Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-14

ed often, everybody knew him as Billy"
Sampson. His father was day laborer,
and as boy and youth William often ac-
companied his father to places near the
Sampson home, where he helped at odd
jobs"
Young Sampson found time to attend
school in an irregular way, and showed
so much ambition that he attracted the
attention Of WI lam II. Soutbwick Of
Palmyra. who spc of him to +. i. Nor
gan, at that time representing the district
in Congress, and the lad received through
Morgan the appointment as naval cadet
at Annapolis.
Sampson first won fame and recogni-
tion on the old Patapsco. which formed
part of the blockading squadron at
Charleston in 1864. The harbor had been
mined by the COnfederates. and when
the blockading admiral decided ID enter
the harbor he detailed the Patapseo TO
go ahead and clear the way for him.
Brave Deed at Charleston,
Sampson was executive officer of the
ironclad, and as the vessel steamed into
the harbOr he stood on the bridge in
the most exposed position ON the boat.
He was a fascinating mark for the
sharpshoOters As the little boat enter
ed the harbor bullets from their rifles
rained upon it SIMPSONS men fell all
around him, struck by the leaden mis-
siles He ordered them below and faced
the fire alone. Slowly and carefully the
mine-Gcstroyer went ahead ON its hunt.
Suddenly there was an ominous roar,
columns of water were thrown into the
air, and mingled with the liquid streams
were the guns, turrets and sheathing of
the gallant boat. OF the crew twenty
five were saved by other boats from the
fleet; seventy-fve sank in Charleston
harbor. Sampson was blown 100 feet
in the air and fell in the water many
feet from where his boat went down.
In Charge of Naval Academy.
After the war Sampson was detailed
for service at the Naval Academy and
remained there from 1868 to 1871 as
head of the department OF 81 emistry and
physics. Then for several years he was
attached to the Congress. but his first
command was the Alert, to which he was
assigned with the rank of commander in
1874. From 1876 to 1878 he was again
at the Naval Academy. and ten years
later he became the superintendent of
the institution and maintained a high
state of discipline ''We was promoted
TO captain in 1889. and the next year he
was placed in cormand of the cruiser
San Francisco. In July, 1892, he was in
spectOr of ordnance at the navy yard,
Washington, and the next year he was
made chief of the bureau of ordnance
He held that position until the Iowa was
ready to be commissioned, when he was
detailed to that battleship.
Service in Spanish War.
After the breaking out of the Spanish
war Sampson was given command Of the
North Atlantic station, and he blockaded
the ports Of Cuba with his squadron.
being joined in this work by the flying
squadron under Rear Admiral Schley,
who was next in command to him. At
the time Of the fight off Santiago, on
July 3, 1898, Sampson. with his flagship,
lad started for Siboney. giving the sig
lai Disregard the movements of the
1alship," but returned after the battle
was over. The details Of the contro-
Tersy in regard to the credit for ii de-
struction OF the Spanish warships are
fresh III the public mind.
Rear Admiral Sampson was married
vice. His first wife was Margaret Aid
ich, q niece of Pliny 7. Sexton of Pal
nyra, \. Y. They were married in 1862
md had five daughters four of whom are
living. Rear Admiral SIMPSONS second
wife was Miss Elizabeth Burling. BY
his marriage Rear Admiral Sampson
lad two sons, Ralph and Harold