The Washington times., 1911-08-20
FAMOUS DRUMMER
WILL RETIRE AFTER
YEARS Of SERVICE
Samuel Johnson, of the Ma,
rine Band, Sends in
Resignation. .
THIRTY-THREE YEARS
WITHUNCLE SAM
Is Native of, Washington, and Has
Played at Many Notable
Occasions.

drummer of the United States Marine
Band, ''the Presidents own is to re-
tire from active service. Mr.. Johnson's
resignation already has been filed with
Lieutenant Santelmann, director Of the
band, who in turn has submitted II to
General Biddle, commandant of the Ma
rine Corps. 1t will be forwarded to the
Secretary of the Navy, and thence to
President Taft 1t may be seen by this
route Of procedure Of the resignation Of
Mr.. Johnson, that it isn't as easy .
sever connection from the Marine Band
as might be supposed
When the resignation will take effect,
and Mr.. johnson go on the retired list,
is not known. 1t probably will require
several more weeks before he finally
gets his retirement papers.
Seeks Rest From Labors.
Mr.. Johnson, first class musician and
first drummer Of America s most famous
band, wants to get on the retired list
because his thirty-three years OF SER
vice are beginning to tell on him. he
has served more than twenty-three years
with the Marine Band, and, during that
time has seen the organization grow
from one of forty pieces and a limited
reputation to one having a membership
of seventy odd men, and famed through
out the world.
For twenty-three years, Mr.. Johnson,
as snare and kettle drummer of the or
ganization has travelled throughout the
country, literally beating" his way dur
ing the entire time, He's growing tlreo
of this work, however, and although Ms
appearance is that of man Of thirty
five years, in reality he has passed the
forty-eighth milestone of his career.
Mr.. Johnson has made something OF
a reputation for himself as drum
mer. He doesn't like to talk ABOUT
this. however. His friends say for
him that he can beat tattoo on the
top of a ten-cent piece, and that's
| some drum beating, when II is con-
| sidered that during these days OF
prosperity a silver dime isn't as large
I as it was some years ago.
The dull slow strains OF Choplns
funeral march have been accompanied
by Johnson's drumsticks, while the
! Marine Band, standing with barred
| dent Mckinley, at Canton, Ohio He
was a member of the band when II
played at the wedding of Alice Roose-
Welt and Representative Longworth,
and also when President Cleveland
was married.
The life of the ordinary musician is
far from being devoid of interest and
excitement That of member of the
most famous musical organization IN
the country, is even more so.
Played Under Sousa.
Enlisting with the band when John
Philip Sousa, the March King" was
director, he remained with the or
ganization ten years before getting
his discharge in 1895. Fanciulli was
| director of the organization when his
| term of enlistment expired. Mr.. john
| son had been out Of the organization
| only a short time when the Italian
| leader was placed under arrest while
marching at the head of his band, be-
| cause he refused to have his men
! MIS- q
Corps officers, who had charge Of the
parade. The officers wanted Fam
ciulli to play Sousa marches. This he
refused to do. His arrest followed.
| When Lieutenant Santelmann was
made director of the band in 1898. Mr..
| Johnson re-snlisted, ard has been with
II since that time.
! /As drum instructor for the Marine
Of manipulating the little sticks and the
snare dram to moro youngsters than
probably any other man in the country.
F''r eighteen years, every drummer who
has entered the service. regardless OF
age and former experience, has taken
lessons from him.
There isn't a country in the whcle
world, Mr.. johnson said this morning,
''in which some pupil Of mine cannot
Re found. l never have kept an account
Of the number Of pupils which came un-
der my tutorage. but their number Is
LEGION
When Mr.. Johnson left the band IN
1895. he secured a position with the or
chestra IF the Columbia Theater. Of
| which Mr.. SantelTnanE vas director. ON
the retirement Of FanciTlli from the
service. Lieutenant Santelmann was
made director. Mr. johnson returned to
his former work when this change was
A Native of Washington.
Porn in Southeast Washington in 1865.
Mr.. Johnson has resided in that section
the greater part of that time. In 1915
he entered the service of the Marine
Corps as an apprentice in the muSicat
department. He served a year and elgno
months. when a special discharge was
given him. After remaining out OF Ine
!, service six months, he re-enlisted. this
| time staying eight wears, one montn anu
eleven days. After serving ms appreli-
ticeship, he made several trips 10 sea:
he saw service on the NOR norm Quasi Or
Mr. Johnson has been present and par
ticipated in some of the most celebrated
musical entertainme ever gwen IN
America. He has been nrSt ,n,rsT nruinrreI
| rerenronies since Clevelands first 1naug-
: uration: nj the Cle-eland and Roose-
. ycIt-I ongwortn weddings. the 81 LOUIS
t Worlds Fair; and the various o,neI, me, =.
2 positions since that time. as well as
hundreds of state functions;
I Lieutenant Santelmann this morning
paid an unusually high tribute 70 MT.
; Johnson, both as musician and as
man. -.
Nothing too good can be said or
Johnson" said the leader of the Un1teo
' States Marine Band. During my long
r experiences with this and other oanos'
3 have failed to find more ideal mu-
4 sician. :. ,oo,.,, q.
too soon Notwithstanding ne mas
@ served three years beyond the reIr
ing age he is still a leader IN MS
, class But we can't expect more from
Johnson than he has given.
"I am fond of Johnson. He IS one
of the finest soldiers have ever
known. In appearance, he Is neat; ne
is ALWAYS on time; ALWAYS wants 70
DO his best, and always does his eesG
''It will be a great loss to the pano
when he goes There isn't a man IN
the organization who Will not regret
, his departure They will feel MS loss
as I will. 1t will be hard to nnd
3 man 10 replace him. He served MS
apprenticeship with many men VINO
!, later became leading figures In the
g military world. They have the highest
regard for Johnson.
EVERY one who knows Johnson,
I loves him: every one holds him in the
. highest regard AS a musician. he is
at the head of his class. As q man, he