The Washington times., 1901-08-13
SAMPSON TO BE RELIEVED.
Failing Health Has Incapacitated
Him For Active Service.
Not Summoned for the SchIey En-
quiry-To Remain on Waiting
Orders Until His Retirement-The

Rear Admiral w. T. Sampson will
shortly be relieved of command at the
Boston Navy Yard and placed upon wait
ing orders until the time arrives when he
will be eligible for retirement under the
age limit. He will be sixty-three years
old next February. and then, under the
law, he will be permitted to so upon the
retired list. He will be succeeded at the
Boston Navy Yard by Rear Admiral Nor
timer l.. Johnson, at present in command
of the naval station at Port Royal. S. c.
1t is thought that the change will be made
early in September.
Admiral Sampson has been incapacitated
for active duty for some time. In fact.
for nearly ytar practically all of the
work has been Under the direction of the
executive officer of the Boston yard, and
Admiral Sampson has been only nomi-
nally the commandant. A year ago he
was taken quite suddenly i'll while in
Washington and about to call upon the
President at the White House 1t was
said at that time that he tainted and had
to be removed to his hotel. When he was
able to be removed. an officer of the
Navy Department was obliged to accom-
pany him to Boston. Since that time he
has been in failing health, and much of
the time unable to attend to his duties.
He is now resting, and reports received
at the Navy Department yesterday indi-
cate that he is no worse.
The statement is made by the friends
of Admiral Sampson that the criticism
which he has received from the public in
regard to his part in the Scnley contro-
versy is largely responsible for his
present condition. He is said to be en-
tirely ncapacitated for any service what
ever, His admirers declare that he has
beer unnerved by the assaults which
have been made upon him, and while
general sympathy is usually lavish when
men in public life fall ill, it is not believed
that its spontaneity will be any greater
by their efforts to enlist such sympathy
for him at the expense of Admiral Schiey.
1t is still an open questioneas to whether
or not Sampson will attend the Schiey
Court of Enquiry: the probabilities are.
however, that he will not be present. 1t
is almost certain that he will not be in
attendance unless his condition improves
very materially within the next month.
He is said to be too nervous and weak to
stand the strain. His friends in the
Navy Department will not permit him to
so upon the stand to testify unless he is
much better than he is now, for fear that
he might not be able to bear out all the
charges which they have made against
Schey, and to have him fail would be
very damaging to their case. Again, they
do not want II 10 appear that he has
been kept at the Boston Navy Yard, if
he in reality incapable of discharg-
ing the duties there.
Although the list of witnesses who are
to appear at the Court of Enquiry has
been practically completed, and many of
them have been notified to appear and
give testimony, Aamiral SIMPSONS name
is not upon the list, neither has he been
requested to be present The determine
ton whether or not he will be summoned
will probably be delayed until the time
his testimony is needed, when the
progress of the case and his own conds-
ton of health may both be considered.