The evening times., 1899-08-01
sampson,s Prize Money.

The scheme to give junior Rear Admiral
Sampson the honor and the lions share
of the booty of a great naval victory in
which he did not in any sense participate.
is again before the public in the form of a
suit fled by the eminent absentee in the
Supreme Court of the District OF Column
bia to recover bounty and prize money
against the Spanish cruiser Infanta Maria
Teresa, wrecked on Cat Island. The suit
involves the whole question of Sampson s
claim to share in the material fruits Of
Schley's conquest of Cervera-
In his libel the mule hero OF Matanzas
alleges that, during the months of June
and July, 1893, feet under his immediate
command remained off Santiago, with
Commodore Winfield S. Schley as the COM
manding officer Of a division OF the fleet,
under the orders of the libellant." The
point of the allegation is obvious. it is
to set up the old Sampsonian and Navy
ring conspiracy contention that, although
the Hbellant-and a good name for him
was not present at the destruction of Ger
vera's feet by Commodore Sehley, he, new
ertheless, was in technical command, and,
therefore, entitled to all the glory and loot
that would justly have fallen to his share
if he had been present and had directed
the battle.
II is probable that the Administration S
purpose is to enter something in the nature
of ''nolo contendere," and allow the con-
temptible outrage intended by the Samp-
sonians TO be accomplished. On the facts,
as the legal advisers and counsel for the
Government could present than, de-
cision giving Sampson or any other
OF the absentees from Santiago har-
Dor on the Sd of July, cent of bounty
or prize money. would be judicial impos-
sibiIity. The truth OF that days work is
accurately known at last to the public, and,
in an unofficial way, must be within the
knowledge of the court which is TO try the
cause.
When Sampson steamed away from the
/ scene Of the fight, early on the morning OF
its occurrence. he hoisted a signal direct
ing that no attention should be paid TO the
| flagship or its movements, and passed out
Of sight behind the eastern horizon. There
by he formally relinquished for the time
being command of the vessels guarding
ranking officer who was Commodore
! Schley He did not reappear until the
fight had been won and Admiral Cervera
had struck his colors.
Ever since the event, oceans OF ink and
tons of paper have been wasted in des-
perate and dishonest effort TO falsify dis
tanees, time and circumstances in order to
boat Rear Admiral Sampson was near
enough to the point OF surrender when ii
took place to bring him technically within
the prize money limit. There are few edu-
Gated newspaper and magazine readers
among the American people who do not
fully appreciate the ridiculous failure OF
the attempt.
But Sampson has a mysterious pull, and
a lot of influences which are more valuable
in these days of corruption, fayoritism, and
defiance of justice, TO the man behind the
scenes, than would be the ability and sue
cess of a Schley or the genius OF a Dewey.
Unless the views of the Administration
have greatly changed of late, it desires
that Sampson, who had no more to do with
the sinking of the Spanish ships off Santi-
ago than he had with Nelson's victory of
the Nile, shall reap the chief credit for and
profit from the great event. No doubt it
has power TO give effect to this wish. But
should it act in the direction indicated,
there will be a day of reckoning next year,
when the fact will not be forgotten.