Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-23
STORY OF SAMPLE.
Young Desperate Has a vari.
egated Career.
RUNS AWAY FROM HOME At TEN

CA0kCO 00s CCSs
RUNS AWAY FROM HONE At TEN
Travels the Seas ~ Cabin boy and Then |
Joi.s the Dated states Navy and Cuban |
Army ana Finally Winds up In the
Psnitsntiary.
Walter Sample goes to the peni-
Tertiary after wandering about in
different climes since lad in knee
breeches, and having experiences
which makes up truly variegated
career for one of his age. Over half
Of his life has been spent in other
countries. But he returned home to
commit the crimes which have
landed him behind prison walls for a
term not to exceed 40 years.
Il had only been home from Cuba
few weeks when l assisted in the
jobs for which 1 60 to prison alone"
said young Sample in talking with .
newspaper representative at the Jail.
When 1 was 10 years old and while
our family was living at Des Moines.
1 took . notion that it would be q
rather romantic stroke to run away
from home and see the country. And I
did so,> My parents never knew
what Became of me until / bobbed
up serenely about six years after
ward. During that time l travelled all
around Europe and Africa. went
straight to New York and laid
around the harbor for q few days
and finally struck job rs cabin boy
ON the steamer North America, on
which l sailed to Liverpool. Then l
went to France and in q short time
returned to England, where after four
months cumming l picked up with
a mineralogist who offered me q
chance to go to Africa with him.
And of course l went. We travelled
through that country for nearly a
year and half. 1 got plenty. We
came back to London, where tar
ried for a while, and then crossed
over to California, where / learned
the bakers trade. Then l came
home, the folks having moved to
Sioux Falls, S. d. was l6 then.
| Enlists In the Navy.
"Home was too tame and after a
few months l struck out for Califor-
MIA, where at Mares Island enlisted
as an apprentice in the navy, going
with the steamer Marion, which put
in most of its time patrolling the
Behring sea during the sealing con-
troversy. We also went up into
Siberia and down to the Sandwich
Islands, Where we remained two
months. Then we went to Yoko-
hama and up the Yangtsz Kiaug in
China aud visited the several cities in
the East Indies and the Philippine
Islands. When had put in about
four years on the Marion I was dis
charged while we were anchored II
Yokohama. Christmas day of 1894 /
took passage on the City of Pekin for
) America. 1 came straight home. ]
had more sense and experience then.
yet l was not satisfied. So last
} August SO young fellows. of whom
was one, organized at Chicago to 60
down and battle for the Cubans. and
we went. arriving at our destination
after no little hardship. We Joined
the insurgent ranks and took part in
several battles. In one of them
last January four Of our crowd were
killed and three wounded.
, ITO make long story short. two
of our, boys Frank Houser and Fred
Houston, both from Michigan. were
taken prisoners by the Spanish. And
it was to intercede for them that
came home. l first went to
Washington and laid the case before
Lieutenant Perry, a friend of mine,
who promised to have the matter At.
tended to by the proper authorities.
My record was clear SO far as crime
is concerned when l reached home.
Plans the Holdpps.
"In Chicago 1 met a fellow-I'l
not tell you his name-who came
down here with me. He suggested
that we do some jobs, promising ME
that he would stand by me to the
last. So at Cash's he told me to lead
!, the way; he agreed to follow and
|, gather the money which l proposed
, making the people shell up. When
: I got inside he backed down. Get
ting out of that case safely gave me
courage. He made all kinds Of excuses
and promised faithfully to do thu
: right thing the next time. At Don.
aldson's he play ed theIsame game
and was caught.
$50 there Won are."