The Washington herald., 1909-03-14

Rear Admiral SeatOn schroeder. Win titr
all-gold strap. and with an anchor be-
tween two stars. indicating flag rank.
broke out blue pennant on the COnnec-
ticut as cOmmander-in-chief Of the Allan
tic battle-shlp fleet. He has the honor of
commanding the largest number or bat
tie ships ever gathered together under the
American heg. says the New York Post
When the battle ships started from
Hampton Roads I'm December 1877, under
Rear Admiral Evans on the world-cir-
cling trip. Rear Admiral Schroeder. then
commanding the Virginia had no idea
that shortly after its return 10 Atlantic
waters ne would be ptaced in supreme
command of all the splendid fleet that he
viewed from the deck Of his vessel. But
20 those who have followed Read Admiral
Schroeder's career from the time ne re-
ceived his appointment TO the Naval
Academy from President Lincoln on Sep
tember 2. 1854 his selection as the sue
cessor Of Rear Admiral Sperry did not
come as a surprise Ever since he left
the Naval Academy his life has been
filled with exciting incidents that cannot
be paraneled in the everyday career Of
the average naval officer.
Rear Admiral Schroeder was born IN the
District Of Columbia on August T. lSfs,
bat his appointment 20 Annapolis is cred
tied 10 South CarOlina. Rear Admiral
Richard Wainwright. who Is now second
in command of the Atlantic battle-ship
fleet. entered the Naval Academy the day
after Rear Admiral Schroeder. They grew
up together i'm Washington. and il WIS
but natural that both selected the same
I career. Young Wainwright was the son
of Commander Richard Wainwright. who
was killed in battle on August 10 1852
These two friends were graduated from
the Naval Academy together. but Rear
Admiral Schroeder had the higher class
standing II is not unnatural. in view Of
I their friendship, that Rear Admiral
Z Schroeder should have married Vain
wrightS sister Maria. their wedding TAX
I ing place eleven years after ne left An
u3pOlis The new cOmmander-in-chiaC
+ first sea duty was on the Pacific station
/ where ne received his promotion 20 ensign
/ in 1859. He then went 10 the Bcruicia. on
the AsiatiC station. being made a master
/ In lS7o in which yesr he took part IN the
expedition under Rear Admiral Rodgers
To Korea
Fight fn Korea.
/ The trouble between the United states
and Korea grew out Of the murder OF the
Z passengers and crew OF the American
I trading ship General Sherman I'm 1850 on
( April 9. $50 Rear Admiral Rodgers sailed
out OF New York Harbor on the Colorado
. 10 take command OF the AsiaJic squad
ron. The Colorado Joined the rest of the
. feet al Naga asaki and proceeded 10 Korea
+ Upon arrival en- that country. and while
launches from the various ships Of the
squadron We're proceeding UP the salt
/ River in Korea on June the report 0f a
gun was heard from a hilltop II was a
. signal gun. The next moment FIRE was
3 opened on the United States hotiHa from
the mainland and an island simultane-
ously
The guns Of the Palos and Monocacy. o;
I the United States squadron. soon got
busy and their S-inch guns tore big holes
in the wall Of the battery. In ten min
utes the two forts were silenced. only one
American being wounded. The launch OF
the Benicia. which was commanded by
Ensign Schroeder. when going up IN,
river ran the gauntlet Of the two Korean
forts. being hit IN many places, though
GERS and men from the fleet captured and
T destroyed the fort II was said al th'
. time that the Koreans fought well Thei
weapons were wretched old nreIocks. an,
their cutlasses We're made of soft iron
which bent ike old hoops They weu
dressed in armor OF nine thickneSses, cot
ton-padded. so that only rife balls coul
penetrate Il. and were quite surprised a
the failure Of their forts 20 annihila1e In
American vessels Al the first IRE.
Rear Admiral Schroeder was commits
stoned a Lieutenant in 1872. and served o.
the Pinta on the North Atlantic statio
{ / in 1873. and on the Swarrara I'm 1874 an
{ 1S75. when he was relieved and assigne
= to special duty in the Hydrographic ono
: in Washington IN 1876. He was on III
y Gettysburg in 1875. and the following yea
4 he obtained leave Of absence and was as
I sociated with Lieut. Commander Henry n
I Gorringe in removing the obelisk. know
D as Cleopatra's needle. from Egypt Z
e New York The eyes Of the nation awaite
= the arrival Of the vessel bearing the ODE
Esk. and when the ship came 20 ancho
j OF quarantine on July -. 1870. the occa
sion was one OF general rejoicing
-, Schroeder acted as assistant % Lieut.
. Commander Gorringe in transporting IN
obelisk.
, Lieut. Commander G0rTinge and Lieut.
Schroeder had considerable trouble
raising the obelisk from its pedestal. 4
+, turning il 10 "A horizontal position an
. lowering IL preparatory 10 launching
= into the waters OF the hay. The ship Des
. soug was purchased from the EgypJia
!. government and the ensign Of that COur
try was hauled down and the America
Z colors were hOisted at mastheads an
peaks. Under the laws OF the Unite
States the ship could not be registere
as an American vessel and sailing und6
2 the flag OF Egypt would have involve
serious risks and embarraSsmentS. espe
cially in regard % the crew. No cours
was left but open defiance 10 the mar
time laws OF every country In the WOrl,
1.-THE naval officers took that course. an
made the voyage to New York withOJ
registry. In doing this they risked seii
ure By a vessel Of war Of any country q
by the authorities Of any port. The Onl
port THAI the vessel stopped st was Gil
raltar. and the authorities there gave hil
no trouble. Having no registry numbe
no ensign. no private signal Lieut.. Con
mander Gorringe had the vessels nan
painted in white letters two feet high o
bow and stern. so that her identity.
case Of need. would be made known
marine observers or passing ships
The vessel left Alexandra on June I
and on July the shaft snapped. She wa
then 100 miles from New York The ct
gineer force. a stan of bard working
hard-drinking men. turned 20 In tf
work Of replacing the broken bar of ste
with an extra shaft Six days were o,
cUpied in the work. while the ship mad
seventy-fve knots under canvas On Ju
l9 the vessel was sighted or the Jerse
coast.