WILLIAM H. STEINHAGEN, NAVAL CADET, USN
William Steinhagen '01
Lucky Bag
From the 1901 Lucky Bag:
Steinhagen, William Henry
Indianapolis, Indiana
"Stein," "Bill."
First began agitating affairs out near the Wabash in 187—. Has since followed agitating as a profession. Found a new, sure way of working watchmen which is still a secret. Author of a standard work on "Wall Scaling" and "The Art of Disguise." Has a German idea of wit which is rather noisy and can be heard all over the corridor. Knows his way about Baltimore, and still keeps well up in the ways of that city.
Buzzard; Stroke N. A. crew (4); Hustlers (4, 3); Divisional foot-ball (4, 3); Class foot-ball team (1); June Ball Committee (2); Choir (4, 3, 2, 1); Editor-in-Chief Lucky Bag (1); Anti-Purity Brigade (1). Star (4, 3).
Steinhagen, William Henry
Indianapolis, Indiana
"Stein," "Bill."
First began agitating affairs out near the Wabash in 187—. Has since followed agitating as a profession. Found a new, sure way of working watchmen which is still a secret. Author of a standard work on "Wall Scaling" and "The Art of Disguise." Has a German idea of wit which is rather noisy and can be heard all over the corridor. Knows his way about Baltimore, and still keeps well up in the ways of that city.
Buzzard; Stroke N. A. crew (4); Hustlers (4, 3); Divisional foot-ball (4, 3); Class foot-ball team (1); June Ball Committee (2); Choir (4, 3, 2, 1); Editor-in-Chief Lucky Bag (1); Anti-Purity Brigade (1). Star (4, 3).
Loss
William died on December 19, 1901 of "an attack of malarial fever" in La Fey, Cuba, while aboard the patrol yacht Vixen. The Annual Register of the United States Naval Academy 1902-1903 gives the same date and place.
Other Information
He stood number 5 in his class following his 3/c year; he was number 20 (of 67) the following year. Following examinations his 1/c year he stood number 29. As was the practice at the time, he was then sent to the fleet for two years, still as a Naval Cadet. His classmates were commissioned as Ensigns on June 7, 1903.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
William was born in Bedford, Illinois but later moved to Indianapolis.
He was employed by the Journal in the mailing room where he worked until 3 a.m. Then he would carry a route of papers, have breakfast, and attend school. The year following high school, he was appointed assistant teacher of physics in the school.
In February 1897, William wrote the Class Poem:
Awake! Arise! The day is come,
And night’s long shadows disappear;
The bee among the garden flowers
Tells that the working hour is here.
The sun above the hills is high;
The fields in sunny stillness lie;
And the morning breeze sends a gentle quiver
Through the trees that border the distant river.
The meadow lark’s bright song ascends
To greet the newborn summer’s day,
Till echo trills the melody,
So faint and clear, so far away.
The sky is dyed in deepest blue;
The grass is sparkling, wet with dew;
And fragrance comes from the op’ning flowers
That grow unseen in the wayside bowers.
Another day, our day, has come.
The east is reddening with the light,
As o’er the misty mountain tops
The sun appears upon our sight.
A world is opened to our eyes –
A world of light – of sunny skies.
The air is sweet, and the bees are humming,
Telling the time for work is coming.
The day of life dawns only once;
The morning hastens into noon
The midday into dusk descends,
And day is done – but done too soon.
While young the morning, sluggards wait;
When evening comes, they wake too late.
The man of action resteth never!
His place in life be ours forever!That year, Professor Emmerich and several teachers recommended William to Representative Overstreet for admission to the Naval Academy. William could not afford the $50 fee to the preparatory school and the $200 deposit to the Naval Academy. So, Admiral Brown headed a subscription list, and the $250 was raised in a few days. William would only take it as a loan. On graduation day in 1901, the 25 subscribers released him of his obligation expressing their gratitude for his being a credit to the city.
During the Spanish American war in 1898, William volunteered for the service and was attached to the scout ship St. Louis.
He married Evangeline Bellis In Baltimore in June 1901. She died after a short illness in March 1902. Her brother was Joseph Bellis, who owned a naval outfitter company and became a Maryland State senator.
William’s “German wit” was thanks to his father Christofer L. who was born in Germany. In 1880 he was a harness maker in Bedford, and in 1900, he was a janitor in Indianapolis. William’s mother was Eliza. After her death, his father married Mrs. Florence Goff. William's sisters were Susan, Elizabeth, and Ethel.
He was survived by his wife and his mother; he is buried in the Naval Academy cemetery.
Memorial Hall Error
William was a "Naval Cadet;" Memorial Hall has Midshipman, a rank which was not re-established until July 1, 1902. More importantly, illness is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.
William is one of 5 members of the Class of 1901 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
