One of the most controversial figures of the Spanish-American War is
represented in the Museum's collection of some of the silver that was
presented to Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley.[26] Schley became a
national hero primarily because of his genial personality, and he was
acclaimed and supported by the masses of the American public even while
his claims to fame were being challenged by his colleagues.
Admiral Schley had already had a long and illustrious naval career
before the outbreak of the war with Spain. After his graduation from the
Naval Academy in 1860, he served on board the frigate _Niagara_ when it
was detailed to bring to the United States the first representatives
from Japan to this country. As a junior naval officer he took part in
the Civil War engagements leading up to the capture of Port Hudson. Then
followed a period with sea duty and alternate posts ashore at the Naval
Academy and elsewhere. During this period he took part in the capture of
some Korean forts in 1871, and later he commanded the relief expedition
that rescued the Arctic explorer Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greeley and six
of his companions near Cape Sabine, when they were near death, and
brought them safely home after a perilous voyage through 1,400 miles of
ice.
The controversial period of Schley's career began with his appointment
to command the Flying Squadron, stationed at Hampton Roads at the
opening of the Spanish-American War, with the arrangement that should
his squadron operate with the Atlantic Squadron in the West Indies, he
would be under its senior officer, William T. Sampson. Since Sampson was
junior to Schley in rank, this led to the famous Sampson-Schley
controversy of the war. Despite his orders to blockade Santiago
immediately, Schley took his time getting there with his squadron, and
then he failed to establish a close blockade. During the month-long
blockade in which the two squadrons were joined, matters were strained
between the commands. Sampson was in conference about seven miles east
of Santiago when the Spanish fleet finally emerged from the harbor.
Schley immediately seized full command of the battle despite Sampson's
proximity and his prompt return to action.
The press, probably influenced by his likable personality, made a hero
of Schley, but his fellow naval officers felt differently. A court of
inquiry held in 1901 found Schley to be at fault, but despite this
decision he retained his public popularity, a tribute to his affability
and bluff, hearty manner.
The many pieces in the Museum's collection of presentation silver given
to Schley not only attest the recipient's popularity but seem to express
the poor taste, debased design, and stereotyped workmanship that was
characteristic at the beginning of the 20th century.
Not just one presentation piece but an entire silver service was made
from Spanish coins recovered from the _Cristobal Colon_ that was sunk at
Santiago. The original service consisted of 69 pieces, of which the
Museum has the table centerpiece, soup tureen and ladle, fish platter,
and a vegetable dish (cat. 39554).
The centerpiece, measuring 14 by 30 by 8 inches, is designed with a
circular base holding four classical female figures. On each side of the
base is a shallow silver dish shaped like a seashell and supported by
dolphins. A shield on one side of the base bears the following
inscription:
This service made of Spanish coins recovered from the _Cristobal
Colon_ sunk in the battle off Santiago de Cuba July 3, 1898 is
presented to Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley by his friends in
loving appreciation of his heroic services to his country.
An eagle ornaments the opposite side of the base.
The covered oval soup tureen (7 inches by 13-1/4 inches; cat. 39555)
bears the same inscription as the centerpiece and is marked "S. Kirk &
Son Co." The cover, monogrammed "W S S," has a rather effective design
of overlapped laurel leaves with clusters of berries. The ladle (14
inches long; cat. 39556) is monogrammed "W S S" on the bowl (4 inches in
diameter), and it has the same design as the tureen.
The fish platter (25 inches by 13 inches; cat. 39557) is similar to the
tureen in design. The oval vegetable dish (11 inches by 15-1/4 inches;
cat. 39558) is also similar and is inscribed the same way, including the
mark of "S. Kirk & Son Co."
An elaborate silver centerpiece given to Admiral Schley in Memphis,
Tennessee, in 1902 consists of a bowl, vase, and candelabra made to be
fitted into one unit (fig. 15). The large bowl (20 inches by 6 inches)
is chased in marine designs and bears the following inscriptions:
Presented to Winfield Scott Schley, Admiral U.S.N. in recognition
of his services in destroying the Spanish Fleet off Santiago de
Cuba, July 3, 1898.
Twenty-thousand American citizens join in honoring valor, fidelity
to duty and a lofty generosity that exemplified the sublimest
manhood. Memphis, Tennessee, April 28, 1902.
There is glory enough for All.
The silver vase (32 inches high) is made to fit into the bowl, and it
has a portrait of Admiral Schley on one side and a picture of his
flagship, the _Brooklyn_, on the other. Each end of the bowl is fitted
with a socket to hold a three-branch silver candelabra, and there are
two solid blocks of silver for insertion in the sockets when the
candelabra are not being used. These pieces are marked "Sterling" but no
maker's mark is visible.
A silver card (cat. 39518), measuring 3-1/4 inches by 5-1/2 inches, that
was presented to Schley at a dinner given in his honor is engraved as
follows:
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, U.S.N. The Commercial club of
Kansas City, Mo., November 19, 1902.
The turn of the century marks the beginning of the popularity of loving
cups as presentation pieces. There are four loving cups in the Admiral
Schley collection.
The earliest of these cups bears the following inscription:
Presented to Rear Admiral W. S. Schley by the citizens of Atlanta
Georgia, November 4, 1899.
This cup (cat. 39571), 9 inches in diameter and 14-1/2 inches in depth,
is shaped like a vase and is decorated with a scroll design. Each of its
three handles is attached to the cup with two applied silver oak leaves.
The piece is marked "Maier & Berkley, Atlanta, Georgia, Sterling,
385,16."
[Illustration: Figure 15.--CENTERPIECE GIVEN TO Adm. Winfield Scott
Schley in Memphis, Tennessee, for his services in Cuba during the
Spanish-American War. Part of the Schley collection, gift of Mrs. R. S.
Wortley. In Division of Naval History. (Acc. 136891, cat. 39548;
Smithsonian photo 45992-G.)]
Another silver cup with three handles was presented to Schley on
February 5, 1902, by the Chamber of Commerce and the citizens of
Knoxville, Tennessee, in recognition of his services during the
Spanish-American War. This cup (cat. 39573) has the mark of the Gorham
Silver Company and the words "Sterling, A 2219, 6 pints."
The silver loving cup given to Admiral Schley by the City of Dallas
reflects the exuberance of the Texas donors as well as the taste of the
turn of the century. It bears the following inscription:
Presented to Winfield Scott Schley, Rear Admiral, U.S.N. A token
of the Affectionate Regard and Grateful Appreciation of the City
of Dallas, Texas, For His Illustrious Achievements in the Service
of our Country, October 20, 1902.
This cup (cat. 39572) measures 8 inches in diameter and 21 inches in
depth. The three handles terminate in eagles' heads. The design pictures
a battleship in gold identified as the "U.S.S. Oregon," a head and
laurel wreath with the words "U.S.S. Brooklyn," and an eagle and a star
in a wreath for the "U.S.S. Texas." The base of the cup is decorated
with three Texas longhorns with an anchor and shield. It bears the marks
of the Gorham Silver Company.
The fourth loving cup (cat. 39538) is made of vanadium steel rather than
of silver. This too is a three-handled cup. It measures 7 inches in
diameter and 12-1/2 inches in depth and is decorated with the emblem of
the Masonic Order of the Mystic Shrine and the following inscriptions:
Presented to Noble Winfield Scott Schley by Syria Temple,
A.A.O.N.M.S. November 20, 1909.