The sun., 1919-03-07
HILARY A. HERBERT
Is DEAD IN TAMPA
Secretary Of Navy in Cleve-
lands Administration
Was Nearly 85.
COLONEL IN CIVIL WAR
Leader in Congress and Ardent
Tariff and Civil Service
Reformer.

, TAMPA. Fla. March s-IIiary Abner
Herbert, Secretary OF the Navy in
President Cleveland's Administration.
died here to-day.
Col Hilary Herbert was born in
Laurensvllle, S. c., March 10, 1894, but
his family moved to Greenville, Ala,
when he was a boy. and all his life he
was identified with that State. He
studied at the University of Alabama
and the University of Virginia. and
after passing his bar examination prac-
tised law in Greenville.
When the civil war started he enlisted
as Captain OF volunteers, and rose to
the rank of Colonel of the Eighth Ala
bama Volunteers. lie fought until the
Battle OF the w lderness in 1864, when
his left arm was shattered by a bullet
and thereafter was a little shorter than
the other.
An incident that occurred when he was
In command on the Rappahannock offers
marked contrast in chivalry from what
Obtained In this war. Col Herbert no.
ticed a Union picket within a few feet
OF the Confederate Ines, It not being
an uncommon thing for pickets on both
sides to exchange verbal pleasantries
and sometimes more substantial things
The Colonel told the man to come in and
surrender, and he did SO. But he begged
SO to be shot that he might not suffer
the ignominy Of being made prisoner in
such way that Col. Herbert told h m
to go He said afterward he was touched
by the fellows manliness.
At the end Of the war Col. Herbert.
| like most of his neighbors. was ruined
financially. but he soon built up a good
| law practice in Greenville. In 1872 he
| moved to Montgomery. and as result
| OF his interest In politics was elected to
| Congress. He represented his district
\ without serious opposition from 1877 to
| 1898, when President Cleveland APP
pointed him Secretary of the Navy. The
| appointment was a logical one. as there
was no man In Congress who had taken
a more intelligent interest In the navy
than Col Herbert He had been the
second member OF the Naval Affairs
Committee, and when the Democrats
were in power had been chairman. He
was at one time called the father o;
| the new American Navy.
Even Designed warships Himself
lie was familiar with all the ship
yaros, details OF construction and the
gun plants. Few constructors were bet
ter informed as to the details of war.
| ships OF that time than Col. Herber
l
self. He superintended the building OF
a model of what was then heavy typ,
OF batueship. He was always able tc
get what he wanted for the navy be-
cause of his reputation for common
| sense expenditure. He took the mddl,
course between extravaganza and par
slmony and insisted that the United
States needed strong navy because O
Its long coast lire. Once he got a $50,
100000 naval appropriation, a big sun
in those days. in twenty minutes.
In Congress he was a recognize,
leader. His speeches all showed care
ful research and accurate informa ton
His earnestness, thoroughness ant
power OF analysis made him a formi
dable opponent. In 1873 he attacked III
bill that would have enabled the Gov
erCment to indorse the bonds of tn
Union Pacific and caused its defeat, al
though many OF his constituents wishe,
1t passed. He fought ship subsidies. an,
when Speaker Reeds famous "bllio
dollar Congress" was in session hotl,
attacked its expenditures His polittca
honesty and independence were neye
questioned.
He was an ardent tariff reformer. on
of the first to advocate changes in tn
old system. and he supported ever,
move for civil service reform He wa
J the only member OF the Alabama dele
cation who voted against the free coin
age OF silver, but far from injuring hi
standing at home that action increa SCI
the respect paid him.
Ascrtbed War to Bryan.
Col Herbert was a warm supporte
OF preparedness and maintained that
We had been properly prepared we mlg,l
not have been drawn into the presen
war. He maintained that Bryan's re
fusa! to sian the note demanding 4
apology from Germany and his rests
nation caused Germany to think tina
this country was divided and might b
insulted with impunity.
Col. Herbert was married In 1867 I
Ella B. Smith. who died in 1885, leay
ing him two daughters and sol
When he was Secretary of the Nav
his eldest daughter Leila. was the hea
of his household in Washington. and wa