The year 1894 found Charles "Steve" Gridley back with his family as he served again as Inspector of the 10th Lighthouse District. Happy times for him. During his duties, he would have contact with the senior member of the Lighthouse Board, George Dewey, and the Board's secretary, Robley Evans.
In March of 1897, Gridley was finally promoted to captain. On June 10, he was ordered to take command of the USS Olympia, relieving J.J. Read in Yokohoma, Japan. He embarked on the steamer Gaelic and arrived aboard the USS Olympia.
He didn't stay on board long, though, and returned to Yokohoma to visit friends he knew from his days on the USS Marion. The formal transfer of command came four days later. Captain Read's voice cracked as he read his farewell comments, and he was heartedly cheered by his men. Gridley evidently had some "large shoes to fill."
Apparently he did well. During his brief tenure aboard the Olympia, he appears to have been well-liked and respected by the ship's crew. In one instance during Christmas of 1897, he raised all of the crew one class (meaning he reduced the length of punishment of any man on report, and restored "liberty" privileges to many).
This had never been done on the Olympia before. One crewman recorded that Gridley was "one that loves his fellow men" an unusual sentiment between a crew and their captain.
--Cooter
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