Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/54

 CREGIER

CREIGHTON

helpless ruler. Upon his return from the Orient he went to Cuba for the New York ]\'<>rlil during the Cuban Spanish war in 1896 and was exiled by Captain-CJeneral Weyler. but so vigorously truthful were Mr. Creelman's dispatches that within a year he went to Spain as special com- missioner for the New York Jnnrnnl and was received with honor by the prime minister, Cano- vas delCjistillo, who gave to the public, through Mr. Creelman's pen, his now historical reply to President Cleveland's threatening war message to congress. It is claimed that Mr. Creelman's memorable articles in the New York TI'or/(? forced President Cleveland to abandon the proposed " secret bond contract " in favor of a " popular " sjile by oi>en competition. During the presiden- tial campaign of 1896 between McKinley and Bryan, he made a notable record in the discus- sion of the political situation and the extensive-' travelling and writing which he accomplished for the World. In 1897 he became a member of the editorial staff of the New York Journal and ■went to Europe as special commissioner, visiting Spain during the troubles with the United States over interference in Cuba; the Vatican, and going thence as war correspondent to Greece and Tur- key, v.-here he had important interviews with the King and Crown Prince of Gh-eece and the min- isters, and with President Faure of France. He was for some time in charge of the JournaVs editorial page. In 1898 lie represented the Jour- nal in Cuba during the war with Spain, and in the battle of El Caney he was severely wounded, after having personally captured the Spanish flag on the stone fort and taken the Spanish comman- dant pri.soner with his own hands. He was re- moved to New York city. After recovering from his wound he returned to Europe in time to witness and describe the enthronement of the 3'oung queen of Holland. He then went to Lon- don as European editor of the New Y'ork Journal. In 1898 he was notified of the French govern- ment's intention to confer upon him the cross of the Legion of Honor. In 1899 he was sent to Manila and on March 25, while advancing with the brigade of Gen. Lloyd Wheaton, his horse was shot under him. He was severely bruised but kept on with the force till the battle was de- ciiled, when lie w;is(arrieoats running out from New Y'ork. He then entered the Morgan iron works, where lie became an expert meclianical engineer, especially directing his attention to the con-

struction of marine engines for steamships. He sailed as engineer on the largest steamships and in 18.13 he went to Chicago, where he erected the pumping macliinery for the first water supply of Chicago. He was chief engineer of the water works, 1854-80; city engineer, 1880-83; commis- sioner of public works for Chicago, 1883-87, and general manager of the West division railway, 1887-89. In the spring of 1889 he was elected maj'or of Cliicago, as a Jeffersonian Democrat. During his term of office the city added 140 square miles to its territory and its population increased by 200,000 inliabitants. His message to the com- mon council first voiced the expediency of secur- ing to the city the location of the Columbian ex- position and he was president of the permanent organization and chairman of the committee on grounds and buildings. He was president of the Western society of engineers, a member of the Society for the encouragement of manufacture and commerce, president of the Society of the Sons of New York in Chicago, and a prominent Mason. He died in Chicago, 111., Nov. 9, 1898.

CREHAN, Ada, see Kehan, Ada.

CREIGHTON, John Orde, naval officer, was born in New Y^ork citj'. He entered the U.S. navy as midshipman in 1800 and saw his first sea service under Preble before Tripoli. He was pro- moted lieutenant Feb. 24, 1807, was on board the Chesapeake when that vessel was attacked by the Leopard in June, 1807, and on the President as first lieutenant in her action with the Little Belt, May 16, 1811. He was master commandant on the brig Battlesnake in 1813, was promoted captain, May 17, 1816, and commanded the Brazilian squadron, 1829-30. He died in Sing Sing, N.Y"., Oct. 13, 1838.

CREIGHTON, Johnston Blakeley, naval offi- cer, was born in Rhode Island, Nov. 12, 1822. He entered the U.S. navy as midsliipman in 1838, was promoted lieutenant in 1853, com- mander in 1862, captain in 1868, commodore in 1874, and rear-admiral on the retired list in 1883. He commanded the Ottava in the south Atlantic blockading squadron in 1862, the Mahaska in 1863, in the bombardment of Forts Wagner and Gregg, and was transferred to the Min.yo, remain- ing in command of that vessel until the close of the war. He was commandant of the Norfolk navy yard in 1879. was retired in 1883, and died at Mon-istown, N.J., Nov. 13, 1883.

CREIGHTON, William, representative, was born ill Berkeley county, Va., Oct. 29, 1778; son of William Creighton, state senator from Ross county, Ohio, 1813-15, and state representative from Adams county, 1803-04, and from Ross county, 1831-32. William, Jr., was graduated from Dickinson college in 1795 and was admitted to the bar in 1798. He settled in practice at