The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-07-30
THE ECHO OF SLAP.
Years Ago By One Naval Officer
to Another

T..
between Commodore Schley and
Rear-Admiral Sampson, the TIVE
naval officers just now making his
tory for themselves and for the
country. IT. story that comes from
seaport in North Carolina be accu.
rate. and which is really vouched
for by well-known naval officer,
whose name is suppressed for OBJ
iyious reasons, Sampson has held
an old sgrudgs against Schley from
the days whent they were young Off
GERS in the navy. The account sof
the fsud, as told by the naval Off
Ger, was sent to a gentleman stop
ping at the Benton hotel in this city.
when Schley was either an En-
sign Or Lieutenant, he was on
board ship with Sampson, then a
LIEUTENANT, and a difficulty occur
red between them, and ever since a
prudge has ranked in the breast OF
Sampson" The naval officers story
runs. "The difficulty, years and
wears ago, originated in this way
One day Sampson, then Lieuten-
ant. missed some bananas which he
had hung upin the ship to ripen.
He was very angry over the loss OF
the fruit, and tried to find the thief.
Finally, he came to the conclusion
that a certain marine was the cul-
prit, and sent for him. and accused
him of taking the bananas. The
marine replied Indignantly that he
had not seen-the bananas, and that
he was no thief. This Infatuated
Sampson, who said i will punish
YOU for lying as we'll as stealing.
Sampson sent for the druggist, and
gave the poor marine an immense
dose of ipecac.
"Schley was ashore at the time,
but when he returned he saw the
marine suffering. Schley asked
Sampson who had administered the
powerful drug that had caused the
suffering of the sailor. Sampson
told the whole incident. The matter
so incensed Schley that he exclaim-
cd: No gentleman would treat a
poor marine that way? And Schley,
following the exclamation, slapped
Sampson in the face. -
"Then a scene followed. Samp-
son demanded satisfaction. Schley
reminded him that it was against
the regulations for naval officers to
receive or send challenges to fight
duel. but added: That need not
prevent your getting satisfaction,
sir. We can both resign to-day and
then fight it out
"Samspon did not resign. did not
seek satisfaction, and the matter
was apparently dropped there. But
it appears that Sampson has never
forgotten the episode, and the sting
of Schley's slap is still felt.
Nov, years after this difficulty OF
their young days, the matter comes
up again. When the war with Spain
commenced and Admiral Sicard,
owing to illness, had to give up the
command of the squadron then ly-
ing at Key West, the Secretary OF
the Navy looked around for an off,
Ger to take command. Commodore
Watson and. Commodore Schley
both outranked Captain Sampson,
and either apparently should have
been selected TO succeed Sicard. But
Capt. Sampson succeeded in get
ting command of the squadron then
at Key West, and was made an act.
ing Rear Admiral, and began the
blockade before Havana. In the
meantime a flying squadron was
organized at Hampton Roads, and
Commodore Schley was then in
Spain. Sampson sailed over to
Porto Rico and bombarded San
Juan, and returned to Key West.
In the meantime Cervera had
crossed the Atlantic and was in the
caribbean sea. The Administration
at Washington was worried, and
Commodore Schley was ordered to
take his flying squadron aud locate
Cervera. 1t didn't take Schley
long to locate Cervera in the bay of
Santiago, where the Spaniard was
bottled up
"By this time Sampson was or
dered to Santiago. No sooner had
he arrived at Santiago than he was
given authority to write one brief
order wiping the flying squadron
out Of name and amalgamating it
with his own feet. This act placed
Sampson in command of the com
hined fleets, and left Commodore
Schley with the power of a Captain
on his former flagship, the Brook
lyn. But nobody heard any grum.
bling from Schley. He submitted
quietly. sa.s ,ra-si
H"Then came the long blockade
bsfere Santiago. Finally, Cervera
made a dash out of the harbor, and
attempted to escape. Sampson was
twelve miles away on his flagship
New York. Schley acted promptly
and the great victory was followed
by controversy. And barking back
ward from this controversy we hear
the echo of tina: other controversy
years ago between the two youthful