Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-08
Mayor Sam, CossC ck-Amerjca1a,
Is u. $. Boss of Siberian Town
: Fought in South America,
Grew Rich in Hawaii, Won
Carnegie Medal and Is
Now Back at Home

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
IN SIBERIA.-The outstanding fig
ure of the A. e. +. in Siberia is
Major Samuel I. Johnson, provost
marshal in a Siberian village.
Johnson : real name. He
was born in a tent few thousand
miles to the west of Vladivostok,
near the Don river. His father was
Cossack chief. Major Sam, as he is
called oyer here, was educated in q
Russian military academy and join
ed the Russian army. While john
son was q midshipnan the training
ship put in at New York. Johnson
quarreled with ahis superior officer
Vore brutality to the men and fin
ished the argument by striking him.
There was nothing for Major Sam to
Go but leave without permission.
Within a few days he shipped on
a merchantman bound Tor South
America and landed in Argentine
just in time to get in tie thick of
a revolution. He went into the Ar
Gentine army rs private and be-
came a first Lieutenant shortly be-
fore he Was wounded. He received
two decorations After the revolu-
ton Major Sam went to Hawaii.
The monarchy was tumbling. Ma
ior Sam joined the American army.
1t was here that the recruiting Off
Ger, who could neither pronounce
nor spell his Russian name subSti-
tuted Johnson.
Rises Espidly in u. S. Service
Major Johpson's abby was so
pronounced that he arose to brlga-
der general of the Hawaii national
commission by the president.
On the outbreak of war with Ger
many he resigned his commission as
a brigadier general to be major
in the regular army
In Honolulu Major Johnson made
and lost a fortune. He was we'll
on his way to second fortune when
he gave up his work to enter the
overseas forces. One forest fire cost
him a million dollars so he shifted
his interest TO plantations.
He has shot big game in India.
the Straits Settlement and South
America. He no Is all records for
rife and revolver shooting and has
81 campaign medals.
J. was talking one moon with
the generals son, Major Sidney
Graves, when Major Johnson enter
ed the room.
"How's your eye today" asked
lHG yOuIulul MdJOl o-INGS bdIlSI-
ngly.
johnson did not rerly but there
was one movement OF his hand and
an instant later the cigarette which
Major Graves had been smoking
was neatly Clipped off by a bullet.
At ~ NJ JON ION won the
championship for long distance
swimming in Hawaii, covering %
miles. He was captain of the cham
pion football team at As and play
cd a back position.
When nine lnen were stranded in
bark off the coast Of Honolulu in
typhoon, Major Johnson took Il
line, slid down a precipice which
the life guards said couldn't be
scaled and saved the seamen. He
was given a Carnegie medal for this
feat.
Major Johnson has a son who, at
Is, is e.-.Iibiting an inheritance Of
his fathers adventuresome spirit.
He walked into h. theirs office III
December and nonchalantly an
nounced. Hello, dad, l just thought
I'd come over and spend Christmas
with you"
Influenza had closed the boys
school in San Francisco and he had
shipped as a steward on a trans
port bound for Vladivostok Major
johnson wanted to send him back
as passenger but he said he would
take the money instead.