the department," and "reflected the very highest credit upon all the officers and crew."
As commander of the flagship Omaha, in 1890-91, he visited various Asiatic ports. On his return he was captain of the League Island navy yard and later was captain of the navy yard at Nor- folk. In December, 1894, he was placed in command of the Atlanta and visited various ports in Central America, guarded United States interests at Colon and other points, which were seriously threatened in the insurrection of 1895, and landed an armed force to protect Boca del Toro when it was attacked by the Mexican raider Catarino Garcia who was killed at that time. In December, 1898, he proceeded to Cuba to assume control of the naval station at Havana, with orders from the president giving him control of all matters pertaining to the jurisdiction of the harbor of that city. At noon, January 1, 1899, he relieved Admiral Sampson and took possession of the Admiralty palace and of all the naval buildings as property of the United States navy. By regular promotion he had reached the rank of commodore in 1898, and on March 3, 1899, he was commissioned rear-admiral. He remained in command at Havana through the yellow fever season and greatly improved the sanitary arrangements of every locality of which he had control. The leading newspaper of the city complimented him for "his unfailing courtesy and affability and his comprehensive grasp of the difficult and delicate problems presented him for solution." On the completion of the work to which he had been assigned, he requested detachment, which was granted in November, 1899. In 1901 he was in command of the South Atlantic squadron and later of the European station; and from the President of Brazil on the Fourth of July, and from the King and Queen of Greece who dined with him on the flagship at Athens, he received marked honor as a tribute to our navy. At the age of sixty-two he was retired by operation of law, February 9, 1902.
Rear-Admiral Cromwell was married to Lizzie S. Huber, December 31, 1866. They have had three children all of whom are now living. He is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. As all his active life has been passed in the government service, he has never identified himself with any political party.
His mother died when he was quite young. The influence of his father upon his intellectual and moral character was very strong. Upon this point he says : "My father permitted me to move about
