Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-23
COMMANDER j. II. HOLDEN, u. s. n

Commander Jonas II. Holden, u S.
n. who was a passenger on the i'll fated
Marowijne. has been given up as lost In
the gulf cyclone of last August He was
born April 5. 1873. In Walingford, YER
mont: entered Annapolis in May 1892
and was graduated in June. 1896. At the
time of his death he was the senior line
officer of his class in the naval service.
Upon graduation Naval Cadet Holden
served one year on the Columbia and in
1897 was assigned to duty on the old Maine.
He was on hoard the ship the night she
was destroyed in Havana harbor, and, re-
gardless of his own safety, he assisted In
the rescue of many of her men injured
and struggling in tho water. He was re-
tanned in Havana until the outbreak Of
war as an aide to Captain Sigsbee. render
ing valuable service throughout a complex
situation.
During the Spanish War Mr.. Holden
served as watch officer on the
gunboat Scorpion and participated
In many engagements in the West
due to Ensign Holdens superior
vented from laundering in gale off the
the risk OF being swept overheard from
a deck already awash. he succeeded in
rigging "A temporary steeringwheel after
both the steam and hand steering gear
had been carried away and the ship was
in the trough of the sea in helpless con-
dition,
In February, 1892 Mr. Holden was order
ed to the Asiatic station and assigned to
the Olympia. the flagship of Admiral
Dewey. Later he became flag secretary
to Rear Admiral Watson and served In
North China during the Boxer uprising
He became a lieutenant In 1901 and when
ordered home, went to Annapolis on duty.
Subsequently he served as a division Of
ficer on the new Maine and as flag
secretary OF the Atlantic fleet under
Rear Admiral Schroeder on the Connecti-
cut Noted always for his practical me-
chanical ability, Mr., Holden then had a
most successful tour of duty at the Naval
Gun Factory Washington. 195-l97 and
went to sea as g,Innery officer OF the
Missouri In her voyage around the world
In 1908 he was promoted to the grade of
lieutenant commander, and two years
later placed in charge of the Naval Prov
ing Ground Indian Head. Maryland. He
became executive officer of the cruiser
San Diego Pacific station. in 1918 and was
made n commander in 1914. He was or
dered to the command Of the gunboat
Annapolis that year and had completed
his cruise when orders to return to
the United States were sent him and he
was relieved at Corinto. Nicaragua. 1t
was then, when returning to Washington
to become director of target practice and
engineering competitions, that he was
overtakcn by an untimely fate.
Commander Holden was one of the two
sons OF Mr.. and Mrs George II. Holden
of Burlington, Vermont His brother ia
Captain c. ], Holden, L. s Army. In
1904 Commander Holden married Miss
Lillian Walker. daughter of the late Mr..
and Mrs, w. w. Walker of Burlington.
and sister of Mrs. Charles L. Lamb Of
Woodmere Long Island.
professionally, the naval service has
suffered distinct loss in tho death of
this brilliant officer, From his Annap-
oils days his standing, resourcefulness
and singleness Of purpose. are attested by
every officer with whom he came in con-
tact, lie held within him always an un-
clouded vision of duty and never was he
swerved therefrom. He performed this
duty with unerrng judgment, yet with all
Personally, Commander Holden was
held in most affectionate regard. Never
was n friend and comrade more loyal
than he. and many will miss him at sea
and ashore In his career Is an example
worthy of acceptance as n standard OF
professional equipment No country need
fear with men Of his type In her ships OF
war.