The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-12-07
For Sampson, $25,7o7.44; for
Schley, $14o.53.
PRIZE MONEY AWARD
Those Not In the Battle off Santiago
Get the Most.
UNJUST TO FIGHTING CAPTAINS
schIey and other Heroes Not Able to
Collect Even the Small Sums
Due Them.



Washington, Dec. THE Washington
Post to-day publishes a table of figures
taken from the records of the auditor for
the navy department, showing the prize
and bounty moneys which have been dis
tributed among the commanding officers
in the war with Spain. The figures are
authentic. They were obtained with the
consent Of Secretary Gage.
They show with painful clearness that
the system OF favoritism which enabled
Sampson to become commander of the
most important fleet of modern warships
that was ever organized was
maintained to the point of securing
for him payment of $25, 1914 as bounty
and prize money in recognition of feats of
valor which he did not perform during
the Spanish war. His prize money for
vessels captured and destroyed by the
Brooklyn and Oregon under command of
Admiral Schley amounted to $14,13244.
This money, in addition to $3.50 for
bounty alleged to have been earned at
Manzinallo and $685. for prizes captured
in the West Indian operations, has actual
ly been paid to Sampson. He used it to
buy himself a house in the fashionable
quarter Of Washington.
Less Than $3.50 for SchIey.
More extraordinary even that these
payments to Sampson was the payment of
$14,O26.OS to Captain French E. Chadwick,
who commanded thesNew York, Simpsons
flagship. The records show that Chad
wick drew two portions of bounties and
prize money, one as fleet captain and
chief-of-staff and the other as captain of
the New York, which did not participate
in the destruction of Cervera's fleet and
only arrived at the point where the Colon
went ashore and surrendered one hour
and twenty-three minutes after her flag
had been struck to Admiral Schley
Admiral Schley, who discovered the
Spanish fleet at Santiago and successfully
bottled it in that port and who at later
date, with the Brooklyn and the Oregon,
destroyed Gervera's sfenM while Sampson
was absent with the Eew York, has re-
cetved from the treasury up to date the
insignificant sum of $149.53 This was his
share for the capture Of a Spanish schoon-
OI. L l1S naval pig COuII dNdI0GQ ru1ul
1884. For some reason, which nobody
undertakes to explain this money has
been and is being withheld from the hero
of Santiago. 1t is supposed to, represent
the share to which he is entitled for the
destruction of Cervera's s ships.
Advantage of Being Ashore.
ashore at Siboney when Schley opened
the engagement with the Spanish feet,
is awarded $11, ,775.10 as the captain of
the New York, and 81, ,5849S as fleet cap
tain because the Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed. Not only is this the case, but
he has collected this money. He and
Sampson, the two pets of the naval clique
headed by Crowninshield, have been en-
abled to draw from the treasury the re-
wards which are so obviously out of pro-
portion to the services they rendered their
country The only manner in which they
could have secured this money was
through the influence of Secretary Long.
Admiral Schley, Notwithstanding that
he received but $149.53 is fortunate by
comparison with Captain Francis A. Cook,
the gallant and loyal sailor who COM
manded the Brooklyn, and Captain
Charles E. Clark, who commanded the
bulldog of the navy, the battleship Ore
gon.
Discrimination Against Captains.
Neither Of these officers has received q
dollar. Capt ain Cooks award is the pal
try sum of $2,190.32, while that Of Cap
tain Clark is $1,9S96G, less than Evans
and Taylor's, and but slightly more than
that of the late Captain Philip of the
Texas. The Brooklyn and the Oregon
fought and won the battle. The Brook
lyn, single handed, as was made clear in
the Schley court of inquiry, bore the brunt
of the battle with Cervera's ships without
assistance for twenty-five minutes before
the Oregon came to her aid.
Commander Wainwright, who COM
manded the Gloucester and fought the
Spanish torpedo boats single-handed, has
been awarded 1858, but has not received
dollar Of it. Commander Sharp Of the
| Vixen, who displayed reckless valor in
keeping abreast of the fight, notwith-
standing that his ship was mere cookie
shell, was awarded but $339.32, as against
7 1886 80 for Captain Eaton, whose ship
never got into the fight at all. Rear Ad-
miral Watson, who commanded the divi-
sion off Havana, where he undoubtedly
performed services as gallant as those
credited to Sampson has been paid SIS.
Admiral Watson may consider himself
| fortunate, however, because he has got his
money.
1t is only necessary to recall that Ad-
| miral Dewey received $3.50 as his share
of the prize money won by the fleet in
| Manila bay to understand the extent the
| favoritism shown to Sampson and Chad