The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-20

recognized as one of the most efficient
officers in the American navy, and he is
the personification of manly dignity
the self-pOise of a man who under
stands himself and is conscious of hav-
ing done his duty at all hazards. He
was born in Palymra, y. Y, Just 81
years ago, and his career has been one
of which any man might well be proud
HIS parents were very poor, and there
are many residents in the. village who
remember VIII Sampson as a bare
footed boy who was never known to
be without a book. He worked before
school and after school. and ali his
money ne scraped together went for an
education. He is remembered as very
handsome boy. with light. wavy hair
and deep. serious. blue eyes. He never
Joined the other boys in their sports,
but scent al his spare time in study.
and he was known as a boy who was
never late at school and who never
missed his lessons. 1t is one of the
cherished traditions of the old Pal
myra union schOOl-50 years ago the
most famous school of its kind in the
country-that for two successive Sc
mesters young. Sampson was perfect IN
all his studies. Ii is a record that can
not be bettered.
Early in life he expressed a desire
70 EulGI ltlC Alel ciAAN eAAt IL
were devoted to that end. When he
arrived at the required age he was
appointed to a cadetship at Annapolis
by Congressman +. B. Morton he
passed the examination in brilliant
manner. At the naval academy he won
his way by patient study and hard
work. and his promotion was rapid He
was graduated in 1S6O-secOnd in his
class, l believe-and went into service
on the frisate Potomac. When the
war broke out he was serving on the
practice ship John Adams, and when he
was transferred to the ironclad Pata-
psco, with the south Atlantic block
aiding squadron, he was promoted to
lieutenancy.
The Patapsco went to the bottom OF
Charleston harbor Jan. 10. 1860. deS-
troyed by torpedo, and with it ended
a little romance. The young lieutenant
had been in love with a Washington
young lady, though he had not revealed
his secret. The night before he left
WASHINGTON 10 Join the PatapscO he
called on the young lady and offered
her the conventional ring. She would
not accept the token at that time, Civ
ing as an excuse that they were both
tCO young: but she compromised by eX-
changing rings with him. 10 be re-
deemed when the war was ended. She
made this one condition: If he lost her
ring he could not claim her, while if
she lost his ring she would not accept
him. IL was Il compact entered into
by her as more Of q Jest than anything
else, and no doubt she dreamed that
the young officer would soon return her
ring ard claim her as his bride. But
fate plays many strange FRANKS; and
so when the ironclad PatapscO went to
the bottom IF Charleston harbOr it
carried her ring with 1t. 1t is said that
the young lady offered to declare the
contract null and void. but that young
Sampson, who had entered seriously
into the compact refused 10 break his
promise
After the civil war. Young Sampson
was made lieutenant commander. and
he served on the flagship Colorado For
three Years he was stationed at An
rapOlis as instructor. In 1874 he re-
ceived his commission of commander
and was put in command OF the third
rater Alert and served with that ship
ct the European station. Between 1880
and 1885 he served at the naval OBJ
servatOry ard at the torpedo station.
II March. 1889, he was commissioned
captain.
Captain Sampson is noted as a stu
dent, and he is recognized as an au-
thOrity on the history of MOrmOnism.
This is not to be wondered at. for he
was born on a farm within a stones
throw OF the hill On which Joe Smith
found the golden plates of the Mormon
Bible. and he is the owner of the fam
Gus Mormon Hill farm. He has an ex-
tensive library on the subject, and 1t
has always been a desire of his life
to write a history of the OT/<ih, rise
and decline of the Latter-day Saints
But his life has been 4 very active one
and he has thus far had but scant
time TO crafty his literary ambitions.
The literary effort by which he shall
be known in history. however, will be
his report OF the causes which led TO
the destruction of the battleship Maine
The document viii have an extensive
circulation. Those who know Captain
Sampson are satisfied that it will be
mastery production, logical and thor
oughly unbiased.-John Northern Hill
lar-n