The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-21
ICopyright. 1891


THE personal side of the men whose
2 business II is to fight,fo the honor
OF the flag is a matter OF interest to
every American. The public, hearing
only of the martial achievements of
these heroes. associates them exclusive
ly with scenes Of havoc and destruc-
ton. so that the softer side of their ma
lures is entirely lost sight of. But there
Is gentle phase in the character of
these grim fighters. for they are brave
men. and all brave men are gentle men
as well as gentlemen.
Two OF our naval commanders whose
fondness for domesticity is proverbial
are Acting Rear Admiral Sampson and
Commodore Schley. They are types of
the men who have made the United
States great among the nations, but the
softer side Of their nature is as lovable
as the sterner side is admirable.
Captain William Thomas Sampson,
No. 2 on the list OF his grade. who is
now by special designation of the presi-
dent acting rear admiral. commanding
the north Atlantic fleet, popularity
known as the Cuba squadron" was
born in Palmyra, Wayne county, N. Y.
on Feb. 3. 1910. Many of his relatives
still live In the Vicinity of that placid
town. The love of home is one Of his
strong characteristics, and whenever
opportunity permits he visits the scenes
of his boyhood, where the old people
lovingly and familiarly refer to him as
Billy Sampson. But there are no anec-
dotes related of him. He was a quiet.
etud.ous boy, and today HIS only weak
ness Is tennis playing. He owns the
famous Mormon Hill farm, upon which
is the embankment where Joseph Smith,
the prophet of polygamy. dug, as he
alleged, the golden plates from which the
Book Of Mormon was printed by
the late Major Gilbert, bearing the name
OF Egbert b. GraDdin. on an old hand
printing press which still exists in the
village Of Rose, Wayne county. N. Y.
A brother, George Sampson, works the
farrl. Two cousins also live there and
are employed In the cemetery.
The old house where Captain Sampson
first saw the light Of day on Johnson
street, at the south end of Prospect hill.
Is still standing. although IL has been
repaired and beautified to such an ex-
tent that ii Is now in better condition
than IL ever was during the boyhood OF
the embryonic admiral. Miss Hannah
Sampson, n sister OF the naval COM
mander, resides there and is as highly
respected for her many virtues as for
her relationship 10 the commander of
the north Atlantic squadron.
Captain Sampson has been twice mar
ried. His first wife was Margaret Al
drich. the daughter of prominent Pal
myra business man. She died I'm 1873.
after 16 years of conjugal happiness.
leaving two daughters.
Captain SIMPSONS second wife was
Miss Mary Burling. u prcceptress In the
palmyra Classical Union school.
The family at present lives In "A mod :
est brown cottage at III Clark street.
Glen Ridge. N. J. There are two boys.
Ralph Earl. aged IL, and his brother
Harold. who is 8. There are also two
daughters. The sons have grand times
whenever their father is at home. for
the relations between them are OF the
chummiest nature. Last Fourth OF July
he was with them aud devoted hours 10
stimulation Of the fires OF patriotism
which they must haze Inherited from
him ~ shooting crackers and exploding
torreiocs with the boys and their
fric-ds. &C visitor remarked. "the big
Les. 5y OF them all -
ssrlns. vrc Q,ess tss ln~t "a A.