Figure 1.-- This 1899 photograph shows Admiral William T. Sampson's son Ralph on board the USS New York, posing beside the ship's mascot--Pitch the goat. The cannon was of course ceremonial, but in the backgrond is ine of the main gun turrets. Ralph went on to follow his father in the U.S. Navy. He achieved the rank of Commander. His father became famous for leading a victorious naval battle at Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War (1898). Ralph wears a long pants sailor suit. Notice the saucer-style sailor cap. He looks to be about 10 years old, but was actually 12-years old. Sailor suits were very popular at the time, although not as popular as in Europe. Of course the fashion was natural for an admiral's son. Ralph seems to be getting on well with Pitch.

This 1899 photograph shows Admiral William T. Sampson's son Ralph (1886-1965) on board the armored cruiser USS New York. He is posing beside the ship's mascot--Pitch the goat. His father became famous for leading a victorious naval battle at Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War (1898). The New York served as Admiral Sampson's flagship for the North Atlantic Squadron and Flying Squadron which combined to find and destroy the Spanish naval forces in the Caribbean. Ralph wears a long pants sailor suit. Notice the saucer-style sailor cap. He looks to be about 10 years old. If the photograph is correctly dated, he would be abut 12 year old here. Sailor suits were very popular at the time, although not as popular as in Europe. Age 12 is the upper range for boys wearing sailor suits in America. Of course the fashion was natural for an admiral's son. Ralph seems to be getting on well with Pitch. Ralph went on to follow his father in the U.S. Navy. He achieved the rank of Commander. Ralph's wife was Marjorie L. Sampson (1894-1978).

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Created: 6:49 AM 12/30/2013
Last edited: 7:53 PM 12/30/2013