The San Francisco call., 1901-10-10

In June 1871 when Schley was executive
officer Of the Benicia, a naval expedition cap
tured five Korean forts as a punishment for
having fired upon surveying parties from
American ships. Commander Kimberly cap
tain Of the Benicia, wrote to the Navy Depart
ITO Lieutenant Commander w. S. Schley be-
and carrying out the several details which
went far to prevent confusion and insure sue
cess. His arrangement Of the boats, his super
intendence of the various labors on shore in
destroying the guns and forts, encouraging the
men and setting them brave example, in
and being in readiness at all times to render
assistance where most needed. render praise
unnecessary. The facts of his labors and ac-
tions, judgment and system speak for them
selves. I commend him to your notice."
In 1884 an Arctic expedition sent out for
the relief of Lieutenant Greedy. U. s. A. The
ships composing this expedition were the
Thetis, Bear and Alert W. S. Schley com
w. H. Emory and George w. Coffin captains
of the Bear and Alert. The success of the
William E. Chandler, to issue the following
general order. No. 321, under date of August
The Navy Department announces to the SER
vice the safe arrival at Portsmouth. n H., on
the lst OF August OF the Thetis. Bear and
after having successfully accomplished the OBJ
jeet Of their mission, in the rescue Of Lieu
tenant Greedy of the army and the other sur
vivors OF his party.
THE department extends its cordial and
earnest congratulations to Commander Schley
Commanding the expedition, and to the officeIs
and of his command, upon the distin-
g1lished success of their efforts and takes this
occasion of publicly commencing the courage,
zeal and judgment with which they executed
their h degls and nd dangeTSgs f5s duty 81
vessels of the relief squadron form part OF
this order.
WILLIAM E. CHANDLER,
Secretary of the Navy
When Sch1ey's term as chief of the bureau Of
ury an unexpended balance Of about $780, ,OOO
stating in his report of September 1, 1883: Il
have the honor to report that all appropria-
and in some there are unexpended balances to
revert to the treasury This action of Schley
caused considerable unfavorable comments from
other department chiefs, it being considered
a bad precedent not to expend the entire ap-
As to the sea service of w T. Sampson the
records show that he served over five years on
the Colorado and Congress on the European
Swatara and half years in the Pacific
on the San Francisco and ten months on the
1898. There was not a single incident in these
ten years to indicate that Sampson was head
and shoulders" over any other officer
his eminent distinguished courage, skill
and genius in profession must there
service record Sampson indicated very early
in his career preference for shore duty and
academy and over nine years on various as
signments in Washington. 1t was while super
intendent at the naval academy. 1SS6-90, that
comments throughout the service, the details
of which as follows: The superintendent
of the naval academy is allowed the sea pay
Of his grade and in addition to furnished quar-
ters is also allowed q cook and steward paid
from the regular appropriation. Sampson. how
enough help. and, as he claims. had an un-
which they consented to reduction in their
pay sufficient to enable Sampson to hire ad-
dtional help without paying for 1t himself.
in a Justices Court and recovered their re-
tained pay. 1t was unsavory scandal and
soon after the captain was detached and sent
out to the Union Iron Works to superintend
the completion of the cruiser San Francisco
Again. in 1891. Sampson distinguished him
into the of delay in the sailing of the
Alert. 1t was we'll known that Captain Hitch
Chief Engineer Ford were unwilling to sail in
small and undesirable ship the Alert
prevent sailing. An excuse was found in the
discovery that the vessel had been improperly
repaired, and for this alleged neglect the con-
structor was clearly responsible. The motto
in the navy Is. however. that Officers must
another victim had to be found. Sampson dis
covered 1t In a foreman, whose first knowledge
about anything being wrong with him came
with letter of dismissal from the NAVY De
partment upon the recommendation of Sarnp-
third incident in SIMPSONS shore career
Is the part he took in ferreting out the armor
frauds of Carnegie in 1894 committed whfIe
Sampson was chief of the bureau of ordnance
official inspectors appointed prevent such
frauds on the Government.
When, after much delay, the Navy Depart
ment took action. November, 1893. in the alleged
Irregularities. Secretary Herbert appointed Cap
tain Sampson to Investigate the truth of the
charges and extent of the frauds, If any Thers
was no escaping the fact that serious frauds
had been committed. 1t was found that sIxtv1
six armor plates, distributed among twelve
ships. either seriously defective or had
been Improperly treated, and the Carnegie
F'rick-Schwab Company was fined the nominal
sum of S140, 900. Sampson and his insnaotorc
were not even censured for their neglect none
of the defective plates were removed from the
ships and Sampson continued chief of the
bureau of-erdnance until June 1897