Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-06-15
MANILA BAY HERO
DIES IN CAPITAL
Rear Admiral Lamberton Command.
err Of Olympia and Medal of Honor
Man Succumbs.

MAN Succumbs.
4 Washington. d. c., June 10
! Rear Admiral Benjamin PETER
Lamberton, Y. s. N, retired, one of
4 President Grover Cleveland's inti-
mate friends, a chum 70 Fighting"
( Bob Evans, chief of Admiral Deweys
stan during the Spanish war and
medal honor man died last night at
( his residence, 1919 N street North
/ west, after a lingering illness.
I Admiral Lambetron, 6S years old,
was one of the most popular officers
/ in the service. He was born in Cum
/ berland county, Pa, February rs,
1914 He was appointed to the Naval
Academy in 1861, and graduated in
1864
Admiral Lamberton retired from
the service six years ago. and since
then has been entirely out of official
life Before his retirement, however,
he was one of the ablest officers of
the Navy, and has reputation as
daring and skllful commander.
His most conspicuous performance
was as chief of staff with Admiral
Dewey at Manila, where he was in
command of the Olyphia, flag ship of
the fleet. After the battle he reeeiy-
ed the surrender of Caviti, and for
his conduct during the engagement
was promated seven numbers for
eminent and conspicuous bravery"
His Promotion Was Rapid.
Owing to his excellent services
during the civil war. he was promo
ted from the grade of ensign to lieu
tendant commander within very
short time. Within two years after
graduation he was raised othe rank
of master, and within a half year to
the rank of lieutenat commander
In 1869, but five years after his grad
uation, he was made commander On
June 2, 1885, he was given the rank
of captain, and in 1898 he was COM
missioned rear admiral
While on torpedo duty at the Char
lestown navy yard at Boston he made
some experiments which made the
use of torpedos at that time possible.
He made exhaustive studies of the
firing head and the explosives used at
that time. During his stay at Char
lestown he made some experiments
with a crude nitrocellulose powder.
He served more than a year in the
civil war. He was attached to the
u. S. S. America, which had engage
ments with the Confederate steam
ers Florida and Tallahassee.
Went Hunting With Cleveland.
During Cleveland's second admins
tration, and while Admiral Lamber-
ton was chief of the bureau of yards
and docks a fast friendship sprang up
between the men. Many of the stor-
les told about Cleveland's love for
the sport of fishing are connected
with the name of his friend
Fighting" Bob Evans considered
Rear Admiral Lamberton as one of
his best friends and the two men
kept in close touch with each other
throughout their lives On the cruise
around the world. Admiral Lamber-
ton often expressed his regret that
he could not have accompanied his
lflenu BOD.
During his active service he was
considered to be one of the best Of
ficers in the navy, and was held in
the highest regard by his junior Off
GERS and men, Several times during
both the civil war and the Spanish
war he distinguished himself by brav-
cry and cool-headed decisions III time
of battle.
After the engagement at Manila,
Admiral Lamberton commanded the
Olympia until late in 1899, when he
was appointed naval examiner on the
retiring gboard. In 1903 he was as
signed to the lighthouse board and
in the same year was made com
manderin-chief of the South Atlantic
squadron. He was appointed to the
Naval War College in 1905, was
chairman of the lighthouse board in
1906, and retired February %, 1906.
Burial at Arlington.
He is survived by his two children,
Miss M X. Lamberton, a daughter,
and B. p. Lamberton, Jr. He was
buried in the Arlington National
Cemetery beside his wife, who died
a year ago
Rear Admiral Lamberton was a
cousin of Mrs. ]. A. Hoffheins, moth
er of w. E. Hoffheins and Miss Mary
Hoffheins, of this city.