Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-18

Lieut. Commander Herschel Main, chief
engineer U.S.N. retired, died this morning
in the Georgetown Hospital.
The funeral will take place Saturday
with full military honors. It will take
place from the residence, 1000 Massa-
chusetts avenue northwest, and interment
will be in Oak Hill cemetery. The hon
orary pallbearers will be as follows: Chief
Engineer f. ID. ROBBIE. Chief Engineer
Thomas Williamson, Rear Admiral George
W. Baird. Chief Engineer ii. w. Fitch.
The military escort will consist of the
Marine Band, two companies of marines
and two companies of blue jackets.
Lieut. Commander Mains life in the
navy was full of adventure lie had faced
dangers by shipwreck more than once
and in at least one incident he left q
memorial which illustrates his character.
ability and resourcefulness and which will
remain as long the navy itself
The memorial is sextant which Com
mander Main made out of crude material
and which guided men of the wrecked
Saginaw through. the south Pacific in q
small boat. and which resulted in an
eventual rescue. The Saginaw was cruis-
ing In Southern waters in 1871 and the
reefs of those attitudes. sailed out of the
beaten path of travel, with the result
that at . o'clock one morning he found his
ship stuck fast on reef of Ocean Island.
For ninety-two days the Saginaw's men
lived on the island, which had evidently
been uninhabited from prehistoric times.
They subsisted on eggs and seal meat. AS
their ship was entirely wrecked and few
of the navigating instruments and neceS-
hities of life were saved.
4 -nYp n6a and
patience constructed the sextant. which
guided small boat to an island to the
north and which spread the news of their
plight. The seXtant was afterward placed
in the Smithsonian Institution. where 1t
was regarded as a marvel of accuracy:
but the Naval Academy claimed II as
having been made by graduate Of that
school, and it now has place of honor
at Annapolis.
Was on the Trenton at Apia.
Commander Main was also aboard the
Trenton, in the harbor of Apia. when
the memorable hurricane wrought such
havoc among the ships. The Trenton
went down with men dashed in the rig
ging. and Commander Main was among
the number tossed into the sea. The ex-
posture and hardships of that adventure
resulted in his early retirement from the
during his life fourteen years and eight
months duty on shipboard and twelve
years and one month shore duty
He was born at Sterling. ILL.,. July 6.
1S4J. and was the son of Prof. James
Main He attended Washington schools
from 1851 to 1857. went to the Phillips
Academy at Exeter. n. H., from 1858 to
ISL and graduated from Annapolis in
1866 After that he studied marine en-
gineering as a speciality and was appoint ed
acting third assistant engineer in the
navy October 1O. 1855. He appoint ed
a third assistant engineer in the regular
service June 2. 1865: promoted 10 second
assistant engineer June = 1859: 10 passed
assistant engineer November 20, 1874; to
CHIEF engineer November IL, 1892 and was
transferred 10 the retired list September
TO- 1895, as a chief engineer. with the
rank OF lieutenant commander His last
duty on the active list was that of in
spector Of machinery at Norfolk and New
port News. Va. from September Is. 1894
to the date of his retirement, September
TO- 1885. since which date he performed
no active duty.
Esteemed by Brother Officers.