Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-10
LAST TRIBUTE TO SAMPSON
ALI Departments Of Government Repre-
sented at 0bsequiss Of Admiral.
LARGEST NAVAL FUNERAL IN MANY YEARS
President Roosevelt at Services I'm
Church-Dewey Head of Honorary
PaIIbearers-Mrs. 80
Too III to Attend.
LARGEST NAVAL FUNERAL IN MANY YEARS

WASHINGTON May with a pomp
and circumstance exceeding that OF any
naval funeral In this country, in recent
years at least, the remains OF the late
William Thompson Sampson, rear admiral
IN the United States naval forces on the
North Atlantic station during the war with
Spain. were today laid at rest.
Every department OF the national gov
eminent was represented. The executive
by the president and his cabinet and many
prominent officials Of the civil service, the
legislative by senators and representatives,
the judiciary by the United States supreme
court and the military and naval services
by officers OF all ranks. The diplomatic
body, accompanied In many cases by their
ladies, attended the church services.
The military and naval features Of the
ceremonies we're brilliant and impressive.
They were conducted under direction OF
Rear Admiral Terry, commandant Of the
Washington navy yard. assisted by Lieu
tenant Henry George. The funeral escort
gathered early. II was composed OF the
light battery Of United States artillery.
commanded by Captain Foote, and drawn
from Fort Myer; the naval cadets from
Annapolis, 247 strong, a corps that never.
has paraded in Washington before save on
several occasions when a president was TO
be inaugurated; a battalion Of blue jackets
from the North Atlantic squadron, OF which
Admiral Sampson formerly was comman-
der.
Assembly Mt Church.
Former Admiral Terry, commanding the
escort, with his STAFF, assembled at the
church at $50. The word Of m was
given and the cadets swung into line and,
headed by the Naval Academy band,
marched slowly from the church to the
residence OF the dead admiral on New
Hampshire avenue, about half a mile away.
Here the honorary pallbearers were gath
cred, headed by Admiral Dewey. The re-
mains. borne on the shoulders of eight stall
wart soldiers from the United States
steamship Dolphin. were escorted TO the
church. Here the battalion formed in line
on the north and silently saluted, as the
remains we're carried into the church and
placed on the bier in the chancel.
A prominent figure in the pews directly
I'm the rear Of the diplomatic body was
= Lieutenant General Miles. There we're also
Major General Corbin and the bureau chiefs
Of the War department. A notable figure
was General Longstreet Of the confederate
army.
The president arrived at the church al
most simultaneously with the funeral es-
cort. He was accompanied by Secretary
Cortelyou and Captain Cowles, his brother
in-law. Tit supreme court had meanwhile
been seated and within a few moments the
soft playing Of music by the Marine band,
stationed at the entrance Of the church,
gave notice Of the appearance Of the funeral
party.
Advancing slowly to the words OF a psalm
delivered by DR.. Tennis Hamlin, the on
ciating pastor OF the Church Of the Cove
nant, the party turned into the main aisle.
Behind the clergymen and headed by the
admiral Of the navy. George Dewey, we're
SIMPSONS war captains, or so many OF
them as are in the United States. and in
addition there were Admiral Remey, Ad-
miral Watson and Admiral Walker. and
many other notable naval chiefs. The war
captains were in full uniform and wore
black sword knots of crepe.
As the casket, which was closely covered
with the blue field Of the American flag
and banked with rimson roses, was gently
lowered upon the bier from the shoulders
OF the b~luejackets, the male quartet sang
Lead. Kindly Light"
Meanwhile the mourners, the family OF
the deceased, save Mrs. Sampson, who was
too Ill to attend, were seated. then fol-
lowed the service, very simple, In fact,
little more than the funeral ritual of the
Presbyterian church.
a puBle note gave the slBhal lot the
march and soon the entire long funeral
procession was on its way to Arlington.
As the Aqueduct bridge was crossed the
guns Of the presidents yacht Sylph doomed
out a funeral salute OF minute guns.
The burial ceremonies were simple. As
the remains we're lowered into the grave
the Marine band played the beautiful
hymn. Safe In the Arms of Jesus" and
then followed the sounding of TAPS" by
a bugler. marking the last earthly cere-
mony over the dead officer. The president
and his cabinet did not go to Arlington.