The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-16
Bruce Keenan, on schley Case.

1 odulI .S0n-ScuIey CO4LIoEtE ~ S--A St4A1i
subjects. Re says:
''The Sampson SchIey controversy is
! not the only feud in naval circles. In
fact, it bears certain resemblance to the
/ tragic Decatur: Barron Gnarvel- Com
modore Barron commanded the unfortu-
/ nate Chesapeake from which the British
! ship Leopold impressed certain seamen-
! Barron was criticised for not making
! a vigorous defense. 4 aOurt Of inquiry
was held and Commodore Decatur, a
member of the court, had expressed al
! opinion unfavorable to Commodore Bar
ron which caused the latter to enter a
! vigorous protest against the former be-
| ing retained as a member Of the court
The protest was overruled and the Official
end of The difficulty was the dismissal
Of Commodore Barron from naval service.
After that he resided abroad until 1913
/ and then returned to the United States
and sought TO be reinstated in the ser
vice. To this Decatur demurred and Bar
ron's appeal was denied. Wheroupon
( James Barron challenged Stephen Deca-
tur to mortal combat with pistols. The
duel was arranged to take place on Duel
Meadows, northeast Of Washington on
the Baltimore road at eight PAGES dis
tance. and there s. years ago at the sec
ond's signal. both men fired and both men
were mortally hurt Il is reported as the
two men lay at deaths door side by side
/ BARRON said: I hope or meeting IN the
next world, we shal be better friends than
in this" Decatur replied: "Sir, 1 never
have heen your enemy. freely forgive
you my death, but cannot forgive those
!
ron responded: would 70 God had YOU
SAID this much yesterday" The death
Of the naval hero. Stephen Decatur, was
received By the nation with profund sor-
row. If the two men had understood each
other. 1t would not have happened
The nation that furnished Columbus.
that coneenial Mexico and Peru that by
daring carried its flag and commerce 10
the ends of the earth, was forced by the
new giant Of the west to dar wthe sword
or abdicate Cuba A great and decisive
battle was sure to be fought at sea. Ad-
miraI Sampson was placed in command
OF the nava forces Of the United States
and Admiral SchIey of the naval division.
the Flying squadron. Events multiplied.
There were stragetic movements prepara-
ton, coaling, paroling the sea and finally
the battle of July 3. in which the war
ships of the once proud and naughty
Spain were sent TO the bottom Of the re-
! rnorseless sea of Santiago. At this bat
tie the commander, Sampson was not i'm
rnediately present. Admiral Schley was
present. The result was a grand victory.
The victory would have beer won if both
had been entirely absent. Admiral Schley
and his vessel. the Brooklyn, notNith-
/ standing the MISUNDERSTANDING loop"
had a conspicuous share in the fight.
Whether in the disposition of the vessels.
or in the Brooklyn's signals any very
material ala was rendered in the Santi-
ago battle is question difficult to settle.
The friend of Sampson claimed the credit
of victory for him: TIE frierds Of Schley
made the Same claim or him. Here began
a controversy, the most regrettable in
the history our navy. The partisans
on either side seemed bent on the making
Of a hero while destroying an adversary.
4 court of inquiry finally undertook the
solution OF all questions as 70 who should
oe entitled to the glory OF Santiago. In
the very nature of things, this last cues
ton admiral Dewey's minority opinion
to the contrary could not have been be-
fore the court without making Admiral
Sampson a party, and not then by any
known law or precedent. History and
sober judgment must finally decide that
a courts victory. if regularly obtainable.
would be worthless. The courts verdict
censured Admiral Schley for dlatorness.
and praised him for bravery in the battle
Of Santiago.
Admiral Schley's faults were atoned
by his virtues in battle. Very plain and
very easy. Admiral Sampson was tech
nically in command and therefore, tech
nicaIly the honor Of the victory was his.
Admiral Schley was in the thick of the
battle and therefore the portion of his
bravery loop OF no loop was his. Not so
rosy. There was but one battle and
could be but one supreme hero. There
has been but little choice between the
parties and so far as the methods are
concerned both sides have been unfair.
Facts have been distorted and ingenuity
has been sorely tested 10 find new argu-
ments to sustain the Sampson theory
and then the Schley theory. Schley has
just now the best OF the argument be-
cause SIMPSONS fool friends would have
the public believe Schley a "cartin when
ne was none. owever. IL the difficulty
was settled on the field OF honor" the
diving conversation between Decatur and
Barron would BE- appropriate. Zach
might say 10 the other: Sir. I have i.ever
been your enemy; I freely forgive YOU my
death. but cannot forgive those who slim
ulated YOU 10 seek my life" and each
mi-ht say. Would to God you had said
this much Yesterday" Admiral Schley
q ,,,v,, ;es-,- rs,rfzaT Admiral Sa-rr.sor,
is afflicted in q way that makes it doubt
ful II he understands IN the smallest way
what is being done on either side. This
IS pathetic. That Schley has the good
sense to Msporaga his foolish friends from
putting him into the presidential race for
1904 Is q matter Of credit 70 his good
/ judgement. Nineteen four VIII De d good
tire for wah heroes on a platform Of
"souttle"
The new member has ot late been
receiving more than his share OF stten.
ton He IS pictured as lonely which 20
q greater or less extent. is true. Things
are not what be expected 10 find them.
The situation rs the new member review
ed it before election was theotcrical, the
situation SIS 81 IS. practical he Wftenl
wants 10 90 things but n acc0url ish
anything he must persuade 179 members
members to let BIN Do their thinking
on some hobby OF his lie must either
convince thcrn by logic or vote COR the
hobby II every other man as q price for
the support OF the hobby. Playing at
craftsmanship is not easy a. the new
+ member learns Tbs new n1euber' must
claim and held the attention Of the
ilo,se To 10 this he must say and do