Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-05-09
REAR ADMIRAL W. T. SAMPSON.
In Forty Years Service He Earned
Rank Among Americas Greatest
Naval Captains.

Rear Admiral William Thomas Samp-
son, G2, L. S. ~, retired, died Tuesday
in Washington from cerebral hemorrhage.
He broke down under the strain imposed
upon him in the Spanish-American war
and for months had been in a feeble con-
dition. In forty years service for his
country. afloat or ashore. in the prepara-
tions of peace and the sterner realities of
two wars, he earned rank among Ameri-
ca s greatest naval captains.
He was born in Palmyra n. Y. of
Scotch-lrish stock. and as a boy showed
his earnestness and capacity for work.
He was a son of a day laborer, and his
appointment in 1857 to the naval academy
at Annapolis was won by merit alone.
He gave signs of future greatness by
graduating at the head of his class in
1851. His most conspicuous act in the
civil war was as executive officer of the
Patapsco, sent into Charleston harbor to
destroy mines and torpedoes. Under a
heavy fire he remained a lone target on
the bridge while he ordered his men be-
low. The Patapsco was blown up by
a torpedo. two-thirds of her men were
killed. and Sampson narrowly escaped.
He served in various positions after the
war, sometimes as commander of war
vessels in foreign waters. sometimes as
instructor in the naval academy, and
eventually as Superintendent of that in
stitution. He was at the head of the
bureaus of fortifcations and naval ord
nance in 1885 and 1856
None had a greater part in the upbuild-
ing Of the new navy than Sampson. He
shared in designing and building the
guns. designing and building the pro-
jectiles designing and building the armor,
placing the batteries on the ships, and
In constructing the ships themselves. He
wrote the drillbook, and shared in drill
ing the crews and the officers. Finally
he commanded the fleet and fought it
through successful war.
II was his great variety of experience
that fitted him for high command during
the Spanish war. and he was
brought into prominence even before war
was declared by appointment as chair
man of the commission to investigate the
destruction OF the Maine. With the open
ing of hostilities. he was given command
of feet as Acting Rear Admiral, and
during the war was in command of all
the vessels of the Atlantic fleet.
The fleet of Admiral Cervera had sailed
from Spain with the purpose Of assailing
exposed ports of the United States. and
there was real dread of a visit from the
Spanish warships. The main duty Of the
commander Of the Atlantic squadron was
TO find and destroy Cervera's vessels.
That object was accomplished at San
tiago. Sampson was in command. He
was temporarily absent during the battle
but arrived on the scene Just at the close
that led to the unfortunate Schley-Samp-
son controversy. President Roosevelt, in
his review of that case, reached a con-
clusion of exact justice Sampson was
in command of the fleet: he had planned
the blockade and issued orders to all ves-
sells governing their movements in the
event of an attempt by Cervera's vessels
to escape from the harbor. No other
orders were issued. The battle was a
captains battle, each captain fighting
with his own ship and receiving no orders
during the battle from either Schley or
Sampson. The controversy undoubtedly
saddened Simpsons later days and prob
ably shortened them, for he began to
break down Immediately after the battle
He had great abilities, and served his
country faithfully for more than forty
years. 1t is worthy of note, moreover,
that, Notwithstanding the bitterness of
feeling engendered by the partisans of
Schley and Sampson, the latter suffered
| from no detractions respecting his naval
career or accomplishments, but on the
contrary had. with rare exceptions, the
| sympathy and support of naval officers.