Evening star., 1901-09-14


in Washington His selection has been COM
muncated to Admiral Dewey and to Ad-
miral Schley.
1t was learned today that Admiral Ram
say was selected as d member of the Schley
court on the declination of Admiral KIM
berly and that he then asked to be ex-
cused from serving. His wishes were re-
spected and Admiral Howison was chosen
instead
AS selection may be regarded in the ma
ture OF orders to serve on the court Ad-
mfral Ramsay must obey. regardless of his
wishes in the matter. and. unless he shows
that he is prejudiced in the and has
evinced it in conversation with officers and
others he will undoubtedly become the
third member of the court.
Civil War Record.
Admiral Ramsay was the immediate pre-
decessor of Admiral Crowninsheld as chief
of the navigation bureau of the Navy De-
partment. He was born in the District
OF Columbia, but was appointed from Penn
sylvania To the Naval Academy as mid
shipman October >, 1850. When the civil
war broke out he was lieutenant on the
sloop-of-war Saratoga in the African
squadron. but as soon as he became lieu
tenant commander, in 1862, he was trans
ferrcd To the Mississippi squadron and in
command Of the iron-clad Choctaw took
in the lower Mississippi and Yazoo rivers.
With a battery of three heavy guns mount
ed on scows he participated in the siege
of Eicksburg and later was placed in COM
mand of the third division of the Mssis-
sipp squadron His record is full of en-
gagements with guerrillas and confederate
batteries and of expeditions headed by
him up the Red river, the Black river and
elsewhere in the Mississippi and gulf
waters. He was transferred to the north
Atlantic squadron in "a and 65, in COM
mand of the UnatiiIla and was In the
thickest Of the fight at Fort Fisher. Fort
Anderson, the Cape Fear river forts and
finally at the capture of Richmond.
Since the Rebellion.
Since the war his principal work has been
superintendent Of the Naval Academy,
chief Of the bureau of navigation. ordnance
work at the navy yard here and various
ship commands including the Boston, one
OF the first vessels OF the new navy. In
1882 he became commodore. and in the
same year was appointed to the navigation
bureau chief. position filled by him un-
til the date of his retirement-April s. 1897.
with sixteen years and nine months sea
service.
Sampson as superintendent of the Naval
Academy and he established many i'm
portant reforms in the institution that his
administration is especially noteworthy in
its history. His term covered a period of
five years and was marked by one of the
few rebellions which have ever happened at
the Naval Academy among the cadet bat
TALON. Admiral Ramsay displayed great
frmness and the culprits were made to
suffer heavily.
The revolt was remarkable because 1t in
volved the first or higher class. was re-
garded as a serious infraction of the naval
laws and rendered every cadet liable to dis
missal. Instead of losing their commits
siCns, all the members CT the class were
imprisoned on the station ship Santee, de-
prived Of all privileges and otherwise made
10 pay the penalty Of fractiousness. The
cadets insisted at the time, when Ques-
ticred why they rebelled, that Admiral
Ramsay had ordered all of their heads
shorn in order to procure hair for the
mortar used In building a new residence
for the superintendent. The real reason
was objection 10 some order Of the super
intendent.
During Admiral Ramsay's administration
at Annapolis a congressional investigation
was talked OF. owing to reports that Cadet
Strang had been killed by hazing and that
his tormentors had rolled him down hill In
A barrel with spikes driven through the
sides. Strang died from other causes. and
1t was clearly proved by investigation that
he had never been hazed
In the early part of the 'I0S Admiral
Ramsay was naval attache at London. He
afterward commanded the Trenton. then
one Of the finest ships OF the navy. which
was later lost the shores of Samoa
during the great hurricane OF 1880
Admiral Ramsay was married twenty-six
years ago To Miss Mcmahon, sister of
Judge Martin Mcmahon of New York city,
and has one son, Paymaster NJ. NJ. Ram
say. in the navy.
Long n Resident of This City.
Admiral Ramsay has always made his
home in this city. and since his retirement
he has resided here almost continuously. At
present he is summering at Charmion.
Franklin county, Pa, and 1t was necessary
to communicate with him at that point.
well-preserved man OF sixty-six years
of age, with delicate, refined features, and
clear gray eyes and an erect bearing. Ad-
mirai Ramsay still bears the reputation
which he earned many years ago. of being
OF the handsomest men In the navy
In manner he is cool and deliberate and
he had the reputation in the service of be-
ing strict disciplnaran and a stickler for