The Washington times., 1901-10-09
WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY.

which was felt in his ability to perform
the arduOus duties of carrying succor t,
the perishing explorers. Notwithstanding
the fact that Congress had offered a re
ward of $4,000 to any person not in tn,
naval or military service of the Govern
ment who should rescue the Greely party
or discover its fate, Schley succeeded ir
distancing the private expedition which
/ had been fitted out, and reached the
Greely camp at Cape Sabine on June
q, where he found Greedy and six of his
men barely alive. He was hundred
miles ahead Of his competitor
For his gallant achievement daring and
bravery in this rescue the Navy Depart
ment officially thanked and congratuIa; cd
him. the Legislature of his native State
thanked him. and voted him gold chro-
nomoter. the Massachusetts Humane So
ciety sent him medal. and the geog-
raphers have given the name of ''Schley
Land to the wide territory west of Cape
Sabine. The President also nominated
him as Chief of the Bureau of Equipment
of the Navy. one Of the eight great heads
of this department. He held this position
for term of four years, and admins
tered it with marked ability.
During the time he developed the edu-
establishment OF the gunners school in
this city; equipped the first famous White
Squadron; inauguIated the system which
enables sailors to deposit their savings
with the Government and receive interest
therefor; established the privilege of the
enlisted man to a home on the receiving
ship in the intervals of his enlistments
and reformed the dietary scale so that
the rations of the men were very much
improved
At the termination of his service in the
bureau he reverted to his lineal rank of
captain and was placed In command of
the Baltimore. The vessel under his COM
mand was assigned to convey the re-
mains of John Ericsson. the builder of
me Monitor, TO sweden. After cruise in
European waters the vessel was sent to
Chile The relations between this Govern
ment and that country had become some
what strained, and when Schley. after the
long voyage, allowed, his men shore leave
they were attacked in the streets Of Yai-
paraiso and two of them were killed and
fifteen wounded by a Chilean mob.
The discretion and cool judgment which
Schley exhibited upon that occasion pre-
vented the United States from being
plunged into a war with a sister Republic
OF South America. and reparation was de
manded by this Government and made bv
cruise of the Baltimore Schley returned
and In 1892 was made lighthouse inspector,
and afterward member of the Board of
Inspection and Survey.
His next assignment was as captain of
the New York. Admiral Sunce's flagship
on the home station. Two years later he
became the head of the Lighthouse Board
lie was in this position when in February
lA'S, he was raised to the rank of commo-
dore few months later the Spanish
war broke out. BY right of seniority he
should have been placed in command of
the North Atlantic Squadron for the con-
duct of the Santiago campaign, but, as the
whole country knows, for some reason
which II Is not necessary to here explain
Sampson, then a captain, was jumped over
his head and given that command Com
mOdore Schley was instead given the com
mand Of the Flying Squadron
The events which thereafter followed
his course during the Spanish war and his
brilliant victory "a the total destruction
of the pride Of the Spanish navy under
Admiral Cervera. with the loss of but a
single man killed and practically no dam
age to our own -hips-are of too recent
date to need narration here. Nor is ii
necessary to tell of the circumstances and
the unwarranted charges placed against
him which led him to ask for the Court
of Enquiry His position in the minds of
the unprejudiced American public and in
history is secure.
Admiral Schley has seen eighteen years
active sea service, a little in excess of
the average of rear admiraIs. twenty-five
and about four years awaiting orders or
on leave. His pay as a retired officer will
be about $500 per annum.
Admiral Schley's family consists of him
self and wife, a married daughter, and
two sons, one of whom is a prominent
physician In New York and the other a
captain in the Regular Army.