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LEFT SAMP 223 SAMSON with food, clothing, tents, utensils, etc. They number about 17,000. SAMP, an article of food consisting of maize, broken or bruised, which is cooked by boiling, and often eaten with milk; a dish borrowed from the aborigines of the United States. SAMPHIRE, the Crithmum mariti- mum, an umbelliferous plant, very succu- lent, pale green, with bi-triternate leaves and lanceolate fleshy leaflets. It grows wild along the sea-coast of Europe, and where it abounds it is used by the inhabi- tants as a pickle, or an ingredient in salads, or as a potherb. SAMPLER, a pattern or model of work; a specimen; particularly, a piece of needle-work sewed by learners, con- taining specimens of various kinds of stitches. Also one who apportions things into samples for inspection; as, a tea sampler. SAMPSON, WILLIAM THOMAS, an American naval officer; born in Palmyra, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1840. He attended the public schools of his native town, and in 1857 entered the United States Naval Academy, from which he was graduated in 1861, and was assigned to duty on the frigate "Potomac." On July 16, 1862, he was promoted lieutenant and assigned to the practice ship "John Adams." In 1864 he was appointed executive officer of the ironclad "Patapsco," of the South Atlan- tic Blockading Squadron, and which was blown up in Charleston harbor Jan. 15, 1865, while he was on board. After serv- ing on the frigate "Colorado," of the European squadron, he was promoted lieutenant-commander July 25, 1866 ; com- mander Aug. 9, 1874; and captain, March 26, 1889. Subsequently he was superin- tendent of the United States Naval Acad- emy; a member of the International Prime Meridian and Time Conference; superintendent of the Torpedo Station; member of a board on fortifications and other defenses; chief of the Bureau of Naval Ordnance; superintendent of the Naval Observatory; a delegate from the United States to the International Mari- time Conference in Washington; and president of the Board of Inquiry on the "Maine" disaster. On March 24, 1898, he was appointed commander of the North Atlantic squadron, succeeding Rear-Ad- miral Sicard, with the rank of rear- admiral. On June 1 he joined Commodore Winfield S. Schley, commander of the "Flying Squadron," off Santiago de Cuba, and took command of the combined squad- rons, which included 16 warships. When it was known that the Spanish fleet under command of Admiral Cervera was block- aded in the harbor of Santiago, Admiral Sampson prepared a plan of operations for his fleet, to check any attempt at es- cape that Cervera might make. In as- signing places for his different ships, he stationed the "New York," his own flag- ship, and the "Brooklyn," on which Com- modore Schley was serving, on the two flanks, as these were the fastest ships in the fleet. When the Spanish vessels made their dash out of Santiago harbor, ADMIRAL WILLIAM THOMAS SAMPSON Admiral Sampson was absent from the fleet with the "New York," having gone to Siboney for a conference with General Shafter. The "New York" turned back and rejoined the fleet, arriving just in time to participate in the last engagement, which had thus been fought by Com- modore Schley as second in command. Admiral Sampson was promoted rear- admiral on Aug. 12, 1898; appointed com- mander of the Boston navy yard on Oct. 14, 1899; and was relieved of this com- mand, owing to ill health, Oct. 1, 1901. On Feb. 9, 1902, Admiral Sampson was retired, and he died the same year. SAMSON, in Scripture, the son of Ma- noah, of the tribe of Dan. He was en- dowed with extraordinary strength and