The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-05-15

wore his most attractive feature, lie
unbent only among his intimates, and
then he was jolly and companionable.
He looked more like student than q
fighting man, although he was fine
specimen of the American sailor when
he was in uniform. He was fond OF
society and participated in the gayeties
OF Washington while he lived there.
| SampsOn's career was remarkable,
even in this country where poor boys
become great men 80 frequently. He
was born IN Palmyra, Wayne County,
N. T., on February 8, 1910. Palmyra
Is the town where Joseph Smith claim
ed to have dug up the Mormon bible or
book of the Latter Day Saints. When
poy young Sampson lived in q most
humble home near Bible Hill. Ills
lather was common laboror who
worked by the day and aroupd the
yIllage at Whatever he could find to do
,le aug gardens and trenches, moved
l""hs, attended carpenters and masons,
ana old all manner Of work for small
""gcs. lhe family was very poor.
1ouhg Sampson, who was the eldest
ol elRht children. was sent to the viii
iage school. After school he helncd
ms father. There are many people in
ialmyra now who remember when tho
tall' grave young fellow dug in the
street beside his father.
LII 1SoI Representative E. B. Nor
gam OF The Wayne County district, had
vacancy at Annapolis. He Offered
the place to several Of the wen-to. do
boys Of the district. They all refused
It, Then somebody spoke of young
sampson, the son of the village laborer.
VINO was recommended to Mr.. Morgan
as an honest, upright and Intelligent
young man struggling to get along
under the most adverse circumstances.
Mr.. Morgan asked Sampson If he would
like to go to Annapolis.
The proposition was so far beyond
anything OF which Sampson had ever
dreamed that he said himself IN after
life that he did not believe MIR, Mor-
gan was in earnest.
lie gladly accepted, went TO the
naval academy and graduated first in
his class. He was made second
lieutenant III 1862 and served on the
practice ship John Adams. From the
> Ohm Adams he went to the patapsco.
lie was lieutenant and executive of
ilcer of that ship when she was sunk
by torpedo in Charleston harbor IN
January, 1868.
lie was made a lieutenant COM
mander In 1866, and was inslrucr or at
the naval academy from 1865 to 1871.
lie served on the Congress IN 1872 and
1873, and in 1874 was made a C. M
mander and assigned to the Alert.
From 1876 TO 1873 he was again a, the
naval academy, and in 1886 after vari-
GUS tours duty on shore and sea he was
made superintendent of the naval ac-
ademy while still commander.
Before that time no one below the
rank of captain hau held that Office.
lie received his captains commission
IN 1889 and in 1893 became chief of
the bureau of ordnance.
When the Maine was blown up in
Havana harbor and President Me-
kinley decided on court of inquiry,
Captain Sampson was chosen both by
the president and by Secretary Long
to be president of the court. lie re.
turned TO Washington with the report
and was almost Immediately placed in
command of the North Atlantic neeL,
supersedlng Rear Admiral Sicard. lie
was in command during all The opera
tlons in West Indian waters. After
his loturn to Washington he was placed
Ill charge of the Boston navy yard
where he remained until his health
failed.