Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-04-23

of staff of Admiral Henry B. Viii
son, commander of the Atlantic
fleet, shot and killed himself
while on duty with the fleet in
Cuban waters, yesterday. Ad-
niral Wilson in advising the
Navy Department Of Admiral
Brlttain's death, gave no reason
for the act. The body will be
brought to the United States on
the hospital chip, Solace. Brit
tain's home is at Richmond Ky.
Richmond and all this commun-
ity was imneasurably shocked
friday morning by the receipt Of
a telegram from the Naval De-
partment at Washington, an
nouncing the death Of Rear Ad-
miral Carlo Bonaparte Britain.
He was en- route from Panama
Canal to New York. Mrs. Brit
tain, who is with her parents Mr..
and Mrs. I. E. Baldwin, here, was
to have left within few days to
join her husband in New York
She and all the family are pros
trated by the news of Admiral
Brittain's death. His only son,
Baldwin Britain, who is attach
ed to the Battleship North Dako-
ia, will bring his fathers remains
to Richmond for interment.
His family and intimate friends
here are wholly unable to account
for the cause OF Admiral Brit
tain's act, and are awaiting fur
ther information. Several friends
in town have had letters and post
cards from him recently, they
say, in which he complained of
still suffering from the effects OF
flu, with which he suffered a
short time ago.
Admiral Britain was one of
Kentucky's most distinguished
sons in the service. of his coun-
try. Although a native of Pine
vile, where he was born January
10, 1867, he had long made Rich
mond his home when off active
duty, and was held in highest es-
TEEN by everyone. His visits
here were eagerly looked for
ward to, and always enjoyed.
His service in the navy cover
ed an eventful period of the ma
tion's history and he played well
his part. After attending Cum
berland College at Barbourville,
he was appointed to Annapolis, in
1884, by the late Congressman
John d. White, and graduated
with ionors IL 1888. He loved
his profession and was student
OF naval affairs. He became an
Ensign in 1890; was promoted to
Lieutenant OF the Junior grade,
February 6, 1888; full Lieutenant
March 3, 1899; Lieutenant Com
mander July l, 1895; Commander
September, 5, 1909; and a Captain
July l, 1914
Admiral Brittain's career car
ried him through various branch
es of the service, in all of which
he acquitted himself with high
distinction. He served as Com
mandant at the Naval Academy
for several terms, and in this i'm
portant work gave the best that
was in him. During the times he
was at the head of Annapolis, he
was always particularly watchful
of the boys who were sent there
from Kentucky, and many d
young officer today owes his
splendid grounding in the funda-
mentals of his profession TO the
fatherly advice and watch-care
that he received while a student
during Brittain's superintcndency
of the institution.
Admiral Britain served on diff
ferent ship assignments during
his long service He was on the
Newark, Brooklyn and Badger, III
the Spanish-American war il
1898; in the Philippines in 1900
3. His work began TO attract
attention, and he was appointed
aide on the staff Of the Comman-
der-in-Chief of the North Allan
tic fleet, and served as such from
1905 to 1907. He began his ser
vice at the Naval Academy il
1907, and was there three years
He was then transferred to the
command of the Battleship Mass
achusetts, and after that to tht
Wheeling.
After that lc uccame a membel
of the Board of inspection anc
Survey for Ships, and serve'
thereon from 1911 to 1918 From
1918 to 1915 he was assistant t.
the Bureau of Navigation. De