The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-02
Distinguished Naval Officer Falls
Victim OF Pneumonia in
Washington.
HAD WON SIGNAL HoNoRs
Regarded as Authority on Tao
. tics, and Ranked as Brilliant
Strategist.

Wa shin gton, February Rear :
miral Charles S. Sperry, retired. one
Of the most distinguished officers Of
the navy. and who successfully piloted
the United States battlcship fleet
around the world in 19OS-oa. died of
pneumonia at the Naval Medical School
II hospital here to-day
Admiral sporty arrived in Wash
ngton last Friday from his home in
Newport. r. l.. for special duty in the
state Department, incident TO. his rep
resentation OF the United states at the
conference OF the naval powers OF the
world held in London in tho early part
of 1909. He became i'll shortly after
his arrival in Washington, pneumonia
developing. and yesterday nc entered
the Naval Hospital where the attack
proved fatal at II o'clock this morning
Mrs. Sprrey. who was in Newport, was
summoned to Washington by tcle
graph.
Death Was Unexpected.
The death Of Admiral Sparry was a
shock TO his fellow officers in the navy
and a blow To the state Department,
which has counted much upon his as
sistance in perfecting a translation OF
what Is known as the declaration or
London. The agreement OF the Lon
don conference was dram up IN
French II sets fort! the various prn-
ciples of maritime law to be applied
BY the prize court at The Hague. Both
Great Britain and the United states
have translated the document but
there are discrepancies in Important
particulars in the two translations.
Admiral Sperry had been summon
ed to Washington for the purpose of
reconcilng the differences before the
document is submitted to sne United
States Senate. rs 1t is important that
he version Of Great Britain and the
United States, with a common Ian
guage, should be absolutely Identical.
The best known service OF the de-
ceased officer was his trip around the
world as communicating cliief of the
Atlantic fleet He assumed charge OF
the fleet al San Francisco III May 1905,
and relinquishcd his command after
the vessels had completely circled the
globe and arrived safely in Hampton
Roads in the spring of 1909.
Native OF New York.
He was born Iii BROOKLYN. septem-
Der 5, 1S47( graduating from the Naval
Academy in 1866. He was promoted en-
sign in April. 1S6S. passing successive
u to the grade Of lieutenant In March,
1870: ACCOMPLISHMENTS in March.
1885; commander in July, 1894: cap
tain on July / 1900 and rear-admiral
May 6. 1905. Rear Admiral Sperry
has been president OF the Naval War
College and performed important duty
a S a member of the general board FIe
was a recognized authority On tactics
and one of the most brilliant strateg-
lists in the service lie also was an
| authority OH International law and its
usages He was the United States
Naval delegate TO The Hague confer
ence in 1906 and was one of the
American mission to the Rsr Cross
conference al Geneva, in 1906 lie sue
ceedod Rear Admiral G. NJ Thomas as
c communicative chief OF the Atlantic
| battleship fleet during the last half Of
its memorable cruise around the world
After graduating from the Naval
Academy he was assigned 10 the u.
S S. Sacramento on the China station.
The vessel go, along all right until
somewhere near the mouth OF the
Hooghly River on the way 10 Caicut-
Ia. When lie ship went ashore in n
fog ut night and was a total wreck No
lives We're lost. but no ciothinc was
saved. admiral Sporty mad serv-
ed Oh various vessels in the navy. in
Guiding the Kcarsarge, Worcester,
I,chmond. Quinnebaug. Chicago. York
town. New orleans. Ala alna and Con
necticu,.
Duties During war with spain.
At the beginning OF the war with
Spain he was on duty II the New York
navy yard as ordnance officer. despite
his desire for sea duty. lie performed
much hard work in arming vessels pur-
chased Tor nuNilary cruisers. He was
placed N command Of the Yorktown
| In Philippine waters IN 1895 and di-
iected .hc movements of the landing
party on the eastern shore IT LuZon
The landing party Of the yorktown
Was capturel i.ya ASuinaldo's men some
OF them Wee wounded and all We're
taken prisoners Then bcgau the chase
OF the INSURGENTS and their prisoners
| through tho length OF the Island re :
! snlting in the release or the men at
| APART. cn The northern extremity
| From she Yorktown Rear Admiral
! Sperry W.ls placed in command OF the
! New Orlenas n Nsiatic waters When
! his three years Of sen duty were al an
I end. in i9o3 lie was sent to Newport
/ l.A..t