The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-09

and started, Commander SIMPSONS
was OF equal Importance for the difficulties
which were removed, and for tbs placing
OF the institution 30 exactly in the road OF
progress that It has never since varied
therefrom, No one had ever come TO the
Office with qualifications depending upon
so long and varied an experience In academic
work And again: when Commander
envy ended, there remained little for any
one else to do. save TO keep the standard
Of efficiency unimpaired.'
Sampson was q strong advocate Of mod
ern training for modern methods.
about the proper kind Of a prac-
tice ship for cadets. In his first report
as superintendent, Sampson maintained
that a practice ship should be a steam YES
sci fitted with the very latest appliances
quated steam craft. He had long insisted
that the studies OF the line and engineer
corps should be specialized AT the end OF
the third academic year, and In 1850 Congress
acted upon his recommendations. The
senior class was separated into divisions
study assigned. IKE Work in the sue
cecding two wears Of sea duty was also
made distinct for line and engineer officers.
The Academy was kept ut a high state
Of efficiency in SIMPSONS administration.
A better state OF discipline wac reached.
Sampson you never unbend In matters
Of discipline, az the second-year men found
to their cost when on Q practice cruise
on the Constellation. Despite warning,
they undertook to haze the plebes who
Joined at New London. Sampson promptly
ordered the Constellation back to Annap-
oils court-martials were held, m nine OF
the offenders were dismissed summarily.
Affairs at the Academy began to move
with the machine-like precision and regu-
larity for which Sampson was always noted.
Target practice and drills in M val and tor
pedo tactics were constant.
BLOWN Up ON THR PArAPsco
The war was drawing to a close before
Sampson got n chance 10 hear the guns.
lie was assigned to the ironclad P~atapsco.
and in June, 1894, the future blockader OF
Santiago Joined in the work OF the blockade
Of Charleston. Blockading IL usually one
long stretch of dreary waiting, Of nerve
racking tension. Tn lessons Sampson
learned then may nave served him In the
years later. The monotony of Charleston,
however, was destined TO be broken in
a most terrible manner. The .Patapsco
went in one night, as usual, under cover
Of darkness. TO cover the patrol boats.
without an instant's warning the ironclad
was hurled into the air. a mass OF wreckage,
TO sink TO the bottom OF Charleston harbor
Will most OF her officers and men. Samp-
son. who was executive officer OF the ship,
had been in the pilot house with the captain.
As he jumped to the boarding netting his
foot caught in "A mesh, n he was dragged
down with the sinking ship. Instead Of
Struggling irantlcany 10 eXtricdte himSen :
and thereby probably tying himself up more
tightly, Sampson weighed his chances, acted
coolly, carefully slipped his foot from It's
enlargement. and was saved.
FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR.
During the long period Of neglect Of
the Navy following the Civil War SIMPSONS
duties. though not publicly conspicuous,
were important. He had several long cruises
perfectinR his seamanship and gaining the
actual practice at sea necessary TO a Com
mander. From 1895 to 1867 he was with the
flagship Colorado on the European station
and with the Congress from 1871 to 1873.
He was on the AsiaIlc station as commander
OF the Swatara from 1873 to 1887. When
the first modern steel cruiser. the San Fran
cisco. pioneer OF our new Navy, was placed
in commission, sampson was the man
selected to command her. from 1890 to 1892.
Those who served WITH INN on cruises say
.iaS ~ 800, an J 4, rns ottain.J 49,,
any ms
SPECIAL DUTIES.
- ,u.h.dooi ord onu,u.
niinlson ",.mod q. ~ -. 49,
sniauoe. IN uhich be doll he vas
oI'auv Snian, ~ nb,sins ohan,;s,rv
metallilray and astronomy. In 1878 ne
was sent TO Creston, Ia, to report a total
eclipse of the sun. In 1882 he was assigned
70 duty at the Naval Observatory, where
he spent three wears. His invariable habit
of thoroughucss was observed there. His
associates say that he spent night after
night al the Telescope. From 1885 TO 1885
ne was on duty at the torpedo station at
Newport, where he made himself thoroughly
familiar with tina branch Of the service
work. In 1884 he was a member Of the
International Prime Meridian Council. He
was a member Of the Board Of Fortifca-
tons and other Defenccs 1850. and there
was no member more influential. In 1889
he was the delegate of the United States 10
the international Maritime Conference.
While Sampson was in command Of the
san Francisco his ship was in Iuuiuiie,
when the Itata was surrendered. in the
Chilean revolution. The two other American
cruisers present were the Baltimore and
the Iharles'on Inc SaIinore Mas com
lr ~ 900 49, n y, ,sas - ~
were in conjunction in Cuban waters. each
i'm command Of a squadron.
ems uy -,s ,ppo,,rpn
WI w wa
CHIEF
On March %, 1895. when the Spanish wsr
WINS n, hand ampsou was appointed