The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-08
Our Commander at Kew West.

captain William j. sampson, com nSOu-
er Of the United States forces at Key
West, owes his present distinguished po-
ton not to epauletted ancestry. but rather
to an ability to rightly act under he die
tates OF a clear judgment and the quality
of performing rather than talking. in
herited from calm. sturdy father
The right man in the right place" He
knows what TO do and does it, we're some
of the expressions OF approval from Of
ficers of high rank heard on the announce
ment of his latest appointment Courage
and reserve are Captain Simpsons lead
ing characteristics.
He is an ordnance expert Of the first
order having made executive work and
the study OF naval science the absorbing
objects of his career. His knowledge Of
modern armor and armament has been la
boriously acquired is extensive, thorough
and OF great service TO his country, equal
ly with his profound comprehension of the
use and comparative value OF explosives.
which knowledge represents years Of hard
study and dangerous experiment.
The estimate placed on his opinion can
best be judged from the fact of his re-
peated recalls when cruising to serve on
various boards dealing with matters of
Importance. He wes delegated. with 9TH
ers, TO determine the policy for building
up the navy; much sought in conferences
where ship designing was considered, and
latterly was selected president Of the court
of inquiry OF the Maine disaster. His keen
intellectually and prompt judgment in
action inspire confidence in him. and
should war with Spain be declared he
would command his fleet a 5 rear admiral
A casual glance at this man, whose brill
liant personality is magnifed TO vast i'm
Tsrsl
gests the student of calm PHILOSOPHERS
rather than the sailor and naval officer.
Captain Sampson is tall and slim, with
shoulders a trifle rounded. His hair and
beard are gray, his blue eyes set deep be-
Meath strongly marked brows and are
gravely expressive OF much thought He
is affable, but man of few words. Moth
ing disturbs the evenness Of his manner,
and in an emergency he reaches quickly
a helpful conclusion. His brevity OF
speech has given some who have met with
him an impression of curtness which bet
ter acquaintance soon dispelled. In his
native home, in Wayne county, New York,
CAPTAIN Sampson is still known to his IA
miliars as Billy Sampson, and there.
when leave permits, he spends jolly days
with his old companions forgetful of all
formality as before he had achieved hon
ors. Not all the memories of home are
cheeery. however. for Captain SIMPSONS
early life was a struggle.
He was born in Palmyra. n. Y, Feb
ruary 9. 1870, and learned Of poverty and
hard work. His father was a laborer. and
his education was kept up by coming such
text books as were in his possession at
times when not assisting in cutting and
piling wood or performing some similar
labor His attendance at the county
schools was intermittent. but his ambition
to learn was in no way thwarted by cir
cumstances.
Through Representative E. B. Morgan
young Sampson was in 1857 appointed
midshipman in the United States Naval
academy. Mr.. W. H. Southwick of Pal
myra having secured Mr.. Morgan's in
fluence for the energetic boy, whose per-
severance had won his admiration. After
four years at Annapolis he graduated, first
in his class.
His war record shows marvellous pluck
and some astonishing experiences, though
at the beginning of hostilities he was not
old enough TO attain a command. His con-
duct however, as master on the frigate
Potomac won him promotion TO the rank
of second lieutenant in the summer of
1852. While holding this commission he
served on the practice ship John Adams,
on the Patapsco, of the South Atlantic
bIockading squadron. and on the steam
frigate Colorado, flagship of the European
squadron.
On January Is, 1865. Lieutenant Sampson.
being executive officer on the ironclad Pa
tapsco, was ordered by the admiral OF
the fleet to enter Charleston harbor. be-
fore which the union ships were doing
blockade duty. and remove or destroy all
submarine mines and torpedoes with which
the city was protected from invasion The
task was a most dangerous one. as for
many days the enemy had given all their
time and labor to stocking the water with
explosives in order TO repel advance.
The little ironclad had only entered the
harbor when bullets from the rifles of the
rained upon her. Lieuten-
ant Sampson, standing on the bridge. in
the most exposed position. saw his men
fall before the fire, with which they were
well in range. The situation was test
Of bravery from which the young officer
did not finch, as he stood a target for
many hundred marksmen. Ordering his
men below. he kept his place. Presently
there was an ominous cessation OF firing
and silence for a few moments. during
which time the aPtapsco moved deliberate
" forward in her quest. Then came a
mighty explosion as the boat was lifted
into the air by a terrific force from be-
meath. Surrounded by hurting masses OF /
water and sheets of fame, other eXplo- /
sions quickly followed, after which the !
shattered ironclad settled down beneath I
the waves.
The young officer was rescued about a
hundred feet from the sunken wreck, I
where he had been blown. Twenty-Five Of /
time but seventy men met their death in .
the sunken ironclad.
Captain Sampson was promoted 70 lieu /
tenant commander in 1866 while on the Col
orado He was az the Naval academy
from 1868 TO 1871 and on the Congress in /
iST2-73. Having been made commander In /
1874, he was assigned to the Alert, and I
from early in 1876 10 the end OF 1873 he was
gain at the Naval academy. In 1873 he /
was in China, commanding the Swaters.
The Iowa was first commanded by him.
and the San Francisco was at one time
MS charge.
His lectures on torpedo work before the
Naval War college at Newport produced a
inc impression. and his device % double
ieck or superp0sed turrets which. with
Lieutenant Joseph Strauss. he perfected
and which await trial on The new battle
ships KeaTsarge and Kentucky, are proofs
4 his talent
While occupying the position q inspector
Il ordnance at the Washington navy yard
or three years he assisted In furthering
construction Of the magnificent gun fac
ory established there He was chief az
he bureau Of ordnance from 1888 20 1897.
estlng al MS powers Of endurance and
learly wrecking his health b. the arduous
Uffe= Of - rsnzi-fou