Naval officer; born in
Pottsville, Pa., April 11, 1840; graduated at the
United States Naval Academy in 1859; served throughout the
Civil War, and was present at both attacks on
Fort Fisher; was promoted rear-admiral, Dec. 25, 1898; appointed commander of the
North Atlantic Station, Oct. 14, 1899.
In 1889 he was in command of the frigate
Trenton, flag-ship of the Pacific Station, which had been suddenly ordered to
Samoa.
On March 16, a terrible hurricane swept
[
318]
over the harbor of
Apia, where war-ships of the
United States,
Great Britain, and
Germany were at anchor.
Several American and German ships were wrecked at the beginning of the hurricane.
The British corvette
Calliope succeeded in steaming out of danger.
As the
Calliope passed the
Trenton a great shout went up from over 400 men aboard the American flagship, and three cheers were given for the
Calliope.
Immediately three cheers for the
Trenton and the
American flag were wafted across the angry waters from the
Calliope.
A A few moments later the
Trenton herself was wrecked, but
Captain Farquhar succeeded in saving all his crew of 450 men and officers excepting one.
