The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-14
SlGSBEE'S FINE RECORD.
GLIMPSES OF THE CAREER OF
THE NAVAL HERO.
An Artist and Inventor--A Peep at
His Domestic
Life.

Life.
When anything happens to bring
man into sudden prominence there is
invariably a demand to know all about
him. This is the case with Captain
Sigsbee of the Maine. Everybody
Will be interested in learning that the
Names commander has not only won
high honors in the navy but is an art
list and an inventor as well. Here,
also, you may get a peep at the do
nestle life of the Sfgsbees.
Charles Dwight Sigsbee, the gallant
commander of the Maine is a man of
many resources. Had he not been a
naval officer he might have won fame
as an artist, and had he been neither
of these his mechanical ingenuity
would surely have asserted itself, for
he is also an inventor.
And withal, there is no more popular
man in the navy than Captain Sigsbee.
His GOODNESS and quick, sound judg-
ment have ever been exercised under
the most trying circumstances. He
has always proven himself equal to the
occasion, and has often risen superior
to it. With the disaster to the Maine
and the intense excitement which has
followed Captain Sigsbee has again
proven himself to be the right man
in the right place But it is just
what everybody who knew him ex-
pected
When he accepted the appointment
that placed him at his c6untry's SER
vice the world lost genius. Captain
Sigsbee is a cartoonist of art, whose
work is of such high standard that a
Mast or a Furniss might be proud to
have signed his sketches. While yet
a schoolboy at Albany, his home be-
fore, through Erastus Corning, he en-
tered the Naval Academy at Annapo-
lis, he gave evidences of marked tai
ent as a draughtsman, and his funny
sketches of his companions showed
keen appreciation of the ridiculous,
ready handling of the preposterous.
AS A CARICATURIST
Through years of study and work his
drawing was his diversion, until, with
out instruction, he gradually devel-
oped a gift that commanded the sin
cerest praise of his friends Early in
the los he submitted sketches to the
Daily Graphic of New York, which
were promptly accepted and literally
advertised. These attracted general
attention the more because the mystic
81 in the right hand corner of each
study gave no clew to the brilliant
author.
series of drawings added to his in
come for while, and a number of pub
fishers, not knowing him to be a ma
val officer, made him offers for a reg
ular position in their service. A lee
ture course in sixteen figures demon
strating the singular effect of optical
laws on our Darwinian Professor"
quantity humorous, was in great public
demand; Illustrations of Bret Harte's
Heather Chinee," the sly Oriental
studied from a pig-tailed man-of-all-
work then in his employ, also made
quite hit. A bit of his work, "A Ma
val Officer Returning from the West
Indies" hangs in the photographic
Bureau Office in Washington, a treas
ured souvenir of his three years sta
ton as its head
The Graphic was particularly anx-
ious to secure the services of the artist
whose clever work had frightened its
pages. He was only an occasional con-
office as "a man named Sigsbee." His
pictures were signed with an initial
only.
AN AMUSING EXPERIENCE.
AT that time he was commissioned
as Lieutenant Commander on duty at
the Naval Academy at Annapolis. But.
OF course, those who bought his draw
ings and the thousands who laughed at
them did not know that One day.
after having received repeated offers
OF permanent position on the
Graphic" he happened to be in New
York and thought he would call and
make himself known.
he was met at the outer portal by a
cub of boy, who demanded to know
the callers business.
i should like to see the art director"
modestly replied Sigsbee
What dye want? work? Well. we
amt got none fer you" This from the
guardian Of the sanctum. delivered as
only such an important parsonage
could deliver it.
VIII you kindly say that Sigsbee
wishes to know if he may come in"
ventured the thoroughly amused Lieu
tenant Commander
"Oh. you're Sigsbee, are your said
| the youngster Why didn't you say
so? l guess you can go in all right
HIS IDENTITY DISCLOSED.
His welcome inside was much warm
er After he had introduced himself.
the offers which he had previously re-
ceiVed We're renewed, and it was not
until then that the artist disclosed his
dual identity. OF course. being a ma
val officer, it was not to his interest to
join the staff. And that is how the
world lost great artist but gained
great naval hero.
During many years Captain Sigsbee
has devoted himself TO mechanical
drawing in connection with his profess
sion The present course of drawing
at Annapolis was founded by him dur
ing one Of his terms of shore duty and
to him owes much of it's present excel
ience. His architectural plans show
skill and ingenuity worthy of a profess
sional, and knowledge of technical de-
tails adds TO his ability in directing the
erection of several houses in which he
is at present interested.
AN INVENTOR, TOO.
Captain Sigsbee has also won high
honors as an inventor His deep-sea
sounding machine is conceded to be per-
feet in every particular. A decoration.
the double red eagle of Prussia, and a
medal from Great Britain emphasize
appreciation of his successful devices.
The invention was exhibited at the
Centennial Exposition in 1876, and
there attracted the attention of Lord
Kelvin, at that time Lord William