Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-07
ES Al HIS HOME IN WASHINGTON
Wife, Children, Sister, Physician and
Nurses Are at the Bedside,
MRS. SAMPSON BREAKS UNDER STRAIN
Secretary Moody and Others Prominent in
Official Life Send Coincidence.
PLANS FOR THE FUNERAL INCOMPLETE
Captains I'm Santiago Campaign WIN
Act as PRIIbearers and Burial
Place May He Mt
Annapolis.

| Annapolis.
| WASHINGTON, May 6.--Rear Admiral
| William T. Sampson, retired, died at his
home in this city at 8 o'clock this after
noon. The immediate cause Of death was
severe cerebral hemorrhage. He had
been in a semi i-conscious condition for sew
eral days and this forenoon suffered Sc
we're cerebral hemorrhage.
| At the bedside when the admiral breathed
his last were Mrs. Sampson, Mrs. Lieuten-
ant Cluverius, the sdmrals married daugh-
! ter; Admiral SIMPSONS two young sons,
| Ralph and Harold Sampson; DR.. Dixon, the
attending physician, and nurses and attend
| ants.
Mrs. Sampson has broken down under the
severe strain and was quite III all during
the day But for the critical condition CT
| the admiral she would have been confined
| to her bed.
The arrangements for the funeral Of Ad-
miral Sampson will not be completed until
tomorrow. II has been suggested to Mrs.
Sampson that the Naval cemetery at An
napolis would be a proper place for the
last resting place of the remains. while
other friends have represented to her that
he should be buried in Arlington cemetery,
near this city.
| Will Decide Today,
Admiral Sampson resided in Annapolis
eight years. during four years OF which
! he was superintendent Of the academy
| there. Mrs. Sampson prefers Annapolis.
| but the matter will not be definitely de-
cided until tomorrow.
The pallbearers have not yet been Sc
lected but they will include among them
some Of the captains OF the ships of the
fleet which engaged in the Santiago cam
paign.
Mrs. Sampson suffered a slight accident
four days ago while attending to the wants
of the admiral and has been in bed since.
She probably will not be able to attend the
funeral services.
number OF kilograms and messages OF
coincidence already have been received at
the house. among them one from Secretary
Moody. The death of Admiral Sampson
occurring late in the day, there has been
no opportunity for any action by the Navy
department for participation I'm the funeral
services Suitable representation. how
ever, will be made. including a detachment
Of blue jackets and marines.
! Sketch of His Life.
Rear Admiral William Thomas Sampson
was born in Palmyra, N. Y, February Q
| 1910. being the son OF james and Hanna
Walker Sampson. He entered the naval
academy in 1867 and graduated first in his
class in 1861, at the time when the gov
ernment was graphing with the task OF
equipping a navy to cope with the rebel
lion. At the opening OF hostilities he was
not old enough to attain a command, but
before the close Of his first year in active
service his pluck and gallantry master
of the frigate Potomac won his promotion
TO the rank OF second lieutenant While
holding this commission he served on the
practice ship John Adams, on the Patapsco,
Of the South Atlantic blockading squadron
and on the steam frigate Colorado, flagship
OF the European squadron.
On January 16, 1865, Lieutenant Sampson,
being executive officer OF the ironclad Pa
tapsco, was ordered by the admiral OF
the feet to enter Charleston harbor, before
which the union ships we're doing blocka ie
duty. and remove or destroy all submarine
mines and torpedoes with which the city
was protected from invasion The task was
a most dangerous One, as for many days the
enemy had given all their time and labor
to stocking the water with explosives in
order to repel advance. The little ironclad
had only entered the harbor when TIE bull
lets from the rifles OF the sharpshooters
rained upon 1t. Lieutenant Sampson, stand
ing on the bridge in the most exposed posi-
tion. saw his men fall before the fire with
which they were we'll in range The situa-
tion test OF bravery from which the
young officer did not finch, as he stood a
target for many hundred marksmen. Or
dering his men below he kept his place.
Presently there was was an ominous eesss-
tion OF firing and silence for a few moments,
during which time Patspsco moved de-
liberately forward in its quest. Then came
a mighty explosion as the boat was lifted
into the air by a terrific force from be-
meath. Surrounded by hurling masses Of
water and sheets OF fame other explosions
quickly followed, after which the shattered
ironclad settled down beneath the waves.
Young Omcer Rescued.
The young oficer was rescued about 100
feet from the sunken wreck, where he had
been blown. Twenty ive Of his crew were
being saved at the same time. but seventy
men met their death in the sunken IRON
clad
Admiral Sampson was promoted to lieu
tenant commander in 1866 while on Colo
rado. He was at the naval academy from
1868 to 1871 and on Congress in 1s72-7s.
Having been made commander in 1874, he
was assigned to Alert and from early In
1915 TO the end OF 1878 he was again at
the naval academy. During the last twenty
years he has held various responsible po-
sitions the last being captain Of the battle
ship Iowa, which he Telinquished TO take
command OF the feet at Key West in 1898.
Captain Sampson was an ordnance expert
Of the first order, having made executive
work and the study OF naval science the
absorbing objects OF his career. His knowI-
edge Of modern armoT and armament has
been labaFiously acquired was extensive,
thorough and Of great service to his country
equally with his profound comprehension
Of the use and comparative value OF explo-
sives which kno Sledge represented years
Of hard study and dangerous experiment.
In handling big guns he was in his element.
| While captain Of Iowa, on the Virginia
capes. during target practice. Captain samp-
son appeared TO be the only one on board
who thoroughly enjoyed the performance,
which is not relished by most naval
| peoDle. and to the peaceable laVman with