Evening star., 1919-12-28
The Rambler Writes of W. W. C0rCOran'S Death

MOTIFS lod the pOarueTS. lHdt s"i
liant act, which forms fine page or
American history. took place Febru-
AIRY 8, 1904.
Morris at later date was executive
officer OF the Constitution, commahu
cd by Capt Isaac Huil, when me- cuare unre
riere. He commanded the historic
frigate John Adams and was IN COM
mand of the Brandywine, Wnlch car
ried Lafayette back to francs an
1925 The naval service OF Soihho
dore Morris carried him through all
the seas of the world. At one line ne
was superintendent or me NaVal
Academy and from 1851 to 1856 he was
docks Of the Navy Department. He
died in Washington January ~, 1885;
Turning to the file OF the Nationai
Intelligencer, the Rambler hnds the
following in the issue Oh Mohoav'
January 2S. 1856:
1t is with profound regret that We have
to announce the death OF Commodore Charlie
Norris senior retained officer OF the uhiten
States Navy He expired at half past O'clock
Inflammation of the lungs, in the seyenty,see.
ond year of his age. IL may DC aa1en
to his honor, on the unvaryins testimony Oh ms
brother officers and without disparagemeht !"
any of the gallant men who adorn the ranks
Of our Navy, that Commodore Morris. at tho
time OF his DEATH was. in all tn" varied qual-
tiles which constitute excellence in MS pro
fesson. the ablest naval commander IN me
world. Nothing ever turned him from ,Ne
line of duty, aud when, Mt me emu OF nrtE.
seven years, lie reached the highest point or
professional honor he might truly have said.
Il have gained 'hc palm, but not without
labor"
On Tuesday, January 30, the lntelli-
gencer, in it's paid death notices, pub
lished the fact that Commodore Nor
ris had passed away and the notice
concluded with this: The funeral
will take place from his late resi-
dence, on II street, this day. 18th IN
stant, at 2:30 o'clock. The friends OF
the family are invited to attend. The
Intellgencer of Wednesday, January
the late lamented Commodore Morris
We're yesterday consigned to the
grave in the Georgetown cemetery.
The President of the United States.
the Secretary of the Navy and other
members of the cabinet, together with
many officers of the Army and Navy
and other distinguished personages,
attended his funeral"
r. M Morris, son of the commodore,
related that his father at o'clock on
January "a, three days before his
death. dictated the following direc
tions to be observed in the matter of
his funeral: NO military procession;
salute of my rank to be fired at the
navy yard when my body is deposited
in the vault at Georgetown; service
to be performed at the house; if bad
weather. females of the family re-
quested to remain behind. Pallbear-
ers, Commodore Smith. old and true
friend; Commodore Shubrick, Gen.
Henderson, a marine officer; Gen. Tot
ten. Col. Cooper. Little or no story In
the address at the house-very short,
not more than four minutes-simply
say, did what ! could and meant to
do Well If Perry should happen
here he will take the place of the
ut ma MIN pf
display; no military display"
There is a little book in the library,
entitled "A Tribute to w. w. Cor
uoran of Washington City" It was
written by Mary E. p. Bouligny and
published in 1874. The dedication
of this book reads as follows: I'm
dedicating this little book to Mr.. Cor
coran, l add but a simple flower to the
already rich and fra grant garland
that gratitude has woven in remem-
brance of his numerous deeds of char
ity, his noble citizenship and his good
name" In the book is to be found a
good deal of matter relating to Mr..
Corcorans daughter, Louise, her
marriage and her death. There is
foridness about the language in this
little book which is out of tune with
present-day writing, but it was style
that was in favor when the book was
written. The Rambler has an idea
that Mr.. Corcoran probably saw the
copy" or the proofs" of those
pages of the book relating to his wife
and daughter and that they were ap-
proved by him. The very deep and
great love which the old gentleman
for Mr. Corcoran was seventy-six years
old in 1S74-felt toward the memory
of Louise, his wife, and Louise. his
daughter, may be gathered from the
eulogy in Mary Bouligny's Tribute
She wrote:
In 1885 Mr.. Corcoran married Louise Nor
ris the daughter of Commodore Charles Nor
ris She was a most estimable woman, pos
sessed of beauty and accomplishments, but
the fragile flower fading away at the expira-
tion Of five years. She left son who died
shortly after her decease and a daughter,
Louise, whose eulogy, now that she has passed
to the eternal world, Is best told In the beau
tifu memories that cluster around her name.
The life of this child reared in the lap Of af
huence, was like II placid dream and she drew
10 much of her inspiration from the lovely
things of earth that the fairest beauty mir
rored In her countenance and In her latter
days especially gave sanity meaning to her
face.
In 1859 she was married to Hon. George
Eustis, representative in Congress from the
in Paris, whittier Mr.. Corcoran with loving
solicitude frequently repaired to share in the
sweet amenities for which her home was noted.
Three interesting children added to her many
Joys and blessings, vet athwart the glad sun
shine came the dark cloud Of sickness and
threatening dissolution. and in December 1867,
at Cannes, she exchanged the heeting delights
itance Of heaven. 1t truly sOrrowful
day for the fond father when so dear a link