The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-12-10
SAMPSON AND DEWEY,
Little Incident Illustrating the DlYe

Nittie incident Illustrating the Differ
ence Between the Two.
A letter recently received from Au-
gust H.. Runge, an apprentice boy on
the Colorado in the sixties, but now
assistant chief engineer of the Mime
apolis fire department, recalls a case
i'll point, says the San Francisco
Chronicle. | give it here as illustrative
or the difference between Rear Admiral
George Dewey and Commodore VIM. T.
Sampson in the capacity to handle
men: We were off Palermo, Sicily. The
crew of the Colorado had a surfeit Of
drill during the day and were inclined
to be a little sulky. You must bear in
mind that we had the reputation of
having the best-drilled ship in Euro
pean waters, barring neither class nor
nation. This reputation was not gained
by flying a gold-painted sign at our
mlzzen truck. 1t was due to the ad-
mirable management of Mr.. Dewey as
executive officer and to the pride the
men too under him in perfecting their
work by continuous, painstaking drills.
AT sunset IN the day in question the
watch below was called up for boat
drill. Mr.. Sampson had the deck.
When the word was passed to hoist
away on the falls Sampson was very
much displeased with the listlessness
of the crew.. Look alive there, you
men! You trail along like a lot Of lub-
berly mourners hired to follow a Kim
doc funeral!" None of the boys knew
how Hindoo lubbers trailed at funerals;
indeed l have an idea hat Mr.. Sampson
was equally ignorant, but all the same
the boys were mad and showed it by
slackening up. Mr.. Sampson was be-
side himself with anger. Three times
were the boats lowered to the water.
Just before he gave the word the last
time to hoist away he shouted: I'll
blacklist every mothers son of you
from liberty on shore if there is any
more of this hangdog work. Hoist
away there, now!' The men were now
on their mettle. Liberty ashore is ono
grand prize of the man-o'-war's man,
but Jacky is not going to buy it. With
one accord the long line started on a
slowman's race up the quarter deck,
nois1ly tramping to the time of the
dead march in. Saul" Mr.. Sampson
looked as If he was about to jump off
the bridge and lay about him with his
trumpet. Fortunately at this moment
Mr.. Dewey came up the afterhatchway,
attracted by the unusual noise. Taking
In the situation at a glance, he sprang
up the steps leading to the bridge.
III take the deck, sir" he said. Mr..
Sampson handed over the speaking
trumpet and retired to the other end
of the bridge with a very sullen look.
Delay that, you men, Mr.. Dewey
called out in a short, firm tone. The
boys halted and looked up. Mr.. Dewey
looked down the line for a moment,
cool, quiet and smilingly confident.
lhere was at once a very ~perceptible
change in the moral temperature. The
boats were again lowered to the water.
Man the falls, mem" The long lines
were grasped with a hearty grip, the
men nodding to one another APPROX
fngly. Hoist away, there!" With a
cheery stride the men walked away
with the falls with such good will that
the four cutters came flying up to the
davits with a celebrity that threatened
to send them inboard. Delay all. Pipe
down the watch below, boatswain."
The boys scampered off to the fore
castle to get their usual evening
smoke, while Mr.. Dewey, after a few
words In an undertone to Mr.. Sampson,
went below, leaving that officer a wiser
and possibly a better man.