Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/285

Rh as at Manila, was steady and accurate, furnishing one more proof of the value of careful, continuous practice. By 1.20 p. M. the entire Spanish fleet had been completely destroyed or sunk. The flag- ship "New York" was not able to get within effective firing distance until most of the Spanish ships had been driven ashore. Sampson did arrive in time, however, to receive the sword of Admiral Cervera. On our side there was but 1 man killed and only 10 were wounded ; the vessels them- selves suffered no material injury. The lo.ss of the enemy was about 850 killed and drowned and 160 wounded: Cervera, about 70 oflicers, and 1,600 men were taken prisoners.

On 6 July, in consequence of an order from the president, Sampson, who was slightly ill, sent his chief of staff to confer with Shafter for co-oiKjra- tion in taking Santiago. .s a result it was deter- mined that, in ca-sc a second demand for surrender should be refused, the fleet should bombard the city on the 0th. If this should not prove sufflcient the marines and t^uban forces were to storm the Socapa battery and the smaller vessels were to at- tempt to enter the harbor. On the 10th and 11th the fleet kept up a continuous liombardmcnt. A truce was arranged on the 12th, and negotiations for surrender of the city l)egan. Admiral Samiison sent his chief of staff to demand that he be one of the signatories to the articles of capitulation, in view of the joint action of army ami navy, but Gen. Shafter declined to |)ermit this. The' most dangerous work was now over; there foll<>we<l, however, duties none the less arduous and exacting. Sampson was appointed, with Major-tiens. .lames F. Wade and Matthew C. Kutler, a conimi.ssioner to arrange the details of the evacuati(m of Cuba. Reiiatriation of the Spanish trrwps, disposition anu control of the public offices of the island, and many trifling and annoying details, as well as mat- ters of greater moment, occupied the whole time of the commission until 1 Jan., IHitO. when (ien. .limi- ncz Castellanos, who had succeeded (ien. Blanco a-s captain-general, formally turned over the citv of Havana and the island to the American commis.sion- ers, who in turn resigned them into the hands of Gen. John K. Brooke, niilitarv governor of Cuba.

Following his duties in this connection there cfame the cares of an extended cruise in VVest In- dian waters during the late winter and the spring of 1809. Sampson then returned to the United States on the ordinary duties of the ofTicer in com- mand of the fleet, and in his ollicial capacity at- tendc<l the export exposition that was opened in Philadelphia in Septcml)cr, 18!»n, and took part also in the reception extended to Admiral Dewey by the cjtv of New York on the arrival of the latter from the i'hilipi.ines. 20 and :«) Sept.. 1899. Samp- son's services in the West Indian naval campaign were fully recognized by the administration. An unfortunate alten'ation touching the relative merit of A<iminil Schley and of Sampson in the cam- paign and in the battle olT Santiago, which was carried on in congress and in the public press by the over-zealous friends and partisans of the two officers, prevented the action by congress that would have been proper in the case, and left with- out reward the entire body of officers and men that participated in the campaign. Sampson re- ceived the formal thanks of the president for his services, and in the autumn of 1899 the state of New Jersey presented him with a jewelled sword of honor. In October, 1899, the admiral assumed command of the Boston navy-yard.

In person he is tall, slender, erect, well bnilt ; a broad, full forehead, dark and clear eyes, a sharp nose, thin iron-gray hair, and a closely trimmed beard mark a countenance of singular beauty. His manner indicates a man of quiet repose, self-con- trol, and dignity. He is a lover of books and study, but by no means a recluse, for he takes an active interest in physical exercises and pastimes. The famous battle-ship " Oregon," popularly known as the "queen of the American navy," which made the remarkable vojagc from San Francisco in 1898 of 13,000 miles, on an average of 200 miles a day. arriving just in season to join Admiral Sampson's fleet, and played so prominent a part in the sea-flght at Santiago, is seen in the accompanying illustration.

SAMSON, Simeon, naval ofTicer, b. in Kings- ton, Mass., 24 Aug., 1736; d. in Plympton, Mass., 22 June, 1789. In the beginning of the Hevolution- ary war the provincial committee of Massachusetts appointed him its first naval commander, and placed him in charge of the brig "Independence," uilt under his direction at Kingston, Mass. The pay-roll begins 17 April, 1776. In this vessel he captured five important prizes but in the spring of 1776 was himself captured near Annapolis, Nova Scotia, by Capt. Dawson, after a severe en- gagement ; at the most critical moment several men deserted their guns, and Samson ran his sword through the bodies of three, one being his 3d lieutenant. Dawson complimented Samson's courage and restored his sword, which is still to be .seen in Pilgrim hall, Plymouth. After his re- lease from Fort Cumberland, Halifax, Samson was appointed, !i Aug., 1777. to the brig " Hazard," belonging to the state of JIassachusetts. and 11 May,. he was promoted to the ship " Mars," a large vessel in which he fought several battles, and car- ried despatches and one of our ministers to France. In the "Mars" he captured the British flag-ship "Trial." He retired from the navy, 12 March,. with very scanty means, owing to the impov- erished slate of the country. In 1788 he disposed of his house in Plymouth and retired to a farm in Plympt<m. His grave is on Burying Hill, Plym- outh. It was said of him: "Few naval command- ers stood higher in the public esteem; few men were more respected for the domestic virtues." He was a great -erandson of Miles Standish.

SANCHKZ KEY, Natteo, Italian adventurer. He was born in Italy in the sixteenth century. He was of .Spanish narentage, went to New Gra- nada in 1521, helped to erect the fortress of Cu- mami. and afterward defended it valiantly against the natives. After taking part in many military exploits he enlisted under Hodriguez de Bastidas for the conquest of Santa Marta. When the latter was attacked by his soldiers, whose cruelty toward the Indians he tried to restrain, Sanchez was one of the foremost in saving him from assassination. He held military commands under the subsequent governors in all the expeditions agaiii.st the na- tives, and was one of the first conquerors of Vallc- Dupar, and of the banks of the Magdalena. He