Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1898 — WON LAURELS AT MANILA. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WON LAURELS AT MANILA.

% Bn t Fate Forbade that Captain Gridley Should Come Home. Capt. Charles Vernon Gridley, who died in the Asiatic seas, presnmably as a result of injuries received in the battle of Manila, was one of the heroes of the glorious battle fought on May 1. It was his ship, the Olympia, that led the line of battle and fired the first shots. The captain himself stood lb the conning tower throughout the bat* tie and Spanish missiles flew about him. It is surmised in Washington that he received some Injury there which led to bis death. He was in healthy condition before the fight and for several weeks afterward. Capt. Gridley was born in Logansport, Ind., in 1845. The family moved to Hillsdale, Mich., from which State in 1860, at the age of a little over 17 years, he was appointed to the naval academy. When still a cadet at the academy he was appointed by the President as acting ensign, and served with signal distinction on board the United States ship Oneida at the famous battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. In 1872 Gridley was ordered to the United States steamer Michigan at Erie, Pa., and remained there until 1874, when he was ordered to the Monongahela, on the South Atlantic squadron. He has served at all the American foreign naval stations except the North Atlantic. He

was ordered to duty as instructor in seamanship at the Naval Academy in 1877, where he remained three years, and was then ordered to the Trenton, the flagship of the European squadron, as executive officer, and served In that capacity until 1882, when he again came back to the Michigan at Erie, where he remained a short time, or until his promotion to commander, April 3, 1882. He was then ordered to the Boston navy yard, where he remained until April 3, 1887, and was then assigned to the command of the training Ship Jamestown, and afterward to the command of the Portsmouth. On leaving the Portsmouth Gridley was made Inspector of the Tenth Lighthouse District, which Includes Lakes Erie and Ontario, and from there to the command of the Marion at the Asiatic station. When the cruise on the Marion was ended the commander was again ordered back to the Tenth Lighthouse District, where he remained until his promotion to captain, March 14, 1897. In July of last year he was ordered to the Olympia, the flagship of the Asiatic squadron. Erie is his home residence. His family consists of his widow, two daughters, Miss Katherine V. and Miss Ruth W., and one son, John P. V. Gridley.

CAPTAIN CHARLES V. GRIDLEY.