Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-20
CAPTAIN SIGSBEE AS ARTIST
mAINE's COMMANDER WON A REPU-
TATION BY HIS CARTOONS.
The GnIlont Naval Officer Has Made
Mnny Valuable Inventions as
Well ms Drawn Clever
C~aricatures.

Had not Charles Dwight sigsbee. the gall
liant commander Of the Maine, been a naval
officer he might have won fame as an art
list, says the New York Herald. While yet
q schoolboy at Albany, he gave evidence Of
marked talent as a draughtsman, and his
Funny sketches of his companions showed a
Keen appreciation of the ridiculous. a
ready handling of the preposterous.
Through years of study and work his
drawing was his diversion, until. without
instruction. he gradually developed a gift
mat commanded the sincerest praise of his
friends. Early in the '10s he submitted
sketches to the Daily Graphic. of New York.
which were promptly accepted and Literally
advertised. These attracted general dtten-
tion, the more because the mystic So in
the right hand corner of each study gave
no clue 10 the brilliant author.
A series of drawings added TO his income
FOR a while, and a number of publishers,
pot knowing him to be 4 naval officer. made
him offers for a regular position in their
service. 4 lecture course in sixteen figures,
demonstrating the singular effect of OPP
Gcal laws on our Darwinian professor"
quantity humorous, was in great public de-
nand: illustrations of Bret Harte's Heath
en- Chinec." the sly Oriental studied from a
pig-tailed man-of-all-work then in his en-
work, "A Naval Officer Returning From
the West Indies hangs in the photograph
&c bureau Office in Washington. a treasured
souvenir of his three years station as its
head.
The Graphic was particularly anxious to
secure the services OF the artist whose
clever work had frightened Its pages. He
WAS only an occasional contributor. and
was merely known in the Office as "a man
named sigsbee;" His pictures were signed
with an initial only.
At that time he was commissioned as
lieutenant commander. on duty at the ma
val academy at Annapolis. But. of course,
thousands who laughed at them did not
know that; One day. after having received
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 a boy. who demanded to know the
callers business.
Il should like to see the art director"
What d,ye want? work. Wei: we
liver It.
g to know If he may come in" ventured
the thoroughly amused lieutenant COM
Oh. you're sigsbee. are you?" said the
youngster. why didn't you say so? I
gTess You can go in all right"
His welcome inside was much warmer.
after he had introduced himself the offers
which he had previously received were re-
neWed; and It vas not until then that the
Deing a naval officer, it was not to his in
terest to join the stan. And that is how
She world lost a great artist but gained a
great naval hero.
During. many years Captain Sigsbee has
devoted himself to mechanical drawing in
connection with his profession. The pres
ent course of drawing at Annapolis was
rounded by him during one of his terms of
shore duty and to him owes much of its
present excellence. His architectural plans
NOV skill and ingenuity worthy of a pro-
1essional: and knowledge of technical de-
tails adds to his ability in directing the
erection of several houses in which he is al
present interested.
Captain Sigsbee has also won high hon.
ors a. an inventor. His deep sea sounding
machine is conceded to be perfect in every
particular. A decoration, the double red
eagle OF Prussia and a medal from Great
6ritain emphasize appreciation of his sue
The Invention was exhibited at the Gen.
Senniai exposition in 1876. and there at
Gracted the attention of Lord Kelvin. at
That time Lord William Thompson. one OF
the most eminent scientists of Europe. He
declared that II absolutely fulfilled all con-
oitions and that he had tried without sue
eess to accomplish the same results him
self.