Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-10-07
A GREAT DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN DEWEY AND SAMPSON IN
HANDLING MEN.

While Firm in Enforcing Commands
Dewey Had lhe Confidence of the Sail
ors-An Interesting Case Cited by a
i Former Apprentice.
A letter recently received from
August II. RuSge an apprentice boy
on the ColoIaGr in the sixties, but now
assistant chieE engineer of the Mime
apoltS fire department, recalls an in
teresting Incident. | give it here as
illustrative of the difference between
Rear Admirais George Dewey and Will
liam T. Sampson in the capacity to
| handle men:
We were off Palermo, Sicily. The
crew of the Colorado had surfeit of
drill during the day and were inclined
to be little sulky. You must bear in
| m,ind that we had the reputation of
having the best drilled ship in Euro
pean waters, barring neither class nor
nation. This reputation was not gain
ed by flying a gold painted sign att
our miz2Gn truck. 1t was due to the
admirable management of Mr.. Dewey
as, executive, officer and to the pride
the men took under HIM in perfecting
their work by continuous painstaking
drills. At sunset on the day in ques-
ton the watch below was called up for
boat drill Mr.. Sampson had the deck
When the word was passed to hoist
away ON the falls Sampson was very
much displeased with the listlessness
OF the crew.
Look alive there. you men! You
trail along like lot of lubberly
mourners hired to follow Hindu |
funeral"
None of the boys knew how Hindu
1ubbers trailed at funerals; indeed, 1 |
have an idea that Mr.. Sampson was
equally ignorant, but all the same the |
boys were mad and showed it by |
up.
Mr.: Sampson was beside himself
with anger Three times were tic
boats lowered to the water. Just before
be gave the word the last time to hoist
away he shouted:
It'll black list every mothers son of !
you from liberty on shore if tho j.
any more of this hangdog veil Hoist
away there, now!.'
The neh were how on their mettle
Liberty ashore is one grand prize of
the na1-o'-war's man, but Jacky is not
going to buy it. With one accord the
long line started on a slow mans race
up to the quarter deck, noisly tramp
Ing to- the time of the dead march in
Saul" Mr.. Sampson looked as if he
were about to jump off the bridge, and
lay about him with his trumpet. For
tnnaIely at this moment Mr. Dewey |
came up the after hatchway, attracted
by the unusual noise. Taking in the
situation at a glance, he sprang up
the steps leading to the bridge.
'I'll take the deck, sir" he said. Mr.,
Sampson handed over the speaking
and retired to the other end
of the bridge with very sullen look.
Delay that, you men!" Mr.. Dewey
called out in a short, firm voice The
boys halted and looked up. Mr.. Dewey
looked down the line for moment,
cool, quiet and smilingIy confident.
change in the moral temperature.
There was at once a very perceptible
The boats were again lowered to
the water
MAN the falls, my men!"
The long lines were grasped with |
hearty grip, the men nodding to one
another approVingly.
FHoist away, there!"
With a hearty stride the men walked !
away with the falls with such good |
good will that four cutters came flying |
up to the davits with a celebrity that |
to send them inboard
Delay all. Pipe down the watch |
below, boatswain.
The boys scampered off to the fore
castle to get their usual evening smoke |
while Mr.. Dewey after a few words in |
an nndertone to Mr.. Sampson went |
below, leaving that officer wiser
and possibly a better man.
What protteth it if man lose his !