The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-13
SIMPSONS SWORD.
tt Was Turned Over to the
Governor Yesterday
To Be Worn Dewey
Day.
Especial to '.The Jersey city News."l

Especial to ssThe Jersey City News."l
TRENTON, Sept. IS, 1s99-The politicians
/ and officials who gathered at the State
House yesterday had a laugh on Gov
! ernor Voorhees,. He, with the Joint Leg
islative Committee, on the presentation
Of the sword to Admiral Sampson, We're
discussing the manner in which to reach
the Admiral. when a message was de-
livered. saying the Admiral was in town
It was thought to be a joke put upon
the committee, so they took no notice OF
il.
1t turned out that Admiral Sampson
had unexpectedly come to Trenton. He
was captured on the train going from
his home at Glen Ridge. to Philadelphia
by a member of the Ninth New Jersey
Veterans. which organization held its re
union here yesterday. He was given a
rousing reception by the veterans, and he
made a brief and telling address. and was
escorted back to the train by a delega-
ton of heroes.
The $1,000 jeweled sword to be present.
ed to Rear Admiral William 7. Sapnlson
by the State OF New Jersey was received
at the State House yesterday morning
by Governor Voorhees,, and Senator
Ketcham and Assemblyman Hall, of the
Joint Committee appointed by the Legs
~lature. The sword was brought from
Philadelphia by representatives of Sim
ons Brother & Company, of Philadelphia,
and was formally turned over to the
State.
1t has not yet been settled whether the
presentation shall take place at the State
House or on board the Admiral's flagship,
the New York. senator Ketcham hopes
to have the presentation made in time for
Admiral Sampson to wear the sword on
the occasion of the Dewey celebration in
New York. The presentation address VIII
be made by Governor Voorhees,.
The sword was seen by a large number
of visitors at the State House, and was
more or less generally admired. accord
ing to individual tastes. While the selec-
ton of the design has met with more
or less criticism on the part of mill
tary and naval men in the State, it is
undoubtedly a magnificent piece of work
manship.
The sword is of the regulation size
used by naval officers, and the blade,
which was made in Germany, is of the
finest Damascus steel, highly tempered
and etched with appropriate designs.
One one side of the blade is the fol-
lowing inscription
presented by the State Of New Jer-
sey to Rear Admiral w. T.. Sampson, a
testimonial to his brilliant and success
full conduct OF the Atlantic Naval Cam
paign eff 1881
On the reverse of the blade is a por-
trayal of the famous naval battle off
Santiago, showing the American fleet in
action ana also the Cristobal Colon.
The hilt is of gold, studded with dia-
monds in the shape of an eagles head,
with a ruby eye. In ali there are six ru-
bies. which is the birth stone of the
month of July, when SIMPSONS victory
occurred. Where the guard circles round
to meet the hilt it terminates in an eagle
| claw. which grasps q ball of nickel stee
which metal Admiral Sampson was the
inventor On the hilt the letters Y. 5. are
wrought in gold in the form Of a mono
gram, the letter S being formed OF dia-
The handle is of shark skin, wound
round with gold and studded with stars
each set with a single diamond, one rep
resenting each State in the Union. Nsal
the handle. in blue and white enamel,
if the flag of a captain and OF an al
niral, signifying the former ana present
rank of Admiral Sampson.
There is also on the scabbard the coat.
of-arrns of New Jersey and the eagle Oi
the United States. together with the let
ters II. S. n" The scabbard itself i
of Sterling silver, oxydized with gold
mountings. The heel of the scabbard i
a wave-like erect in gold, terminating II
two mermaids or tdolphfns, ."nlch gas
at one another over the point of the
sword. san
belt and trappings, the. whole containea
in a beautiful rosewood case, on whlcn
| win be a Silver plate inscribed with the
name of the Admiral.
After the reception of the sword the
members Of the committee were enter
tanned at dinner.