The National tribune. [volume], March 17, 1898, Page 4, Image 4

About The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
THE NATIONAL -TRIBUNE WASHINGTON, D. (L THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1898.
Tp JlflTioHflit Thibiwe.
(ESTABLISHED 1877.)
PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
ONE DOLLAR PER YEA,
INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
UIoiip.v tout us otherwise than by rcffKterai letter,
pctUI money order, .-iiress order, or draft on 2s"ew
York. ill bo at the rWc of the sender.
Acnl. Tk Xatioxai. TitinrNK has many
o"ti:iteor ranvasers. ami they are generally honest
and faithAil : Lut persons who confide their subscrip
tions to them must be their own judges of their
res3usilri:ity. The pai?r will be sent only on the
rcrl t or Ui3 s:Hnp:io.i prie?.
A!iltTx.e.. Renewals etc. Addresses will be
changed as often a !tsiretl, but each subscriber
should i:i every case give the old as well as new
address.
'orre.ioin!onet. Corresimndence is solicited
fromeveirs-wiion in regard to Grand Army, tons of
Veterans 1'eiHoii, and Mili'ary matter--, and letters
to ihp Editor will always roc ive prompt attention.
AVnte on oxk mij: of -lie paper only. We do not
return roinmnnientioiia or manuscripts unless they
are ace nspan cd by a request to tha effect and the
nwrssnry pong, nnl nader no circumstances gnar
antrctkrir publication at any special date.
Address all commit .i -atioas to
7FJ: NATIONAL TRIBUNE, Washington, "D- C.
LNTIREO AT WASKINCTON FOSTCFFICE ASSCCOND-CIASS MATTER.
The JiflTioHBit Tribute
JOHN McELKOY, ROBERT W. SHOPPELL,
BYRON ANDREWS.
WASHINGTON, D. C, MARCH 17, 1S9S.
In the eve of a soldier-hater, the four
deserters in every 100 soldiers occupy a
much larger space than the 9G men who
bravely and faithfully did their duty.
- If the manhood of the country during
the war was such as the Mugwumps try
to make out, we do not wonder that
they are glad to be mistaken for Eng
lishmen. It is certainly cheaper to lay flowers
on a soldier's grave, after he is dead,
than, to pay him a decent pension while
living. But the cheapest thing is
scarcely ever the right thing. Else it
would not be so cheap.
TnE hopes that have been entertained
in Europe that the South was ready to
take advantage of any external strain
upon us .to 'renew the effort to break
away have been pretty effectually dashed
by the vote for the 850,000,000 ap
propriation. o
"Why is it none of the soldier-haling
papers can be induced to publish any
. figures sivinpc .the enormous losses of the
..war, which will show the reason of the
bigness of the pension roll ? These are
very accessible to aujone who chooses to
look for them.
"We have Cuba surrounded by war
ships commanded by men and manned
bv men who are only too eairer to set a
-chance at Spanish war-vessels. Each of
them have had his eves fixed on some
Spanish ship .that he regards as his
vessel's particular " meat." The instant
that war is declared, there will be a race
to get at their prey, and probably five or
six Spanish vessels will be captured be
fore Spain can get an opportunity to
yell "enough," and offer us peace on
any terms.
The war will prdbably be astonish- i
ingly short. Itr -may not last longer
than the famous " sexen da's war " be
tween Prussia and Austria, in I860.
Spain will be attacked, at once at 50
-points in irresistible force, and will be
begging for peace in 10 days after the
declaration of war.
A few years ago the, opposition was
"to paying pensions to "young men who
are still in the vigor of life." low it is
to " paying pensions to men who have
waited 30 years to find out that they
have disabilities." The pension-hater
is one who was never satisfied with the
Union soldieis, no matter what they did.
If they attacked the enemy, and drove
him, at fearful cost of life to themselves,
they were "butchers." If they lay
quiet in camp, they were having "a
military picnic, at the cost of the tax
payers." Si'Aix lias neither of the two great
requisites of modern naval warfare:
Cash ai:d coal. She has no money to
buy new ships, nor to properly fit out
tilose that she has, and if she could fit
them out their cruises would be short on
account of a lack of coal. What little
the has this side of the Atlantic would
speedily be in our hands, while her war
ships would exhaust all that they can
carry before they got in fighting distance
of our ships.
The commander of the Montgomery
has acted wiselv in not allowing his
men to go ashore in liabana. A squad
of them might wander off and lick a
brigade or two of the Spanish army,
f justjby way of haying "fun on shore."
THE TIME OF CRXIXG NEED.
It is inexplicably stupid that the
pe.ople cannot understand that now is
the time when the pension roll should be
largely increased, and that with all pos
sible rapidity.
Pensions vere granted because men
needed them to make good in so far as
money could the ravages of war.
Pensions were granted because the
Nation recognized that honor and justice
demanded that it should make this
return to the men who had been injured
in its service.
Therefore, pensions should be allowed
when those men feel most keenly the
need of this" outside assistance, and when
their hurts and disabilities are most
urgently manifest.
The fact that those men have not
heretofore been granted pensions, or
have, not applied for them should operate
stronirlv in their favor.
They have proudly and patriotically
tried to get along without assistance
from the Government. The Govern
ment has saved inconceivable millions
from this spirit of the veterans, and
should manifest its appreciation of the
fact by promptness and liberality to
day, when the pressure of rapidly-increasing
infirmities compels the veterans
to relinquish their position and ask for
justice.
As sacredly binding' as any human
debt can be is that Tjf the Nation " to
care for him who hath borne the heat
and burden of the battle, and for his
widow and orphans." The time to
make that payment is when it is
needed. That it has not been needed
in some cases. so far forms no earthiv
sort of an argument against doing it
when it is leally needed. The debt of
the pension was incurred when the sol
dier faithfully perfofmed his duly
the field, to his own bodily detriment.
in
To deny him payment when hi
nc-
cessities are crying loudest is not only
rank injusUqp, and a dishonor to the
Government, but -a shameful cruelty.
To put off p:vyment for the sake of
economy until the number of pensioners
is greatly reduced, is simply ineffable
meanness. It is something, that should
not be thought of by a
much lets spoken of. .-
great Nation,
Tinr-,8.iy;on3,doo-.ivi,iKOPKiA.Tiox.
Congress has never done a prouder
thing for the American people than the
appropriation, br a unanimous vote, of
$50,000,000 for the use of the Presi
dent in providing for the National de
fense. .
Itwasamonumenlal, an epoch-making
act. Nothing like it ever occurred be
fore in parliamentary history. It was
the greatest peace demonstration ever
made, for it will hereafter rise up as a
deterring vision whenever any Nation
is templed to try our patience too fLr.
Writers and philosophers have so far
alleged against republican forms of
Government that they are unable to act
in emergencies with the promptness,
decision, and solidarity of monarchies.
This demonstration effectually disproves
that No monarchy in the world could
rise as instantly and unanimously to the
level of the emergency .as our country
has. The act of Congress showed
ihat the whole power and resources
of this mighty Ration are completely
at the command of the President to
be hurled, if necessary, with irresisti
ble force upon any object desired to be
gained. Jt wa3 a demonstration of
power that no other Nation on earth
could withstand. Back of that $50,
000,000 stands $(55,000,000,000 of
property that can be devoted to the
same purpose, if need be, as back of our
little Regular Army of 25,000 men
stand 13,000,000 young men ready and
willing to respond to the President's call.
No two of the Empires of Europe can
hope to cope successfully with such
power wielded solidly by a single hand,
which can become more absolute than
any despot's when executing the wishes
of the people.
The prestige of our country was thus
increased immeasurably among- the
peoples of the earth. Ve have at once
gained a moral power and influence
that are beyond any description.
All true Americans are proud of
the valor and fortitude shown by the
young men of this country when called
forth by the terrible exigencies of the
rebellion. The degenerate Mugwumps,
on the other hand, and other lewd fellows
of the baser sort, are mainly anxious to
prove that when the Nation called for
manhood our young men showed them
selves degraded, cowardly mercenaries,
who could scarcely be forced into a
fight.
THE DESTRUCTION OF .THE MAINE.
These facts Eeem to be now generally
accepted :
1. The Maine was blown up from the
outside. The force was so great that
pieces of the enormous keel were driven
far up into the hull.
2. So great a force could not be ex
erted by any mere torpedo lanched by
some irresponsible fanatic
3. It could not have been done by
one submarine mine, even, of the .large;
est type known to naval .warfare. .It
must have been more than ono mine.
4. This implies at once unusual pre
paration, unusual facilities at command,
unusual technical skill, and a consider
able number of men involved, with a
corresponding knowledge of the facts
among a large circle of able and
educated men.
The inference of participation tof
n
lUficiiucii iiavui uiiiLuic. in ill. uuiuuuvity kjl
authorities, either naval or" municipal,
seems unavoidable.
The report is current in "Washington
that at a meeting of the Cabinet the
alleged actions of the Commissioner of
Pensions in furnishing ammunition' to
the soldier-hating papers "was taken up,
and it was decided to admonish him.
The veterans do not care how. many
fV.ct Iir gives the papers, if lie will only
give
facts. Ilathcr. they are anxious
for
him to give all the facts, and not
half-facts, and utterly misleading state
ments. The veterans have no fear of
the truth in regard to the pension roll.
The National Tribune .Thas repeat
edly importuned the Commissioner of
Pensions to make public undeniable
facts in his possession which' would com--pletely
vindicate- the pensioners. For'
reasons of his own he has clioccn not to
do this. It is alleged that he is in l)ic
hands of a little ring in the Pension
Bureau, inherited from Lnchren, and
which does not know that Cleveland is"
lio longer President of the United
States.
Foil the week ending March Vi,
Commissioner Evaiy? made 1,000 origi -
mil allowances. For the corresponding
week of last year Commissioner Mur
phy allowed 994, and for the corre
sponding week of 1S92 -.Commissioner
Haum allowed 4,785.
. it
The Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot shows
no let-up in its bitter war against the
pensioners. It will be remembered that
the Patriot was such a virulent Copper
head during the war that it was several
times threatened with suppression. . It
was a constant aggravation to the hun
dreds of thousands of grand, patriotic
men which Penns) lvauia sent to the
war.
The rapidity with which this country
is being put into condition of defensive
ness is an instructive spectacle to Europe-,
ans. Any fleet that would attempt to
bombard one of our seaports 'to-day,
would have a frightful bill for repairs,.
even if the assault did not .last 15 min
utes. Some idiots of the -Mugwump variety
are talking of settling with Spain" on the
basis of an indemnity of $10,000,000.
That is the bight of the ridiculous. The
actual money,loss in, the Maine was over
$5,000,000, which is insignificant in
comparison to the loss of the lives of 2j56'
of our neople, and the affront to ourNa
tional honor.' The purely 'monetary
feature of the transaction should not be
settled for less than $100,000,000. . .
PESONRIi.
Maj. Win. O. Howe, whom the San Fran
cisco papers describe as tin "eccentric
Veteran," has gotten himself into trou
ble. He lives with his family on a small
island in Suisun I3ay, about HO rnUcs
from San Francisco. When the ntnv.s
came that M. A. Uanna had been elected
Senator from Ohio, Howo became very
indignant, and wrote to Secretary Sher
man declaring that lie could no longer
remain a citizen of this country, and
would hecede with his island from its
jurisdiction. Lyon Post, G.A.R., of Oak
land, to which Howe belongs, regard this
a treason, and they have organized a
court-martial to try Howe,who declares
that he will fight the case.
The 25lh anniversary of Col. Pi T. Wood
fin's assumption of the oilice of Governor
of the National Soldiers' Home at Hamp
ton was appropriately celebrated in the
presence of a large aTidience at the Opera
House at Norfolk, Va. A feature of
special interest was the presentation to
Co). Wood fin of a beautifully-engrossed set
of resolutions in honor of his long service,
the presentation address be'ng made by
Capt. Hardcnbrook, of Fortress Monroe.
Col. Wood fin went to Hampton in 1873, suc
ceeding Gen. Hinek as Governor of the
Home.
Capt. F. D. Hadley, Des Moines, Iowa,
has written an able paper on the battle of
Cedar Creek, which he read before the
Loyal Legion of Iowa, and has reproduced
in pamphlet form. Its purpose is to tell
the true story of the battle, and defend the
Eighth Corps against some of the strictures
that have been made upon that splendid
organization.
A very strong movement is developing in
California to make U. S. Grant United
States Senator.
f& $
AST
Veterdh
CITAPTER XVIII.
The Deacon Continues to Acquire Volumos
of Military Experience.
With the Deacon's assistance, the chininoy
was soon rebuilt, better than ever, and sev
eral homelike improvements were added.
The lost untensils were also replaced, one $y
one. The Deacon was sometimes troubled :i
little iu his mind jib to where the pan, the
camp-kettle, eta, came from. Si "or Shorty
would simply bring in one of them, with a
sigh of satisfaction, and add it; to the. house
hold stock. The Deacon was afraid to aslc
any questions.
One day, however, Shorty came in in a
glow of excitement, with a new ax iu his
.hand.
"There; isn't she a daisy." he said, hold
'ing it up and testing the edgo with his thumb.
-" Xonc o' 3'our old sledges with no more edge
than a maul, that you have to nigger tho
wood ofi" with. Brand new, and got an edge
like a razor. You kin chop wood with thar,
1 tell you."
"It's a tolerable good ax. Wuth about 10
oirs," sam me jjeacon, examining tne ax
critically. " Last ax I bought from OL
Taylor cost V.l bits. It was a better one.
How inuch'd you give for this? J Ml pay it
myself."
" Do you know Jed Ilaskins thinks himself
the best euc'nr-player in the 200th fnd.,"
v'
cyr ,ifr-
-KB
"How Mucr?'j) Yor Givk Foi: Tjiis?"
said Shorty, fogqltuig himself in the exulta
tion of hi3 victory. '
"Jed Baskihs the Itev. Jarcd Tiaskins's
rwlwi... l.;.. n.i.'n...'i7..r. ...Tw. ,.,.i. .. ......,i fi.,.
l ii, ins i.iuiri vi ui limit; lccii i i.u u luuh
j'ho would a
J,ve often 1
oial o,J lire
Nob .o much, tor
heard 1iin say that n coal of fire
f';.,
only burn Ihc hands, while cards scorch
the soul." -, -T
" Well, JedtV continued Shorty, "bautered
mc to play three .games out o' live for this
here ax agin my 'galvanized brass watch.
We wuz hojs andiufesou the first two games;
on the saw-off wb had foar pints apiece. I"
dealt and turned, tj tjic seven o' spades.
Jed ordered me up, and then tried to ring iu
on mc a right bower, from another deck, but
T knowed he hadn't it, because I'd lr:6d to
ketcii it in the deal, bub missed it and slung
it, umler the fable. I mad-j Jed play fair,
and eucherel him, with only two trumps in
my hand. .Jed's a mighTy slick hand with
I Hie pasteboards, but he meets his boss in
jvpur uncle hphnum. I didn't learn to play
jttcher in the hay lofts o' IJean .UJpssom
Crick for uothin', 1 kin tell you." 'Jf't ',
An expression o horror came into -Deacon
Jvlegg's i'ace. and he looked at Shorty with
severe disapproval, which was entirely lost
on that worthy, who continued to prattle on:
"Jed liaskins kin slip iu more cold decks
on greenhorns than any boy I ever see. You'd
think he'd siwiit his life on a Mississippi
steamboat or follerin' a circus. You remem
ber how he cleaned out them Maumee. Musk
rats at chuck-a-luck last pay-day? Why,
there wu.n't money enough left in one com
pany to bay postage stamps for their letters
home. You know how he done it? AVlry,
that galoot of a citizen gambler that we
.tossed in a blanket down there by Nashville,
and then rid out o' camp on a rail, learned
mm how to linger tne (lice. J was sure same
o' them Maumee smart Alccks'd gib on to
Jed, hot they didn't. I declare they
wouldn't sec a six-mule team if it drnv right
acrost this board afoie 'em. But I'm onto
him every niinir, I told him when he tried
io ring in that jack on-me that he didn't
know enough about cards to play with our
Sunday-school class on Bean Blossom Crick."
" Josiuh Klegg," said the Deacon sternly,
'"do you play cards? "
"I learned to play jest a little," said, -Si
dcprecatingly-, atid getting very red in the
face, "f jest know the names o' the cards,
and a fewo' the rules o' the game."
"I'm surprised at you," said the Doacon,
"after the careful way you wuz brung up.
Girds are the devil's own picture-books.
-They drag a man down to hell jest as sure as
stroiig drink Do you own a deck o' cards? "
''No, sir," replied Si. "1 did have one,'
but f thro wed it away when we wuz goin'
into the battle o' Stone River."
"Thank heaven you did," said the Deacon
devoutly. "Think o'your goin' into battle
with them infernal things on you. They'd
draw death to you jest like iron draws
lightnin'."
"That's what I wuz afearcd of," Si con
fessed. "Now, don't you ever touch another card,"
said the Dcauon.- "Don't you ever own
another deck. 'Don't you insult the Lord by
doin' things when you think you're safe that
you wouldn't do when you're in danger and
want His protection."
"Yes, sir," rcsyoii'ded Si very meekly. Tlio
Deacon was so .excised that ho pulled out his
red bandana, mopped his face vigorously, and
walked out of the door to get some fiesh air.
As his back waa turned, Si reached slily up to
a shelf, pulled down'a pack of cards, and flung
them behind the bafck-hg.
"I didn't y,arn (o Pap when l told him I
didn't own a deck," lie said to Shorty. "Them
wuzzent really our, cards. I don't exactly
know who they belonged to."
The good Deacon was still beset with the
idea of astonishing the boys with a luxurious
meal cooked by himself, without their aid,
counsel or assistance. His failure the first
time only made him the more determined.
While he conceded that Si and Shorty did un
usually well with the materials at their com
mand, he had his full share of the conceit that
possesses every man born of woman that, with
out any previous training or experience, he
can prepare food better than anybody else who
attempts to do it. it is usually conceded that
ihcrc are three things which every man alive
believes he can do better than the one who is
engaged at it. These are:
1. Telling a story;
2. Poking a fire;
3. Managing a woman.
Cooking a meal should be made the fourth
of this category.
One day Si and Shorty went with the rest
of Co. Q on fatigue duty on the enormous
fortifications, the building of which took np
so much of the Army of the Cumberland's
energies daring its stay aronnd Murfrcesboro j
MVr -
I If 6VH
KiP
T TT" i VjC-
1 'Kv '.-
from Jan. 3 to Juno 21, 1SG3. Josecrans
seemed suddenly seized with McClellan's
mania for spade work, and was piling np
a largo portion of middle Tennesseo
into parapet, bastion and casemate, lunet,
curtain, covered way and gorge, according
to the system of Vauban. Tho 200th
Iud. had to do its unwilling share of this,
and Si and Shorty worked off some of
their superabundant energy with pick and
shovel. They would come back at night
tired, muddy and mad. They would be
ready to quarrel with and abnse everybody
and everything from President Lincoln down
to the Commissary-Sergeant and the last
issue of pickled beef and bread especially
the Commissary-Sergeant and the rations.
The good Deacon sorrowed over these mani
festations. Ife was intensely loyal. He
wanted to see the soldiers satislicd with their
officers and the provisions made for their
comfort.
lie would get up a good dinner for the
boys, which would soothe their milled, tem
pers and make them more satisfied with their
lot.
He began a labored planning of the feast.
He looked over the larder, and fonnd there
pork, corned beef, potatoes, beans, coffee,
brown sugar, and hardtack.
Good, substantial vittels, that stick to
the ribs," he muttered to himself,
"and I'll
fix up a good mess o' them
But
the boys
oimlit
to have something of a treat once in a
while, and I must, think up some way to give
it to 'em."
He pondered over the problem as he care
fully cleaned (he beans, and set them to boil
ing in a kettle over the fire. He washed
some potatoes to put in the ashes and roast.
But these were commonplace viands. He
wanted something that would be luxuries.
"I recollect," he said to himself finally,
1 "seein' a little store, which some feller's set
up n little ways from here. It's a board
shan 1 3', and 1 expect he's got a lot o' things
in it that the boys 'd like, for there's nearly
alwa3s a big crowd around it. I'll jest fasten
up iho house, and walk over there while the
beans is a see'.hin', and see if I can't pick up
something real good to cat."
He made his way through the crowd, which
seemed to him to smell of whisky, until be
came to the shelf across tho front, and took a
look at the stock. It seemed almost wholly
made up of canned goods, and boxes of half
Spanish cigars, and playing cards.
"Don't seen to be much of a store, after
all," soliloquized the Deacon, after he had
survej'cd the display. "Aint a patch in' to
01. Taylor's. Don'tsec ain-thing ver3 invitin'
here. O, yes, there's a cheese. Say, Mister,
gi' mc about four pounds o' that there
cheese "
"PLuik down your 2 fust, ole man," re-
Lsponded the storekeeper. "This 13 a cash
store, cash in advance, every time. Short
cicdits make long friends. Hand me over
your money, ana I'll hand 3'ou over the
cheese."
"Land o' Goshen, four bits a pound for
cheese," gasped the Deacon. "Why, I kin git
the best full-cream cneee at home for a bit a
pound."
"Why don't 3'ou buy your cheese at home
then, ole man?" replied the storekeeper.
" You'd make moin-, if yxm didn't have to
paylrcight toMurfreesboro. Gues3V'ou don't
know much about gettin' goods down to the
fro 1 t. But I haint no time to argj with you.
If ou don't want to buy. step back, and make
roam for some one that does. Business is
lively this niornin'. 'i hue is money. Smali
profits and quick returns, 3'ou know. No
time to fool with loafers who only look on and
ask questions."
"Strange way for a storekeeper to act,"
muttered the Deacon. "Must've bin brnng
up in a Land Oilice. He couldn't keep store
in Poiey County a Aveek. They wouldn't
stand hissass." Then aloud: "You may gi'
me two pounds o' cheese."
..,.," Wfjll, why doa'b you plank down the
rhino?"- said the storekeeper impatiently.
"Pub up your money fnit, and then you'll git
the goods. Tliis aint no credit concern with a
stay-law attachment. Cash in advance saves
book-keeping."
"Well, I declare," muttered the Deacon,
as he fished a greenback out of a leather
pocket-book fastened with a long strap.
"This is the first time I ever had to pa' for
things before I got 'em.
" Never went to a circus, then, ole man,
or run foroflice," replied the storekeeper, and
his humor was rewarded with a roar of laugh
ter. "Anything else? Speak quick or step
back."
"I'll take a can o' them preserved peaches
and a quart jug o' that genuine Injianny
maple molasses,' said the Deacon desper
atel', naming two articles which seemed
much inHemand.
"All right; $2 for the peaches, and .$2 more
for the molasses."
"Sakes alive!" ejaculated the Deacon, pro
ducing the strapped pocket-book again.
"Five dollars gone, and, precious little to
show for it."
He took, his jug and his can, and started
back to the cabin. A counle of hundred
yards away he met a squad of armed men
marching toward the store, under the com
mand of a Lieutenant. He stepped to one
side to let them pass, but the Lien tenant:
halted them, and asked authoritatively:
"What have'you got there, sir? "
"Jest some things I've been buyiui for the
boys' dinner," answered the Deacon.
"Indeed! Yer' likely," remarket the
Lieutenant sarcastically. He struck the jug
so sharply with his sword that it was broken,
and the air aviis filled with a powerful odor
of whisky. The liquor splashed over the
Deacon's trousers and wet them through.
The expression of anger 0:1 his face gave way
fto one of horror. He had ahvtiys been one
of the most rigid of Temperance men, and
fairly loathed whisky in all shapes and uses.
"Just as I suppes-'d, 3'onold vagabond,"
said the Lieutenant, contemptifousi'. "Down
here sneaking whisky into camp. We'll stox
Jthat mighty sudden."
He knocked the can of peaches out of the
Deacon's arms and ran his sword into it. A
gush of whisky spurted out. The Sergeant
took the package of cheese away and broke it
open, rcvealjng a small llask of liquor.
"The- idea of a man of 3'our age being
engaged in such business," said the Lieu
tenants indignantly. ''You ought to be
helping to keep the men of the army sober,
instead of corrupting them to their own
great injury. You are doing them more
harm than the rebels."
The Deacon was too astonished and angry
to reply. Words utterly failed him in such
a crisis.
"Take charge of him, Corporal," com
manded the Lieutenant. "Pub him in the
guardhouse till to-morrow, Avhen avc'11 drum
him out of camp, Avith his partner, Avho is
running that store."
The Corporal caught the Deacon b' the
arm roughly and pulled him to the rear of
the squad, which hurried forward to the
store. The crowd in front had an inkling of
what Avas coming. In a twinkling of an eye
t'luy maue a rusn on tbe store, cadi man
snatched a can or a jug, aud began iwltiug
away as fast as his legs could carry him.
The store-keeper ran out the back way,
and tried to make his escape, hut the Provost
Sergeant of the provost-squad threw down
his musket and took after him. The store
keeper ran fast, inspired Ivy fear, and the
desire to save his ill-gotten gains, but the
Sergeant ran faster, and presently brought
him back, panting and trembling, to witness
the demolition of his property. Tho shanty
aviis being torn down. Each plank as it
came off aviis being snatched up by the sol
diers to carry oil and add to their own habi
tatious. 'the "canned fruit" was being
punched Avith bayonets, and the jugs smashed"
03' gun-butts.
"You arc a cheeky scoundrel," said the
Lieutenant, addressing himself to the store
keeper, "to come down here aud try to run
such a dead-fall right in tho middle of camp.
But avc'11 cure you of any such ideas as that.
You'll lind it Avou't pa3r at all to try such
games on us. You'll go to the gnardhouse,
and to-morrow we'll shave your head, and
drum you and your partner there out of
camp."
"I aint no partner o' his," protested the
Deacon carncstl'. "M3- names Josiah
Klegg, o' Tosey Connty,- Injianny. I'm
down here on a visit to 1113' son in the 200th
Injianny Volunteer Infantry. I'm a Deacon
in the Baptist Church, and a Patriarch of the
Sons o' Temperance. It'd bo the last thing
in the Avorld I'd do to sell whisk3"
"That story Avon't Avash, old man," said
the Lieutenant. " You were caught in the act,
Avith the goods in your possession, and trying
to decei'c me."
He turned away to order the sqnad for
ward. As they marched along the store
keeper said to the Deacon:
"I'm afraid they've got me dead to rights,
ole man, bnt you kin git ont. Jest keep up
yonr sanctimonious appearance aud stick to
your Deacon story, and you'll git off. J
know of you. Fve lived in Tosey Connty
myself. I'm going to trust yon. I've al
ready made a clean big profit on this venture,
and I've got it right down in my pocket. In
spite of all they've spiled, I'd be nigh $500
ahead o' the game ill I could gifc onto' campi
Avith what I've got in my sock. But they'll
probably search me and confiscate nn- Avad
for the hospital. You sec, Vve been through
this thing beore. I'm goin' to pass my pile
over to 3'ou to take kcer of till I'm through
this rumpus. You play fair Avith me, and
I'll Avhack up Avith 3'on fair and square, dol
lar for dollar. If 3'ou don't I'll follow you
for 3" ears."
" I wouldn't tech a dirty dollar of 3rours
for the Avorld," said the Deacon indignantly;
but this av.is lost on the storekeeper, who Avas
Avatching the Lieutenant.
"Don't sa3' a, Avord," he Avhispercd; " he's
got his e'e on us. There it is in 3'our over
coat pocket."
In the meantime thc3' had arrived at the
gnardhouse. The Sergeant stepped back,
took the storekeeper roughly 13' the shoul
ders, and shoved him up in front of a tall,
magisterial-looking man wearing a Captain's
straps, Arho stood frowning before the door.
"Search him," said the Captain briefly.
The Sergeant Avent through the store
keeper's pockets with a deftness that bespoke
experience. He produced a small amount of
money, some of it in fractional currenc3' and
Confederate notes, a number of papers, a plug
of tobacco, and some other articles. He
handed these to the Captain, who hastily
looked over them, handed back the tobacco
and other things and the small change.
" Give these back to him," he said briefly.
"Turn the rest of the money over to the hos
pital fund. Where's our barber? Shave his
head, call up the fifers and drummers, and
drum him out of camp at once. I haen't
time to Avasteon him."
Before ho had done speaking, the guards
had th-i storekeeper seated on a log, and were
shearing his hair.
" General," shouted the Deacon.
"That's a Captain, 3;ou fool," said one of
the guards.
"Captain, then." yelled the Deacon.
" Wiio is that man?" asked the Captain,
severe'.
"He's his partner," said the Lieutenant.
"Serve him the same Avay," said the Cap
tain shortly, turning to go.
The Deacon's knees smote together. He, a
Deacon of the Baptist Church, aud a man of
stainless repute at home, to have his head
shaved, and drummed out of camp. He
Avould rather die at ouce. The guards had
laid hands on him.
"Captain," he yelled again: "It's all a
horrible mistake. I had uothin' to do Avith
this man."
"Talk to the Lieutenant, there," said the
Captain, moving off. ': He will attend to
3'ou."
The Lieutenant was attentiA'ely watching
the barbering operation. , "Cut it close
closer yet,vhe admonished 'the barber.
"Lieutenant! Lieutenant!" pleaded the
Deacon, awkwardly saluting.
"Stand back, I'll attend to yon next,"
said the Lieutenant impatiently. "Now, tie
his hands behind him."
The Lientenaut turned toward the Deacon,
and the barber picked up his shears and
made a step in that direetion. Just in the
extremit3' of his danger, the Deacon caught
sight of the Captain of Co. Q walking to
Avard Headquarters.
" Capt. McGiilicuddy ! Capt.McGillicuddy !
come here at once! Come quick!" he called
in a A'oice Avhich had been trained to long
distance Avork on the Wabash bottoms.
Capt. McGiilicuddy looked up, recognized
the waving of the Deacon's bandana, and
hastened thither. Fortunately he knew the
Provost officers, there Avere explanations
all around, and profuse apologies, and just
as the fifes and drums struck up the "IJogue's
march," behind the luckless storekeeper,
ILj
Vmv
Deacon Klegg Looks Ovee the Larder.
who had to step off in front of a line of
leveled bayonets, the Deacon Avalked away
arm-in-arm Avith the Captain.
" I'm not goin' to let go o' 3-011 till I'm safe
back in our OAvn place," he said. "My
gracious ! think of bavin' my head shaved
and marched off the Avay that feller's bein'."
He walked into the cabin and stirred 'up
the beans.
"The water's bilcd off," said he to himself,
' ' but they haint been in nigh as hot a place
as I have. I guess the boys'll haAe to do
Avith a plain dinner to-day. I'm not goin'o
stir out o' this place agin unless they're with
me."
He pub lnVhand into his pocket for his
bandana and felt the roll of bills, which he
had altogether forgotten in his excitement.
1 lis face was a stud.
To be continued.
As to Congressional cill.
For sometime Commissioner Evans has
complained that "Congressional calls" for
tho status of cases pending before the
Bureau greatly retard progressive work on
claims by requiring the labor in answering
them of a large force ot clerks who could be
engaged in adjudication."
1 The Commissioner has now issued rules
prohibiting any agent or attorney, or other
person entitled to recognition before the
Bureau, from directly or indirectly request
ing the aid or assistance in the prosecution
of a pension claim 01 any United States
Government official, or representative,
other than those whose duty it is under
the law to supervise and administer the
kuvs, rules and regulations governing tho
granting of Army and Navy pensions, or
requesting or advising a claimant to seek
such aid in the prosecution of a pension
claim.
The rules further provide that the per
sons so oftending shall be held to lui'e
abandoned the claim as attorney, and
that he shall, by such violation, subject
himself to suspension or exclusion from
practice before the Pension Office.
f. ..IirHff" r jC ! I y T fJ
PEJ1SI0J1 DEGISI0J4S.
Cases Disposed of by Assistant
Secretary Davis.
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Web
ster Davis rendered a decision in the claim
of James McCallan, seaman, United States
Navy. In this case the Assistant Secre
tary holds:
"Desertion from the general ser'ice dur
ing the Jate Avar of the rebellion is no bar
to pension on account of disability con
tracted in the United States service whtlo
serving under a contract of enlistment en
tered into since the close of said war, from
which late service sailor was honorably
discharged."
The claimant in this case enlisted in tho
Regular Army Sept. 13, I860, was trans
ferred to the general service, and deserted
from said service at GoA'ernor's Island, N.Y.,
July 30, 1862, and on the next day enlisted
in the 132d N. Y.. in which he served un
til mustered out June 29, 1865, having been
continuously in the service during tho
Avhole war. He subsequently served in
the Navy from Mav 17, 1806, to April 23,
1870, and from August 12, 1870, to June-30,
1871. He claims pension for disability dur
ing his last service in the United States
Navy. Assistant Secretary Davis says
"I hold that sailor's desertion from the
general service in 1862, during the war of
the rebellion, is no bar to pension on ac
count of the disability incurred in tho
United States Navy, under an enlistment
in 1870, since the close of the war of tho
rebellion." -
In a Mexican war case, where the ajr
pellant (a widow) asserts that she was
formally and legally married to the soldier
in the year 1."3, in the City of St. Louis,
Mo., by a certain Methodist minister, there
is no proof of ceremony other than the un
supported statement of the appellant. The
Assistant Secretary says
"It appears that at the time of her
leged marriage to the soldier in St. Louis,
appellant was an orphan about sixteen
years of age, whose home was in the City
of Detroit. Mich., with a brother-in-law,
who was her guardian, but she aviis then
traveling with some friends, and meeting
the soldier in St. Louis, claims to hao
married him there and to have immediately
gone with him to the City of Philadelphia,
Pa., Avhere they commenced liA'ing together
as man and wife.
"It is unquestionably established by
credible testimony that from lS-"3 to 1SSI
the appellant and the soldier lived to
gether in Philadelphia continuously and
uninterruptedly as man -and wife. It is
shown that during this long period ot
years the soldier acknowledged and rec
ognized the appellant as his Avife, that ho
introduced her to his family and friends
and held her out to the world as such, and
that she was so recognized and acknowl
edged by all who knew them and with
whom they came into association and con
tact, and that she is recognized and con
sidered In' the family and friends of the
deceased soldier as his laAvful Avidow. In
short there does uot appear to haA'e cacc
been a question or a doubt among those
with whom the parties associated during
this period of the legality or A-alidity of the
marriage of appellant and the soldier.
I am clearly of the opinion that the
foregoing facts in this case are amply
sufficient to establish the existence of a.
valid marriage betAveen the soldier and
appellant under the laws of Pennsylvania,
and that she should be accepted as such
widow of the soldier for pensionable pur
poses. Therefore the rejection of this
claim upon the ground stated is held to
have been error and said action is hereby
overruled and set aside."
"Work of the 1'ension Otlice.
The report of certificates issued for the
Aveek ending March 12 shows
Army invalid: Original, 62; increase and
additional, 121; reissue, 22; restoration and
renewal, 23: duplicate, 26; .accrued, 96;
total, 350.
Army invalid fact June 27, 1800): Origi
nal, 536; increase, S6; additional. 74; re
issue, 11: restoration and renewal, 28; du
plicate, 18; accrued, 116; total, 8S2.
Army Avidow, etc.: Original. 58; increase
and additional, 1; restoration and renewal,
2; duplicate, 6; accrued, 1: total, 68.
xrmy widow, etc. (act June 27, 1SP0):
Original, 2S3; increase and additional, 2;
reissue. 5; restoration, 1; supplemental,
1; duplicate, t: accrued. 2; total, 2P8.
.N.-ivy invalid: Original, 5; Increase and
additional. 1; restoration and renewal, 2;
total, 8.
Navy invalid fact June 27.18S0): Origi
nal, 17; increase and additional, 9; ac
crue.dt -1; total, CO.
Na-y widow, etc: Original, 2.
NaA-v widow (act June 27, 18S0): Original,
15.
Indian Wars Widows: Original, 7; du
plicate, 1: total, 8.
Mexican War Survivors: Original, 3; in
crease and additional. 11: reissue, 1; res
toration and renewal, 1; accrued, 9; total,
28.
Mexican Wai Widows: Original, 12; du
plicate, 1; total, 13.
Totals: Original, 1.0C0; increase and addi
tional, 318; reissue, -12; restoration and re
newal. 57; supplementals, 1; duplicate, 55;
accrued, 228. Grand total. 1,702.
JHUSTEflED OUT.
-E-VANS. At Fort Scott. Kan.. Samuel J.
Evans, aged 69. He served in the 26th Mass.;
to. L, 4 m Atass.; v;. n. .xi .uass. tt-.A.,anu
was mustured out as Sergeant in August.
1835. He was one of the survivors of 270
men captured at Plymouth. N4 C, in April,
18U4. He was eight months inAnder-son-A-ille.
GOODWIN. At Germantown, Pa., Edwin
Goodwin; 8;h Pa. Car., aged 62.
PbATT. At Germantown. Pa., James
Piatt, 3d N.J. He served o'er four years.
IIOLSER. At Shannon, O.. Peter Holser,
Co. E, 1 12d Ohio.
SMITH. At East Palermo, N.Y.. Seymour
Smith," Co. I, 24th N. Y. Ca-.; member ot
Waterbury Post, 418.
WEEKS. At Fulton, Mich., of heart
disease, Serg't James G. Weeks, Co. G.
151st N. Y.; charter member of Jos. Smith
Post, 215.
POND At Unity, Wis., Wesley D. Pond,
Orderly-Sergeant, Co. M, 4th Mich. Cav.
Comrade Pond assisted in the capture ol
Jeff Davis.
HIHSEKORN. At Chicago, III.. Hiram
Hirsekorn, Co. B, 12th III. Cav.
KARNES. At Lima, O., J. S. Karnes, 3d
Md.; Past Commander of Armstrong Post.
WETHERILL. At Lima, O., Alexander
Wether II, Co. B, 118th Ohio. .
RUTHERFORD. At Pittsburg, Pa., Jesse
M. Rutherford, S3d Pa. He also serA-ed on
the Raven and Sgnal. He was one of the
most expert judges of diamonds and pre
cious stones tn.the country, ilis home was
at Philadelphia. He Avas a 32d Degree
Mason.
IIECOX. At Avoca, N. Y., David ITeeox,
Co. A, 13!)fh N. V., and member of Post 507.
HAM. At Greenleaf, Wis., A. F. Ham,
Co. K, 21st Wis., aged 69. He was taken
prisoner nt Stone RiA-er, was in Libby
Prison, ai)T&. rejoined his .company in time
to take ii;u;t at Chickamauga, where he
Avas severely wounded.
CHURCHMAN. At Oxford, O., Alexander
Churchman, 13th U. S. C. T. For a num
ber of years he was Commander of " Old
John Brown Post," 150.
RGBBINS At Charlton, Mass , Stephen
Ixobbins. Co. F, 15th Mass., aged 79.
TURNER. At New York City, William
II. Turner, Sth N. Y., Past Commander of
Yanderbilt Post, 130.
NEWCOMB. At Albany, N. Y.. Dr.
George II. Newcomb, Surgeon. 7th N. Y.
Art. Dr. Newcomb was greatly beloved by
the rank and rile. After the war he re
sumed his practice in Albany, Avhere he
attended the poor andaff!icted, largely with
out pay.
D AFTER. At Newtown, Pa., Richard
Dafter, Co. E, 2d N. J. Cav.; member o!
Wynkoop Post. 427.
DUCKWORTH. At Newtown, Pa., John
P. Duckworth, 8th Pa. Cav. He Avas in all
the important engagements in Avhich his
regiment participated.'
GOURLEV. At Newtown, Pa.. Morgan
Gourley, Co. I, ISth Pa. Cav. He was twice
wounded at Cold Harbor and again- at
White Oak Swamp five daj-s later.
B
-ft.? t r -&&& lXn
.rHfy'cK jfi.Jt- ?& .
-,. .& ,.. y,, aws. i&. v tf y r -
Z ,-f -u,