Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-22
sIGsBEE's VERSATILE TALENT.
An Artist of Skill and an Inventor of
Marine Apparatus.


From the Philadelphia Times
One day in the spring of 1915, when ne
Daily Graphic of New York was in the FILL
swing of its meteoric career, a modest look
ing young man called at the art DEPART
ment of the paper at its Park place oEiaes
with package of sketches, The drawings
were left for inspection, and the artist,
handing his address in Brooklyn to the as
sistant of the art editor took his dclar-
ture. The availability Of the work was
manifest as soon as the package was
opened, and d comic series from the lot
was reproduced a once for the front page
1 remember that their appearance made
quite fiutter in the cockioft OF the art
stan, foI talent capable of furnishing good
comics in pen and ink in those DAYS was a
scarce and costly article. The page was
signed s., and that was all we were per-
mitted to know about it until there was a
general showing about Of work desks to
make room for Mr.. Sigsbee." But Mr.
SlgSbee did not materiaiZe, nor did The
continue.
Our art editor was a gentleman fully
alive TO the dignity of his place. His print
ed formula of correspondence for the re-
cept1oh or rejection of matter rendered by
aspirants for journalistic fame was VIII
calculated to carry joy or despair as the
case might be, in it's wake, and an inter-
view invariably led to the departure of the
mind.
1t became known that the art editor had
duly notified Mr.. Sfgsbee that his sketches
We're accepted, and that he would be given
place upon the art staff at once. Would
Mr.. Sigsbee please be on hand upon Mon
day morning? But the week rolled by and
there was no Mr.. Sigsbee for us. The art
editor was unspeakably astonished He
then wrote still more urgently to the coy
but desirable, artist, and this time he got
an answer: Lieutenant Comma nder
Charles D. Sigsbee, U. s. N. sends his
compliments and begs to say that as he is
ship. he cannot accept the position so
kindly offered"
Several years afterward. in the cozy
cabin Of the United States steamer G. s.
officer in a broad smile when this incident
wss mentioned.
The commander of the fated Maine was
for a long period engaged In the explora-
of Mr.. Sigsbee's work was devoted to the
Gulf of Mexico. In this field the methods
employed were similar to those used in the
famous researches of the British ship Chal-
lenger. but the many inventions Of Mr..
Sigsbee applied to this line OF scientific in
auiry soon largely replaced the implements
first employed.
Projected from the port bow Of the Blake
was most ingenious apparatus for deep
sea sounddngs. devised by the lieutenant
commander In charge With its use the
greatest depths have been accurately meas
ured. and by the attachment Of various
devices to the wire samples OF the bottom
are brought to the surface for study in the
laboratory which occupies such a large
proportion Of the ship below decks. An
other OF Mr.. Sigshee's improvements IL
uawl used In securing intermediate water
specimens. Az photographer this officer
has probably no equal in the public SER
vice, and his works upon topics relative to
sea explorations. published by the govern
ment, are as valuable to the cause OF
science as their author 10 genial, modest
and brave.