Of the Naval Academy ac-
cept this tablet to the memory Of the late
Capt Charles Vernon Gridley. y. 8. n.
and In my capacity as superintendent Of
this, our alma mater, / engage that 1t
shall receive proper care and attention for
all future time.
"It was my good fortune to be a per-
sonal friend of Capt. Gridley for nearly
quarter of a century, to know init
mately many officers who have served
with him at sea and many friends whom
he made everywhere, and the testimony
of all is that, as an officer and a man.
he had few equals and practically no
superiors.
''As an officer he was kind and genial.
but conscientious and firm in the perform
ance of duty; as a shipmate, messmate
and friend he was all that could be de-
sired.
Let us hope, therefore, that this tab
let may ever serve to remind US OF ana
cause us to emulate the many good quail
tiles, both as an officer and a man. OF our
fellow-alumnus. the late Capt. Charles
Vernon Gridley.. u. S. NJ
Those who attended the exercises were
Chaplain Clark, Miss Charlotte Gridley.
Commander George r. Clark. Capt J. M.
Bowyer. Lucius Gridley. brother OF
Capt. Gridley, and Mrs. Allyn K. Capron.
who aided in the organization OF the
Gridley Memorial Association and oh
tanning funds for the erection or the
tab ct. The veterans Of the Spanish
American war were represented by De
partment Commander Mawson. Property
Inspector d. j. Leahy. Department His
torian T. A. Green and Past Department
Commanders William Henderson and d.
v. Chisholm.
Work Of L. Amateis.
The tablet is the work of L. Amaties Of
Washington. 1t bears the inscription:
Charles Vernon Gridley, captain. United
States Navy; born November "a. 1S44;
appointed Naval Academy from Michigan.
1850. graduated 1868; fought with Far
ragut 1S63-64; commanded United States
flagship Olympia at the battle Of Manila
bay. May 1. 1888; died at Kobe, Japan.
June 3. 1&(S.''