Evening star., 1911-06-07
NOTED OFFICER DEAD
Rear Admiral Edward D. Robie
Victim of Pneumonia.
PARTICIPANT IN TWO WARS
Accompanied Commodore Perry on
Celebrated Mission to Japan.
STORY OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
Was Chief Engineer at Brooklyn
Navy Yard When Greedy Ex-
pedition Was Equipped.
PARTICIPANT IN TWO WARS
STORY OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

Rear Admiral Edward D. Robie, U. 8.
n. retired. who accompanied Commo-
dore Perry on his epoch-making trip to
Japan. died at an early hour this morn
ing at his home. 1881 Dist street north
west Admiral Robie succumbed to pneu-
monia. He was eighty years of age.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
been completed. Arlington cemetery. it
is probable, will be his last resting place.
An eventful life, rich In incidents and
full Of service to his country. was spent
by Admiral Robie, who served In the
Engineer Corps. His period Of duty COW
cred service In the civil war and in the
Spanish war.
He found his greatest pleasure. how
ever. In his later years, In recalling the
incidents Of the trip to Japan which
opened that nation to the civilization of
the world, and Japan's ultimate develop
ment to world power.
Record Of His Life.
But It was not alone in the expedition
to Japan that Admiral Robie distin-
suished himself. He has other achieve
ments to his credit that go to make up
an interesting and remarkable record.
While attached to the Susquehanna in
1857 that vessel with the Niagara Of the
American navy. and two British ships of
war, the Agamemnon and the Leopard,
made an unsuccessful attempt to lay the
first cable across the Atlantic from Va
lencia, ireland. to st. Johns. Newfound
Ireland the cable broke. and, with the i'm
perfect apparatus of those days. they
were unable to recover it. although they
spent some time in grappling for it. The
four ships were finally compelled to re-
turn to Plymouth. England.
Admiral Robie designed the first steam
floating iron derrick used In the United
States Navy for the New York navy
yard. He also designed the first steel
boiler used in the navy for the II. 8. S.
ratus for the Presidents yacht. He as
sisted. too, in designing the first floating
iron dry dock.
He superintended the construction of
tent designed Its interior work. so far
as its equipment and ordnance were con-
cerned. He designed what are known as
the standing berths. whereby three tiers
Of berths were secured In the space there
tofore used for one. and the magazines,
the shot. shell and fixed ammunition
rooms were also of his designing. He
superintended the construction Of other
and also the construction Of other float
ing dry docks. In this respect, for an
officer in his branch Of the service, his
career was an exceptional one.
Duty at Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Admiral Robie was chief engineer in
charge Of the Brooklyn navy yard when
the vessels were fitted out there for the
Greedy relief expedition. and at one time
or another has been in charge Of the
steam engineering department Of the
navy yards at Boston, Norfolk and
Brooklyn.
engineer on the Pacific and European
stations, as we'll as on the combined Eu-
ropean-north and South Atlantic fleets.
| whose base was at Key West during the
| trouble with Spain over the Virginius,
in 1873-1S74: also general inspector of all
steam engineering department contract
work for the United States Navy. From
1852 to 1855 he was an assistant engineer
on the flagship Mississippi.
When the ciyt We Tar broke h out ut
| cific station, cruising among the Mar
Quesas Islands. and 1t was not until the
ship arrived at Hilo. Hawaii, two
months after the outbreak OF hostili,
war had begun. He says that learning
| that both his father and his brother
were actively engaged. he Immediately
applied for active duty sn psaoSud on our own own
anna he found orders to report as chief
engineer Of the Mohican. of the great
Fort Royal feet of ffty-fve ships OF
all classes. In that service he had
thrilling experiences and twice nearly
lost his life. He was in the fight with
Forts walker and Beauregard. that led
to their auietus. and resulted in the
capture Of Fort Royal and the replant-
ing OF the American Stars and Stripes
on the soil Of South Carolina for the
first time after the secession OF that
state. This is q page of the admiral 8
history Of which he Is very proud
Pursuit Of Filibusters.
Admiral Robbie was also on board the
u g. 8. flagship susquehanna in the ex-
pedition sent to capture the f1libusters In
Nicaragua: he also served on the steam
| frigate Niagara, when that vessel left
Charleston. s. c.. in 1858, with I'll cap
tured slaves and landed 200 OF them, the
remainder dying en- route. at Monrovia,
Liberia.
During the Spanish-American war Ad