Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-07

reau of navigation in washington. aCkpti
Wood was at Hongkong with the Fefrel
when Commodore Dewey received his m
structions from Secretary Long to seek
the Spanish feet and destroy it. Although
the Petrel was a small vessel. it was need
ed by the Americans for their expedition
to Manila. and Commander Wood had his
ship partly cleared for action even be-
fore he left Hongkong. On account of the
position of the Petrol in the line OF battle
she was able to give q good account or
herself. and her report on the battle was
one of the most complete handed to Com
modore Dewey.
The navigator Of Commander Woods
vessel was Lieut.. Bradley A F1ske, who
was stationed in the top OF the Petrol
with a Stadimeter to determine the dis
the fire of the guns of all of the Ameri-
can vessels. Lieut.. Ffske gained great
distinction for this work, as il told the
Americans the range, and after the Span
ish war he became one of the most IN
genious naval inventors in the service.
finally reaching his present rank OF cap
tain.
Commander Wood died shortly after the
close of the war with Spain.
X x
Capt Daniel B. Hodgsdon of the reve-
nue. cutter service, who had command
of the dispatch boat McCulloch during
the Ddttle. Is lloW lltiuE III
in Michigan He is a New Yorker, and
entered the revenue cutter service in
1861. Constituting the leading vessel
of the reserve squadron, the McCulloch
was, when fire opened. Sunday morning.
the LIST of May. at Manila, advanced as
closely as advisable in the rear of the
engaged, American men-of-war, TO
point where several shells struck close
aboard and others passed overhead.
while the McCulloch kept steaming
slowly to and fro ready to render aid
in Immediate response to any signal
from Commodore Dewey on the Olym-
pia.
Can't. HOdgsdon had nine-inch haw-
ser gotten up and run aft so that 1t
might be used in the event OF any OF the
American vessels grounding. Later IN
the day, and just before the renewal OF
the attack by the American squadron.
Capt Hodgsdon intercepted the British
with a signal from the flagship, COM
municating to her commander the orders
given by Commodore Dewey in regard
to his movements, and then the McCul-
loch resumed it's former position near
the fleet. where it remained until the
surrender Of the enemy.
Rear Admiral Benjamin PETER Lam
berton Is one Of the best known and
most popular of Dewey's battle captains.
and while he was not in actual command
ey's chief of staff at Manila, and later
he became the commander Of the flag
ship Olympia. Rear Admiral Lamberton
was captain at the time that he was
serving as chief of staff, and did not
reach the grade Of rear admiral until
October 1903. He was placed on the re-
tired list under the age limit February
%. 1906, since which time he has been
living with his family in Washington.
Twenty-seven days after Deweys VIC
tory the admiral notified the depart
ment by cable that the captain of the
Olympia, Gridley. had been condemned
by a medical survey. and ordered home.
and that Capt. Lamberton had been APP
pointed in command OF the Olympia.
This action was Immediately approved
by Secretary Long.
Admiral Lamberton was born in Penn
sylvania, and graduated from the Naval
Academy in 1855. He was attached to
the steam sloop Susquehanna of the Bra
gil squadron for one year and to the
Juniata from 1866 to 1867, when he was
assigned to the good old Saratoga. .
frigate now sold out Of the service. From
1870 he was for four years attached to
the Dictator and the Mohican. and the
next year he was assigned to the tor.
pedo service. AS far back as 1879 he en-
tered the bureau of equipment In Wash.
lngton, and three years later was or.
dered to the Vandalia on the Pacific
coast.
In 1883 he became the commandant
Of the Portsmouth navy yard. and next
the training ship jamestown
FOR two years before entering the bureau
IF yards and docks, in 1891. for an Inn
oortant tour OF duty. Then came his
service I'm the Standardization war aAh
lis subsequent promotion.