The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-28
SAMPSON OR SCHLEY?

1t is not to the -discredit of Sampson
| that Schley is universally regarded as
the hero of Santiago bay. Had the
senior officer been present we doubt not
the result would have been the same.
1t was an American fleet, and where
did one fail to come off victorious?
They were American ships. and where
was one vanquished in all that war?
1t was SIMPSONS fleet, owing to his
unearned advancement over Schley.
but the latter was in command when
the battle was fought 1t was the
Brooklyn that took the lead. while the
New York was thirty miles away and
steaming in an opposite direction. 1t
was the flagship of the hero we have
with us today that bore the brunt of
the battle. that chased the Cristobal
Colon sixty miles along the coast. that
lost the only man who was killed on
the American side, that suffered the
only serious damages resulting from
close contact with Cervera's fleet
The administration has aroused a
great deal of needless prejudice against
Sampson by giving him promotion he
never earned. except through counting
the favor of those in power; it has
antagonized popular sentiment since
that battle by trying to Selittle the
work of Admiral Schley and credit
Sampson for more than his due
And Sampson has done himself ire
parable injury in the estimation of
the American public by his churlish
manner and his childish treatment of
the officer he left in command when he
sailed away on that eventful day In
his report he took all the credit to him
self; he presented the Fourth of July
gift TO the people of the United States;"
he never mentioned Schley's part in
the engagement in that first or in any
subsequent report; he never referred
to the captains of the vessels engaged;
he was cold, selfish and disgruntled
He made no effort to conceal his cha
grin at being absent from the fray,
and he showed a smallness then which
he has emphasized in his magazine ar
ticies since that is not in keeping with
the character of a true hero.
What contrast was Schley's re-
port. 1t was full of Difference to his
superior, of unselfish praise for the
captains and commanders under him.
ringing with generous credit to all the
men. And he didn't vaunt himself, or
try to detract from the valor of any
man, not even of Sampson, who was
absent; and when the men took off
their caps and cheered for Schley after
the battle had been fought and won.
he said: Don't cheer me; cheer the
men; they did the fighting"
And when he was congratulated upon
the glory he had won, he said: 1T be- |
longs to every man in the fleet. There's |
enough to go round
1t was three days before Sampson |
and the censor allowed the word to get |
to their fellow-countrymen that Schley |
had been in the fight at all. or that |
Sampson had been absent. But when /
the facts came out through the reports !
Of the various captains, the following
resolution was promptly introduced in
the house:
Resolved, That the thanks of congress
and OF the American people are hereby
u -. N.
for his heroic and distinguished conduct
IN destroying the Spanish fleet in Cuban
water on the Sd of July last.
At the same time the following reso-
ution was introduced in the senate:
Resolved That the thanks of congress
ana the American people are hereby ten
Tered TO Commodore Winfield S. Schley of
ne unled states naval force operating !
against the Spanish forces in Cuban wa
ers. for highly distinguished conduct i'm
conflict with the enemy. as displayed by
linn In the destruction of the Spanish
leet of the harbor of Santiago. Cuba.
July 3. 1885,
That the thanks of congress and the
American people are hereby extended
through Commodore Schley. TO the officers
md men under his command for the gall
antry and skill exhibited by them on
hat occasion.
And the American people every
where. as they do in Salt Lake City
oday, greet Winfield S. Schley as the
zero of the naval engagement off the
cast of San usga