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362 following year he was promoted master, and was assigned to the flagship Colorado of the Asiatic fleet, from 1870 to 1873. He was promoted lieutenant, September 23, 1873; he served again for two years, 1873-75, in the hydrographic bureau; he was then for three years, 1875-78, in command of the coast survey vessel, Arago; after which, for a period of three years, from 1878 to 1881, he served with Rear-Admiral Thomas H. Patterson of the Asiatic squadron. He was then with the North Atlantic squadron in different capacities until 1887. He was promoted lieutenant-commander in 1894, and during the interval between 1887 and 1894, he was on duty at the naval academy and again at the hydrographic office in Washington. He was put in charge of the battleship Maine, December, 1897, as executive officer, and was on board that vessel when she was blown up in Havana harbor, February 15, 1898. His scientific knowledge was of great assistance at this time of excitement and distress, and his heroic qualities were as evident as was his scientific knowledge, in his direction of the divers who undertook the recovery of the bodies of the valiant men who were the victims of this disaster. On April 5, he pulled down the colors of the wrecked battleship.

During the blockade of the harbor of Santiago, Cuba, he was in command of the Gloucester, with the blockading fleet of Admiral Sampson. July 3, 1898, he took part in the destruction of Cervera's fleet; and he destroyed the torpedo boats Pluton and Furor. After the decisive victory, the Gloucester under his command rescued the drowning Spaniards and took charge of prisoners; and he received Admiral Cervera on board the Gloucester. His heroic and efficient service through these July days of 1898 was most highly appreciated by the country at large. The citizens of Gloucester, Massachusetts, presented him with a silver loving cup, and his native city of Washington gave him a sword as memorials of his most humane and brilliant achievements. In August, 1898, he was advanced ten numbers in rank, and on March 3, 1899, he was promoted commander.

Since the Spanish war he has been in command of several warships. For two years, from 1900-02, he held the superintendency of the naval academy; and in 1903 he was in command of the Newark. Reading on military and naval subjects is his recreation.

On September 11, 1873, he was married to Evelyn Wotherspoon of Washington, District of Columbia. They have had three children, two of whom were living in 1906.