The Washington times., 1901-07-30
SOME UNWRIfTEN HISTORY.

| In an interview reported as having
| taken place between the representative of
| the paper printing it and Rear Admiral
| sampson. the latter is reported to have
| stated that when he is called as a wit
| ness in the coming Court OF Enquiry he
snail have some other things to tell
than those now known" 1t has created a
~onderment on my part IL, among these
other things which he threatens he will
| include the following Incident. which to
| some extent confirms the statement
which was made about the time Sampson
tthen but captain) was elevated to the
high rank and duty of "commantier-in-
chief of the naval forces of the United
States in Cuban waters over the heads
of many rear admirals and comrnodcres
his superiors; that the appointment was
given him that he might have the finan-
cial benefit which would accrue to the
commanding officer from his large share
of all the money realized from the sale
of captured prizes
The incident referred to occurred in the
| early days of the war. when the squadron
commanded by Sampson was biockadins
the port of Havana. and 1t is probable
that but few of the people OF the United
States have ever known how near they
came to losing the cruiser New York, the
flagship. and her crew Of officers and
men, because of the cupidity of Sampson
and his improper efforts to secure prizes
no matter at what risk. and, too, at the
time when Cervera's fleet was known to
be en- route to the seat>of war
A certain little torpedo boat attached
to Sampscn's squadron was on her way
one dark and starless night carrying de-
spatches some thirty miles distant from
Havana. when suddenly. without the
slightest preplonition. there loomed up
quite near her the immense black hull
of a formidable man-of-war, without
light showing. Her commanders mind
developed but one thought, that Cerve-
ra's fleet was upon him And. in this, he
was justified, for he knew that the squad
ron of the United States ships. was under
orders to blockade Havana, and he never
dreamed that he should find at that dis
tance from that harbor any ship belong
ing to that blockade
Without n moments hesitation he or
dered the torpedo prepared for firing, and
at the same time ordered the fleet signals
flashed. in response to which he received
signals flashed from the strange ship
which were not those in use on our ships
This was confirmation it seemed to him,
that the enemy was there. but realizing
the awful responsibility which would rest
upon him. did he discharge the torpedo
and sink some other than one of the
enemy's ships. he ordered the signals
flashed again, and with the same response
resulting
He turned to give the order TO the gun
ner to fire, when, before the word left
his lips to his utter astonishment and
evaporation, he heard the welI-known
voice of officer of the New York giving
an order upon the deck of his supposed |
Spanish enemy
Instead of the order to fire, the results |
of which would have sent to the bottom |
the cruiser and all on board Gncluding |
thus sparing the nation its |
shame at his treatment of Schley). the |
of the torpedo boat called out I
in terms perfectly justified by the situa-
ton he had been placed in by the pres
snce of the flagship so far away from her
proper position:
What in - are you doing here -"
the name of the officer he had
Il know why you are so far
away from your place of duty-you are
hunting prizes
Ordered to go upon the New York by
Sampson, who had by this time come upon
ieek, the commander at once did so, and
i is said that the interview between him
and the commander-in-chief which en-
sued was extremely fervid. especially
lpon the part of the commander. who was
very properly incensed at the position In
which he had been placed by the prize
hunting acting rear admiral and the false
signals which had been made.
1t Is said that no report of this very
Hose call for the New York and her Off
,ers and men has ever been made to the
Savy Department in any of his dispatches
,y the commander -in-chief, and that the
lame of the commander of the torpedo
,oat has never received any mention or
for his services, which.
Turing the war. were arduous in the ex-
RENE and most valuable to his country;
Tor has his crew. who suffered the tor
ures of the damned during its existence ,
n the rough waters of the tropics. in a
little cocksheI of a craft, which was not !
Intended for the duty to which it was as :
igned.
The great and only Sampson could not !,
orget the pointed remarks of the COM i
nander made to him upon the deck of !
he New York on that memorable night. =
nd he gratified his revengeful nature by r
Fithholding justice from the latter by /
voding all and any mention of him when :
raising others of his subordinates.-New +
-ork Times. :