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Surviving Soldiers Vill Pay
Tribute to Their Dead
Comrades.
OBIGIN OF THE CEEEMOM.
How the Grand Army of the Republic
Was Put on Foot
VARIED PROGRAMME TOR TO-DAY.-
Interesting Exercises at the Cemeteries in
the Two Cities.
ORDERS FROM COMMANDING OFFICERS
Pittsburg will to-day fittingly celebrate
one of the greatest American holidays.
Although each recurring Memorial Day
sees a thinning out of the ranks of veterans
there are still enough left to pay a tribute
of flowers and music to the nation's heroio
dead. All over the two cities business men
and manufacturers will do their part in ap
propriately celebrating the day by closing
their establishments at noon. Business
will be generally suspended. The Diamond
Market will close at 11:30 A. si. and the Al
legheny Market at 10:30.
Memorial Day was institnedby the Grand
Army of the Jtepublicand has been per
petuated by it. At the close of the war
many organizations were formed. Among
them were the Third Army Corps Union,
the Society oftheArnvyof the Tennessee,
the Society of the Army of the Cumberland,
the Society of the Army of the Ohio, the
Society of the Army of Georgia, the United
States Veteran Signal Corps Association,
the Society of the Army of the James,
the Society of the Army of the
Potomac, the Society of the Army
and Navy of the Gulf, the Society of
the Army of AVest Virginia, and the Mili
tary Order of the Loyal Legion. All these
liad for their object the perpetuation of the
ties formed during the war and the mutual
benefit of the members.
Organization of the First Post.
The greatest and most popular of all these
army organizations was the Grand Army of
the Republic, the first post of which was
organized at Decatur, I1L, April 6, 18G6. It
is a secret order, but the principles of its
organization are well known. Its objects
are "the preservation of those kind and fra
ternal feelings which have bound together,
n ith Etrong cords of love and affection, the
comrades in arms of many battles, sieges
and marches; to make thee ties available in
forks and results of kindness, of favor and
ziutual aid to those in need of assistance; to
make provision,where it isnot already done,
for the support, care and education of sol
diers' orphans and for the maintenance of
the -widows of deceased soldiers; for the pro
tection and assistance of disabled soldiers,
whether disabled by wounds, sickness, old
are or misfortune and for the establish
ment and defense of the late soldiery -of the
Tatted States, morally, socially and poliU I
luuiit, iiu u icn iu muuiuam u proper
appreciation of their services to their conn-,
try, and to a recognition of such services
arid claims by American people.
The growth of the order was not rapid at
the first, owing to the prejudice excited by
the charge brought against it, that its chief
object was to secure the political advance
ment of its members, and that it was chiefly
a secret political society. It was years be
fore this prejudice was conquered. There
n as, probably, some ground for the charge
tliat was made, since, in the excited condi
tion of political affairs, members of the
Grand Army werenot always careful to ob
serve the distinction between their posts
and the clubs of Boys in Blue which were
admittedly political organizations, and
w hen posts of the G. A 11. attended political
meetings i earing their caps and badges, or
aided in sending delegates to conventions in
behalf ot some favored friend or comrade,
the public was hardly to be blamed for be
lieving that the order had deoided partisan
proclivities. Then there were instances in
which posts went further than this, and
directly presented names for nomination for
offices, with the threat implied, if not
uttered, that failure to so nominate would
drive them into the ranks of the opposition.
IIow Internal Dissensions Arose.
As was natural, such action soon created
internal dissensions in the struggle for con
trol and advantage, and this was skilfully
fomented from without by those whose per
sonal interests were jeopardized by the ad
verse action of these posts. Action of this
kind was mainly local and confined only to
a small area, but the order at large was field
responsible, and the public distrust of poli
tical methods by a secret society grew so
strong that it became an extremely difficult
matter to establish posts in new fields, and
in many localities charters were surrendered
or posts became defunct without attending
to tnatiormaiity.
During this period other causes were also
in operation which came near causing the
total disruption of the order, but in Janu
ary, 1868, the National Encampment de
clared that while it was the purpose of the
Grand Army "to secure the rights of the de
fenders of their country by all moral, social
and political means within our control,"
yet "this association does not design to
make nominations for office, or to use its in
fluence as a select organization for partisan
purposes." A year -later the following
article was added to the rules and regula
tions: "No officer or comrade of the Grand
Armv.of the Eepublic shall in any manner
use this organization for partisan purposes,
and no discussion of partisan questions
shall be permitted at any of its meet
ins;'!, nor shall any nominations for
political office be made." This has
continued to be the law of the Grand
Army, and when once the public was made
to understand that this rule of the order had
been adopted in good faith, the organization
rapidly increased in numbers, and became a
powerful influence for good and a grand
conservator of peace. It is worthy of note
that once the Grand Army was taken out of
the field of party politics, its influence upon
political and semi-political action became at
once greater than otherwise it could possibly
have been. Its record is a noble one. It
numbers in the'membership of its various
posts nearly, if not quite, a majority of liv
ing icteraiis. and its membership is to-day
greater than ever before. It has used its
influence to secure legislation for the care
and education of orphans of dead comirdes,
for increased pensions for widows and or
phans and dependent parents, and for homes
For homeless veterans.
"IVork for Increased Pensions.
It has successfully urged an increase of
pensions for the disabled to help them in
their advancing years and increasing infirm
ities, and has removed from the nation the
disgraceof permitting men who saved its
life to die and be buried as paupers in the
land thev had by their braverv anu seli-sac-rifiechelped
to save But not uionc h.ivc
these veterans sought State and national
aid for the unfortunate, but they were mind
ful of their own obligations to their suffer
ing comrades. ae order has long outgrown
the misuuces oi its miancy. with a mem-
bership drawn only from tho limited nnnv J
ber who wore the uniform of this country
in the days of its great peril, the growth of
the order has for the last four years been
phenomenal, but the death rate will be an
ever increasing one, and in comparativelv a
few years the last veteran will sleep his
long silent sleep. Memorial Day cannot be
disassociated from the Grand Army. It is
a national day indeed, but it is peculiarly
sacred to the members of the Grand Army
of the Eepublic, both living and dead.
"Who first proposed Memorial Day is not
now known. Early in May, 1868, Adjutant
General Chipman of the National Encamp
ment, received a letter from some comrade
then living, but whose name passed from
his memory as -time passed, in which the
writer referred to sthe fact that he had
served as a private soldier in the TJnion
army; that in his native country, Germany,
it was the custom of the people to assemble
in the springtime and scatter flowers on the
graves of the dead, and suggested that the
Grand Army of the Bepublic inaugurate
such an observance in memory of the TJnion
dead.
General Chipman regarded the sugges
tion as most opportune, and at once made a
rough draft of a general order covering the
subject, and laid it, with the letter referred
to, before General Logan, who warmly ap
proved it, and adding a few paragraphs to
it, designated the 30th of May for tn pur
pose of "strewing with flowers the .graves
of comrades who had died in defence of
their country during the late Rebellion and
whose bodies now lie in almost every city,
village and hamlet churchyard in theland."
First General Observance of the Day.
The observance was very general that
vear, though there were many who at nrst
aoubted the wisdom of its institution,
claiming that it would unnecessarily keep
alive memories of the war, and foster ani
mosities which should be buried in oblivion.
Still others objected to the expense, insist
ing that the money far music and flowers
could be more wisely spent on the living.
There have always been those who inquire
"to what purpose this waste," and urge the
selling of the alabaster box of precious oint
ment, on the plea of giving money to the
poor. The Grand Army has nobly
answered the latter objection, by con
stantly increasing its benefactions to
the poor, while as to the first objec
tion, it answered itself. It will be a sad day
for the country when the glorious memories
of the war for the union are suffered to be
come dim. It is natuiallya matter, of re
gret that the name of the comrade who first
suggested Memorial Day cannot now be
recalled. During the war there had indeed
been instances of decorating soldiers' graves
with flowers, and earlier than the date of
General Logan's order a "Decoration Day"
had been quite generally observed by ex
Confederates in the Southern States. Gen
eral John B. Murray, then a resident of
"Waterloo, N. 1'., on Sunday, May 27, I860,
marshaled a number of ex-soldiers in that
villace, who decorated the craves of their
dead comrades with appropriate ceremonies,
and General Murray claimed during his life
that he had spoken of this to General Logan
at one of the army reunions.
It is also a matter of history that several
posts in Cincinnati, upon the suggestion of
T. C. Campbell, afterward Quartermaster
General, paraded in 1867 for the purpose of
decorating the graves of their dead com
rades. General Chipman, however, dis
tinctly remembers the incident of the letter
above alluded to as resulting directly in the
issue of the general order instituting a me
morial day.
The fitness of the institution was at once
reoognized, and it may be called the one
holiday which has not suffered perversion
from its original purpose. In no less than
14 of the Northern States has the holiday
been recognized bylaw, and everywhere
custom and patriotism has hallowed it. It
is a misnomer to call it "Decoration -Day."
Its observance brings again to mind -the
story of valor and patriotism, and service
and sacrifice of life which brave men laid on
the altar of devotion to country.
The Grand Army has been termed "the
representative organization of the soldiers
and sailors of America, the one great assor
ciation which includes the veterans of every
army and all ranks; the men who followed
the Hag upon the land and who fought be
neath its lolds upon the sea; men of every
nationality, color and creed; the officers who
wore the well-won stars of a general, .and
the private, whose only badge of distinction
was in patriotic and faithful service in the
ranks, all upon the common level of com
rades of the flag," and Memorial Day is the
choicest in the calendar of this organization,
a day of sweet remembrance, dear to every
loyal heart.
HONORING THE HEROES.
Extensive Programmes Arranged for the
Vartong Cemeteries School Children
and Sons of Veterans to Assist the Old
Soldiers at the Graves.
Today's programme has been carefully
prepared, and, the weather permitting, will
be carried out in fulL The principal cere
monies of the day will be at the Grand
Army lot, Allegheny Cemetery. The pro
gramme there will be in charge of Posts 3,
41, 137, 206, 230 and 259, assisted by the
schoolchildren of the Twelfth, Fifteenth
and Seventeenth wards. The programme
will be rendered as follows:
Dirge By Post 3 Band
Song, "America". ...Post 3, G. A. E. Choir,
Assisted by School Children
Soprano, Mrs. J. Sharp McDonald.
Alto, Mrs. J. H. Harrison.
Tenor, G. M. Alexander.
Bass, Edw. D. Fuller.
Tenor, G. H. Brown.
Organist, "Will McComsey.
Beading of Orders
Adjutant General W. H. Lambert
"Renting To-Xight" Choir
Commander's Address
John S. Lambie. Post 3. G. AR
Prayer Chaplain Rev. J. McD. Hervey
Original Poen Key. A. X. Whitmarsh
Oration Comrade M. B. Kiddle, Post 259
Sonf, "Cover Them Over With Flow
ers" By School Children
"Com? With Thy Smile" Choir
Forn.al placing of flowers:
L Violets . .Comrade B. X. Sphon, Post 230
2. Daisies Comrade V. T. Barks, Post 200
3. Geraniums. ... Comrade A.K. Oates, Postal
4. "White llo wers..Comrade E. H. Brady,Post3
"Sleeping, Only Sleeping." Choir
Song By School Children
Saluting the Dead Firing Squad Post 41
Song, "sleep, Comrades, Sleep"
By School Children
Doxology.
Benediction.
Decoration of graves, strewing and plant
ing flowers.
Firing of minute gnns by the United States
Troops, as the column passes the Allegheny
Arsenal.
Programme for Oakland Cemetery.
At the Oakland Cemetery Post 157 wiU
have charge, assisted by tne "Washington
Infantry, Sons of Veterans Camp 162, a de
tail of Battery B, and the children of the
Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh,
Thirteenth and Fourteenth ward schools.
The following is the programme:
Dirge- The E. A. Montooth Band
"Sleep, Comrades, Sleep and Best"
....................Post 157 Quartet
Soprano, Miss Carrie Tenant; alto. Miss
Annie Orr; tenor, X. S. Bees; bass,
John Braun; organist, Miss
Helena Erskine.
Reading orders Adjutant X S. Bees
Chorus By Children of Schools
Prayer .-. Kev. a E. Locko
"solt They Slumber" Quartet
Commander's address..ILL.Hoburg. Post 157
"Strew Blossoms O'er Their Graves-Quartet
Oration.. Key. a E. Locke
Dirge..... . Band
Placing flowers and quartet
"Cover Them Oyer With Beautiful Flow
ers," LYiolets W. J. Patterson.
II. Daisies .B. ColL
IIL Geraniums H. H. Bengough.
IV. White flowers. S. T. Turner.
Chorus By School Children
Bei.ediction ...Rev. C. E. Locko
Saluting the dean Firing squad of Post 157,
Washington Infantry and Battery
B, X. G. P.
Southsido and Allegheny. t
Post 131 will have charse of the exercises
on the Southside.
The principal services
will be at the old Methodist Cemetery, and
the address of the day will be delivered bv
E PITTSBURG DISPATCH.
Post Commander A. G. Frank. Prof. Bos
ser and a selected choir will- sing, and the
Select Knights. Conlet Band will render the
instrumental music. After the placing of
flowers Frank L Grosser, Esq., will deliver
an oration. At the other cemeteries the
following comrades have been detailed to
take charge of the decoration of graves:
Southside and St. Joseph's, John C. Slas;
St. Michael's and St. Peter's, Fred Langen-
bacher; St. Jfaul's, J. J. McDonald; Zim
merman's, J. P. "Wilhelm; Concord, Isaac
Amber; St. "Wendel's and Outer St. Paul's,
"William BeisneranJO. Shawen.
Before taking the cars for Allegheny
Cemetery, Hays Post No. 3, will make a
short street parade with their, escort, bat
tery B, who will appear in their new uni
form. The post will leave its headquarters,
No. 78 Fourth avenue, at 8 o'clock sharp,
and go over the following route: Fourth
avenue to "Wood, to Fifth avenue, to Grant,
to Sixth avenue, to "Wood, to Liberty, where
they they will take the special train for the
cemetery. They will be headed by their
own band, which will appear for the first
time on this occasion. The post will be un
der the command of Senior vice Comman
der F. C. Negley, with J. B. Eaton as Adju
tant. The ceremonies in Allegheny will be con
ducted by Posts 88, 128 and 162, with Camps
2 and 33, Sons of Veterans. The programme
is as follows:
Services at Hampton Monument,
Dlrgo TJ. M. A. Band
Beading of orders from national head
quarters J. S. Xichol, 162
Prayer B. a MiUer, 1G2
Reading of ritual Jas. P. Stewart, S3
Violets Jas. E. Hutchinson, S3
Geraniums Thos. D. Holmes, 123
White flowers A B. McKenzie, 1(3
Post 162 will proceed to Troy liui ana
neighboring cemeteries, and decorate tho
graves of comrades.
Post S3 and 123 will proceed to TJnlondalo
and Bellovue Cemeteries, where the follow
ing services will be observed:
At TJnlondale.
Music, "Still Eemembered"....Post 128 Choir
Beading General Order Xo. 11, of May 5, 1863,
issued by Commander in Chief John A.
LoRan,designatingMay80as Memorial Day;
and General Order of Department Com
mander George Boyer, under date of May
9, ordering posts to observe the occasion,
by Adjutant General. John S. Xichol
Charge H. O. C. Oehmler, Post 88
Music, "Under the Laurel and Eose"
Post 123 Choir
Prayer Bey. W. E. Donaldson
Dirge Grand Army Band
In the Xame of Post 83.
Comrade Eobort Harper
In the Xamo of Post 123.
Comrade AC. McConnell
In tho Xame of Post 162
Comrade Thomas Irwin
Decoration Hvmn Post 128 Choir
Oration Rev. J. 1L MillerJ
Music Grand Army Band
"America".. Choir and Assemblage
Brief services will also be held at the
Soldiers' Monument and the statue of Com
rade Thomas A. Armstrong.
Outlook for the Day at Sewlclcley.
At Sewickley the services will be in
charge of Posts 3 and 88 and Camp 33, Sons
of Veterans. The following is the pro
gramme: 1. Dirgo Post 3 Band
2. Singing "Tho Are Gone Down the....
Vafley' Post 3 G. A E. Choir
Soprano, Mrs. J. Sharp McDonald.
Alto, Miss Madge Irwin.
Tenor, Mr. K. J. Cunningham.
Basso, Mr. John Irwin, Jr.
8. Beading Orders
Adjt. General W. IL Lambert, Post 3
4. Address Commander John S. Lambie
5. Prayer . Chaplain
C Formal Placing of Flowers:
Tart I Violets,
Comrade W. H. Lockart, Post 88.
Fart II Daisies,
Comrade J. F. Schroeder, Jr., Post 3,
Part III Geraniums,
Comrade Samuel Moore, Post 3".
Part IV White Flowers.
Comrade John A. Shook, Post 88.
7. Singing "Tenting To-Night" Choir
8. Memorial Address.
Comrade Lee S. Smith, Post 8
D. Singing "Cover Them O'er With .
Flo.wers'.:...,....L.- CA. K. Cnoir
10. Decoration of aU soldiersgravcs..G. A.S
Gen. Alex. Hays Post Xo. 3, Pittsburg,
F. C. Xegley, S. V., Jos. B. Eaton,
Commander. Act. Adjt.
Abe Patterson Post Xo. 88, Allegheny,
Samuel Scott, Sidney Brand,
Commander. . Adjutant.
John L Xevin Camp No. S3,
Emll Rebele, Captain.
Benediction.
"Supper wlU be served the visiting comrades
by a committee of ladles at the Opera House,
after services at the cemetery.
C0MEADE VEAZEY'S NOTICE.
The Message of Bright Spring Days to the
Old "Warriors' Breasts.
The following is the command sent out by
Commander in Chief "W. G. Veazeyi
Comrades Again tho warm spring sun re
minds us that Memorial Day, with its time
honored observance, is near at hand. Eegu
lations are so explicit upon this subject that
no formal order urging this sacred duty
upon tho posts is necessary. For the twenty
third time, since May 30 was designated for
this purpose by Comrade Logan, then com
mander in chief, it is our privilege to render
special homage to tho memory of our com
rades who answer to roll call on earth no
more, to pledge ourselves anew in united
and solemn chorus to the great principles
for Which they died, and for the perpetua
tion of which this mighty order is now
maintained. Let no grave "be unvisited, no
gravo forgotten, and as our children
and children's children shall ask,
"What mean ve by this service V'
let us point them to the sacrifices of our com
rades whom death has nfustered out forever,
and whose devotion to dutymado possible
this golden era of our nation, which to-day,
under one flag, is marching onto its glorious
destiny; a future assured to this and the
coming generations by tho conflicts and
victories of the period which this day re
calls and signalizes. Standing by these sa
cred mounds let us urge that never, while
tho flowers shall wako to life; while there
leased waters shall course from the moun
tains to the sea; while the emancipated
earth shall with each retorning wave its
banners of green; shall these memorial serv
ices be unperformed or tho achievements
they celebrate be forgotten. Let the day be
in no manner diverted from its true pur
pose, but let It be made to teach to tho fnll
est extent its great lesson of patriotism. By
command of W. G. Veazbt,
Commander in Chief.
OEDEBS OF THE BAT.
Commander XAmble Has Something to Say
to the Comrades "Who Participate.
The commander of the day yesterday sent
out the following order: .
HEADQUAETEE3 MEMOEIAL DAT EXERCISES, (
Feidat, May 29. J
First G. A E. posts will report at TJnion
station at 8:30 a. m. sharp on Saturday, 30th,
Instead of at Wood and Liberty streets, em
barking at Union station for the Allegheny
Cemetery.
Second After the planting of flowers all
debris, such as flower pots, etc., must be re
moved from the cemetery. Comrudce are
requested to aid the committee In this wort.
Third It lias been called to the attention
of the commander of the day that a rule of
tho corporation of the cemetery forbids the
bringing of lunches and meals upon the
grounds, and the rule must bo strictly en
forced. The Commander has promLed a
faithful observance of this and aU other
rules and regulations of the Cemetery Com
pany. Ho therefore calls upon the comrades
of the various posts to redeem the promise
he has made in their behalf and T)y respect
ful deportment to set an example to all
visitors to the cemetery,
W. H. Lambert, Johs S. LAKBra,
A A. G. Commander.
The Officials Will Tatte a Best.
Business about City Hall will be sus
pended to-day except in the Bureau" of
Health and Inspector McAleese's offices.
AH the officials will take advantage oi the
holiday except Chief Brown and the Mayor,
who will probably spend at least part of the
day in their offices.
" V
Io Organ Becltal To-Day.
To-day being a legal holiday there will
be no organ recital at Carnegie Hall this
afternoon. On holidays the entire library
buildine is closed, all the attaches are
absent and the hall is not. open under the
rule that affects the building.
,BHX NYE writes for. the Sunday issue of
mis JOisrATCtti The funniest man in the
world-
PITTSBURG; SATUHDAT, MAT 30, 1891.
EUMOK ASS PATHOS.
Famous Generals Tell of the Funni
est and Saddest Incidents
DURING THE GREAT REBELLION.
Union and Confederate leaders Speak of
Their Joys and Sorrows.
SOME YERY INTERESTING ANECDOTES
CWMTTES TOR THE DISPATCn.l
For years past ever since the close of the
war, in fact I have asked every great gen
eral of both the Northern and Southern
armies whom I have met to jot down for me
in his own words what he considered the
'funniest and also the saddest incident that
had come under his notice arising from our
great conflict. This request was kindly
complied ,with, and it was thus that the ap
pended symposium was obtained, the last of
the contributions composing it haying been
received from General Sherman only a few
months before his death. Doubtless some
of thes'eSuiecdotes may have been related by
their present narrators to other corre
spondents prior to their publication here
and so may have been previously published,
but so far as I know this is their first ap
pearance in print, as it most certainly is in
their present attractive form over the signa
tures of the distinguished gentlemen now
telling them.
General Grant's Contribution.
HIS SADDEST.
It was in afield hospital within whose
canvas walls many of our brave boys lay
wounded and dying. Among them were
two comrades who were more nearly like
Damon and Pythias than any other two
men I ever knew in real life. They had
been born and bred in the same town, had
enlisted at the sane time, and had never
been separated for a moment since they first
donned Uncle Sam's blue uniform. I am
sure that either would have gladly laid
down his life for the other. They had both
been slightly wounded before, the one hay
ing received a bayonet thrust in the left
arm, and the other having had the index
and middle fingers of his right hand shot
away.
Now, as they lay side by side, however,
their injuries were of a much more serious
character. The surgeon looked very grave
as he turned from one to the other, and the.
gravity of his expression deepened as he
concluded his second examination. Then
as was his custom for he held it
a physician's duty to always inform
a patient of the true state of his case be
told them plainly, but not without feeling,
that they both had but a very ' few minutes
to live. "All right," said one faintly but
firmly, "we will die together as I always
hoped we would."
"I want to go if Tom goes' murmered
the other. "Give me your hand, dear old
boy," he continued, and he reached out his
left hand toward his comrade.
The dying man grasped the extended
hand, but finding it whole and unmanned
he cast it from him saying "No, no! not
that hand! I want the one that was partly
shot away on the battlefield."
Bis comrade extended his wounded hand,
and Tom, his eyes fast glazing in death,
clasped it and felt for the stumps of the
missing fingers. '
"This is the hand I want," he exclaimed,
and raising it to his lips bis .spirit passed
without a struggle. His friend, by as great
exertion, raised hishead and looked at his
comrade. Seeing that he was no more he
uttered a loud cry, and the two friends were
reunited.
HIS riTNNIEST.
There is no better, more fearless or more
loyal soldier than old Jack Dubbin, but he
had one fault, and that was an overweening
fondness for the whisky bottle, or rather for
its contents. He had a boon companion
whose real name I never knew, but every
one called him "Uncle Si. "While in camp
old Jack was taken ill of v. fever and, de
spite the unremitting -attentions of Undo
Si, died. The corpse developed an unusual
rigidity, after death, and a strange ten
dency to fly up into a sitting posture Ac
cordingly on the night before its burial it
was stretched out at full length upon a
board resting upon two wooden trestles,
with its head and feet tied down by ropes.
Old TJncle Si insisted upon watching the
remains of his dead friend. Shortly after
midnight he became very thirsty, and
stepped ont to a neighboring sutler's to pro
cure a drink. During his somewhat pro
tracted absence two large cats found their
way to the tent containing the remains of
old Jack, and when TJncle Si returned he
was naturally indignant at seeing these
felines sitting on the "corpse one at the
head; the other at the feet
Seizing a billet of wood from the ground
he aimed a powerful blow with it at the
pussy sitting near the head. It missed its
mark and struck and severed the rope hold
ing down the head of the corpse1, which im
mediately flew into a sitting posture. Seiz
ing the dead man by the shoulders and forc
ing him back into a recumbent position,
TJncle Si exclaimed in a,n aggrieved tone:
"Darn ye, old man, lie down and keep quiet.
I'll attend to the cats." TJ. S. Gkant.
General Lee's Offering.
HIS MOST PATHETIC.
Many of the most beautiful and pathetic
incidents of the war occurred after it was all
over. At a hotel in "Washington in 1868 a
gentleman whose face I could not remem
ber exactly, though it seemed strangely
familiar, introduced himself and asked per
mission, to present me to his mother, a
singularly beautiful old lady of queenly and
dignifiedbearing, to whom he saia, "Mother,
let me present to you General B. E. Lee, of
tho late uomeaerate Army, whose saber
thrust gave me this scar on my right cheek
end who bears the mark of a wound I gave
him." The beautiful Old lady threw her
arms around my neck and wept on my
shoulder. In that tender embrace and the
fervent clasp of the Federal officer's hand
and mine we buried the animosities of the
war forever.
HIS MOST HUMOBOT8.
One of the most devoted adherents the
Southern cause ever had was Colonel M .
No matter how thick and black disaster
lowered upon our arms, the Colonel never
saw anything but bngntest nope and abso
lute surety of success in, the near future.
In fact, he might not inappropriately have
been styled the Caleb Balderstone of the
Confederate army, for just as the original
Caleb was always representing his master as
being in the most affluent and prosperous
circumstances, and inventing the most in
genious lies to make it appear so,the Colonel
constantly represented the resources of the
boutnern people to ue limitless in the same
clever fashion.
At length, when defeat staled us plainly
in the face, and my surrender to General
Grant was inevitable, a young officer deli
cately hinted to the Colonel that his
confidence in the ultimate success of iotfr
arms, which was still as boastful'as ever,
was perhaps a trifle overweening. ' The
Colonel looked at him a moment with an
expression in which contempt, anger
horror and musement struggled for the
mastery.' Then with hands uplifted, hair
standing on end and eyes flashing' fire, he
roared out at the discomfited lieutenant in
the voice of a stentor: "Dam up Niagara
Falls with tissue paper, bottle up the At
lantic Ocean in a whisky flask, paste 'to let'
on the sun and moon, catch a flash of light
ning between your thumb and finger, build
a worm fence around a winter supply of
summer weather, harness a thunderbolt to'
a sulky, waft all the clouds out of the sky
with a lady's fan. saddle and ride a hum-
XcanV fasten ai disX -x:lontto the toil of flj
comet, pack up all the stars in a beer keg,
knock a tornado out of time with, your fist,
put hades to cool in a spring house, put
the sky in your pocket, unbuckle the belly
band of eternity, but never, never allow
vourself to fancy for a moment that the
North can ever whip the great Southern
Confederacy." IUE. Lee.
TVhat General Sherman Saw.
HIS SADDEST INCIDnira.
One of the most magnificent specimens of
manhood I ever saw was a soldier who was
constantly laughing at the poor fellows who
became fatigued after long marches, who
sank under seemingly trifling wounds. His
courage, health and strength seemed in
vincible. .One day a heavy projectile from the
enemy's cannon what we call a spent ball
came rolling along. Ifee temptation to put
out one's foot to stop such a ball was almost
irresistible. The soldier I have mentioned
yielded to it. "With a merry smila he put
out his leg and in an instant his foot was
cut off and he sank to the ground a maimed,
shattered cripple for life, weeping like a
child at his awful misfortune.
HIS FUNNIEST.
I think the funniest incidents I observed
during the Civil "War were some of those
that occurred among the colored people
during the march to the sea from Atlanta.
Many of the negroes hailed the coming of
the Yankees, winging the freedom of the
colored people with them, as a certain in
dication of the immediate approach of the
Judgment Day and the end of the world.
Consequently there was great religious ex
citement among the darkies, and by many
of their preachers "protracted" or ''re
vival" meetings were held. The incidents
that occurred at some of these seances beg
gar description. I remember on one occa
sion the preacher tried his utmost to induce
one big buck negro to come to the
"mourners' bench," but without avail. At
length, losing all patience, he exclaimed:
"By de holy apostles de word ob de Lohd
shall done smite dat man!" and suiting the
action to the word he felled the buck sense
less to the ground by a tremendous blow on
the head delivered with a ponderous vol
ume of the Scriptures.
William T. Shebman,
Joe Johnston's Tarns.
HIS MOST TOUCHING.
Perhaps the most touching incident aris
ing in connection with the war that I can
now recall came to my notice on a railway
train which also bore as a passenger the very
pretty young wife of a brave young soldier,
who by daring bravery had secured promo
tion from the ranks ta a Confederate cap
taincy. The wife was a Pennsylvania girl
whom he had met while visiting in the
North and whom he had married and taken
to his Southern home just before the break
ing out of the war. He was one of the first
to enlist in the Confederate army, and in or
der to devote himself-Wholly to the cause he
sent his wife, at the first boomtof the guns
at Fort Sumter, back to her parents in
Pennsylvania to remain till the great strug
gle was ended. Now in 1866, after a five
years' separation, she was on her way South
to rejoin her husband and place in his arms
their 4-year-old daughter, whom he had
never seen.
It was not long before all the passengers
in our car knew the romantic story of the
pretty little woman and her beautiful
child, and there was not a man among us
who did not feel a tender, protecting inter
est in both. There never was a woman
whose heart was more full of love
and joy. She could do nothing but talk of the
captain and wonder if he had changed so that'
she couldn't recognize him, or if he
'wouldn't be able to recognize her. Then
shewould fall to wondering if he Would
know his little daughter by her resemblance
to himself if he met her in the street, which,
as he had never set eyes on her, seemed
scarcely probable. Throughout that long
day's ride we all entered most heartily
into the dear little woman's hopes, fears,
doubts and ioys, and shared them to such
an extent that we were quite as anxious to
see the Captain as she was.
"We reached our journey'B end", and before
the train had fairly stopped a tall, elegant
ly proportioned, handsome fellow of 27
came bounding into our car. The little
woman gave such' a scream of joy as I shall
never forget, and in less time than I can
tell it was standing" in the car aisle clasped
in the young soldier's manly arms, and
tears of joy unutterable coursed down two
beautiful young faces as their lips met.
For my own part my own eyes were so full
of blinding moisture that I could see noth
ing when the proud and happy young wife
and mother led her husband ior the first
time to the place where their little child lay
sleeping. - -
HIS MOST TjAUOHABLB.
In one of the early battles of the war, in
the hottest part of the action, I felt my
coat tails pulled by a young fellow whom I
recognized as having been engaged in a to
bacco factory prior to his enlistment.
""Why are you not fighting in your place?".
I asked angrily.
""Well, I just wanted to tell you that if
you don t mind 1 think 1 11 take my time off
to-day."
Joseph -E. Johnston.
Two Good Ones From Sheridan.
A TEAS DRAWEE.
Two soldiers of the opposing armies en
gaged in a hand-to-hand struggle during a
charge amid smoke so thick that their faces
Vere unrecognizable. Each received and
inflicted a mortal wound. The smoke
cleared, and each recognized his brother.
"Tom!" "HarryF p"a3sed like -pistol
shots, and they fell forward and died in each
other s arms.
A LAUGH MAKES.
Once in camp, myself and some of my
brother officers fell desperately in love with
a female voice we used to hear singing at
night. It was simply angelic, and resolved
to see the singer, we followed its sound
through thickets and ravines till we came to
a lonely cabin whence the singing proceeded.
Creeping up to the window I peered in and
beheld a fat, greasy, middle-aged negress,
barefooted and clad in a single garment of
dirty calico, browning coffee with a long
iron spoon, while she gave vent to the sweet
est notes I have ever heard. In my sur
prise I staggered forward with a noise that
attracted her attention. Grasping her coffee
skillet and waving it around her head, she
bawled out: "G'way from dah, white man.
Ef yo' don't, I'll frow dis yeah fryin' pan
rignt at yo" head." if. n. hhebidan.
"What Saddened and Pleased Porter.
HIS SADDEST.
At the deathbed of my friend, Colonel H.,
I witnessed what I think was at once the
most touching and dramatic incident of the
war. It was some years after the great con
flict, and the Colonel had long employed as
his children's eoverness a young Southern
girl of great beauty and refinement. As I
stood with his wife by his dying bed he
called this girl to him, told her how he had
killed her father a Confederate captain
in a hand-to-hand fight, having recognized
her by her resemblance to her parent and
by his miniature, which she wore about her
neck, and asked her forgiveness.
"I have nothing to forgive," she answered.
"You only did your duty, and if you de
prived me of my father you have filled his
place."
"With one last supreme effort the Colonel
placed her hand in that of his wife, whis
pered "Oux daughter," and was dead.
HIS FUNNIEST.
I once asked a friend who had fought alL
through the war if he had ever killed a
man that he -nositivelv knew of. "Yes."
I said he remorsefully, "one. At Bull Bun I
ran ai tne nrst are. A reDei cnasea me ior
ton Tnilaa .ml .nn ! nn ....lianafwl tnnt lis
wu muvn. cut no. WCU DU AUOUa.VU -w uv
UlropDed dead." DAVID D.J?Onw
A-FULL COKE SUPPLY
Will Sow Enable Many Furnaces to
Eesmne Actiy6 Operations.
EFFECTS OF THE 6EEAT STEHE.
A Review of the Late Trouble Brings Out
Interesting Points.
TA1LET FURNACES TO START ON MOOT AT
A most thorough review of the induitrial
situation" in and about this city reveals
many important changes as having taken
place in the status of affairs during the past
ten days", chiefest among which is the final
termination of the long-prevailing Connells
ville coke strike. The full resumption of
work throughout the entire coke regions,
which will be cons'equent upon the ending
of this great strike, it is expected, will en
able the many foundries and blast furnaces
now out of blast, owing to the lack oLcoke
fuel, to resume operations, and among These
are included the furnaces in the Mahoning
and Shenango "Valleys.
The occurrence of this latter, which Is offi
cially announced to take place on June lr
will undoubtedly greatly surprise- the
trade and have an important effect on the
making and. probable future of the local
iron and steel markets. Notwithstanding
the firm declarations of the strikers' repre
sentatives at last week's convention at
Scottdale to carry on the strike for another
six weeks, a very abrupt end of the strike
was witnessed.
"Withheld From tho "Workers.
The fact that the men had lost the strike
for some weeks was well known to all the
leaders, bnt withheld 'from the knowledge
of the strikers for divers reasons. It was
only when the convention refused to recog
nize in the'proceedings fellow workmen for
being guilty of such a serious breach of
labor etiquette as holding membership in a
different labor organization that the outcome
of the strike was known to the workers.
This non-recognition caused dissension in
the ranks of the working classes and re
sulted in the official declaration by those
who were slighted to immediately return to
work at the operators' terms and thus break
the backbone of the strike. The already
large numbers of non-strikers and imported
men who are working was greatly aug
mented by the return of such a large num
ber of men to work, which proved to be the
last straw put 'on, and proverbially speak
ing "broke the camel's back."
Thus it can be seen that though the work
ingmen themselves might not have wholly
brought about their own defeat, their
actions at least hastened the death of their
cause. Another serious mistake of which
they were guilty and which served to
seriously weaken their cause, for by it they
lost public sympathy, was the marching and
counter marching and assailment of prop
erty and persons; Their actions in this
sense only served as a good excuse for the
operators to call upon Pinkertons, deputy
sheriffs and the militia. In every case
where .marked disorder reigns, and the
power of the law is appealed to, the result is
invariably against the cause of the lawless.
x Begging Hard for Work.
At the present time great numbers of
workmen are flocking to the offices of the
company and begging piteonsly for employ
ment, and in all cases work is-being refused
those who took an active part on the side of
labor. In an open letter from the miners'
secretary, it is. stated that there are fully
850 evicted famlliesliving-in 'stables, Tbarns,
coal sheds, tents and some even with no
other covering than the broad blue canopy
of heaven. This number of families em
braces over 3,000 persons, and their condi
tion is deplorable in the extreme.
The heads of these families are unable to
secure work anywhere, beine blacklisted
throughout the entire region for their activ
ity on behalf of the workers' cause. Besides
this condition there are lawsuits pending in
several courts against more than 60 work
men who have been sanctioned in their acts
of disorder or interference, and who have
been promised legal protection by the
miners' association. The destitute condi
tion of their fellow workmen, and the lack
of any funds in the Association treasury,
may leave tho indicted men without legal
defense, so their position is by no means
cheering.
This existing condition of affairs, coupled
with the crowing hatred by the strikers
against their leaders for alleged betrayal of
trust, aggra vacated by the loss of the' strike,
it is thought will greatly weaken labor or
ganizations throughout the regions and prove
a salutary lesson to the workmen to encour
age them to have more confidence in the
justice of their employers than they hereto
fore have shown signs of possessing.
Predictions That Fell Plat.
Probably the most remarkable circum
stance connected with the prolongation of
ine siriKe is tne extremely siignt enect it
has had on the iron market. The prognos
tications of January trade papers have Deen
away off. They predicted that in the event
of the strike lasting one month the stocks of
pig iron at the furnaces would be greatly
reduced; in the event of two months', dura
tion, a great scarcity and consequent rapid
advance would ensue, and if it was possible
for it to last for three months then the iron
market would witness an unprecedented
boom.
But here we are after a total suspension
in the manufacture of coke and enormous
restriction in the production of pig iron iron
for four long months without as much as a
ripple of excitement ruling in the market.
In fact its condition to-day, at least as far
as prices are concerned, might be laid to be
worse than before the inauguration of the
strike. The only results to the iron trade
from this great strike were a slightly better
demand for. all grades of pig iron and a S3
advance in the local Bessemer market,
but on the first signs of a break in the
ranks of the strikers this incipient activity
suddenly came to an end and the summer
outlook in these trades is candidly admitted
to be not the most reassuring.
The intention of the blast furnaces in the
Mahoning and Shenango valleys to resume
was declared at a meeting of the association
held yesterday in Youngstown. Mr. A. M.
Byers, of this city, was. unanimously ex
pelled from membership in the association
for resuming work in his Girard furnace
without permission from the association.
A Restriction of 85,000 Tons.
In these two valleys 25 out of 32 stacks
have been idle since January 1, restricting
the weekly production more than 25,000
tons. This enormous restriction has effected
the market only to the extent of totally
wiping out the stocks of iron that are usu
ally held at furnace yards, but beyond this
no other effect has been felt.
At a meeting of the Frick and McCIure
Companies this week the price of coke, it
was declared, should rule on the .basis of
SI SO for furnace coke, which is -no reduc
tion, compared with the price ruling before
the strike. There is a likelihood of freight
rates first being reduced. The price of ore
and lake transportation has been largely re
duced, so that the basis of the cost of pro
duction this year is comparatively much
lower than last year, and it is due to these
considerable reductions in the cost of xnak;
ing iron that enables furnacemen to squeeze
out a living margin of profit in the face' of
the abnormal depression in the iron "and
steel trades.
Another vpry important question that
will interest workingmen throughout the
country engaged in iron or steel mills is the
coming convention of Amalgamated Iron
and Steel "Workers' Association delegates, to
be held at Turner Hall, in this city, on
June 15. Beports have been sent abroad of
the intention of tha asjociatiop-.to advTOceJ
the price of boiling to 56 in the "West. "We
can authoritively deny the truth of this
rumor, havine it from members of the
.National Lodge that the convention has no
sucn contemplated advance on tne pro
gramme. They realize that it would be
very unwise in the pre;
market to make such, a
resent conuiuuu ux mo
demand.
No Important Change likely.
It is very probable that no important
changeswill be made in the different scales
by the convention, although the talk of
adopting the sliding scale system is still
carried on. The delegates are inclined, in
the present extremely dull condition of the
iron and steel markets, to move slowly, and
are of the opinion that if they succeed in
holding what they now possess they will be
fortunate.
The largest representative meetincr of the
members of the Tinned Plate Manufact
urers' Association of the "Chited States ever
held convened in this city last week. Some
27 firms were represented from nil parts of
the iron-ptoducing districts of the country,
and the work of the association was pub
lished in full inTHEpisPATCHat the time.
Arrangements for the manufacture of this
article have been going on quietly and at
present there is an annual capacity of 100,
000 tons in sight. In the manufacture of
these plates an enormous tonnage of pig
iron is consumed, and in fact the consump
tion of pig iron for the manufacture of
plates for tinning is one of the mainstays of
the pig iron industry of England and
Wales.
Manufacturers in this country entertain
no fear of the production of tin plates in
1896 not Equaling the proportion ot the im
portations of tin plates in 1890 that is re
quired by the MeKiuley bill; otherwise the
bill will become void.
The Ever Present Fuel Question.
There is still considerable trouble and in
convenience connected with the use
of natural gas fuel and many mills, after
a second attempt at a universal adoption,
have been compelled to resort to the use of
coal, and the general impression is th.t all
the different iron and steel mills will ulti
mately have to return to coaL In Brown &
Co.'s and Zug & Co.'s mills the puddlers
have at times been unable to turn out six
heats. In Shoenberper & Co.'s mill last
week there was such a scarcity that it re
quired all of a puddler's time to make three
heats to a turn.
These are the only remaining mill3 out
the Penn avenue district using gas entirely,
and If no better supplies are forthcoming
they wjll have to fall in line with the
many 'returning to the use of coaL
At Carnegie's mills, after a short change,
the puddle'r at Twenty-ninth street returned
to all-night work on account of the lack of
gas. It is very likely that a return to coal
will be made. It this event 17 out of the 42
puddling furnaces will have to be torn down
to make room for coal bins. In the Thirty--third
street mill about the same condition
of things exist and the puddlers don't ex
pect half time during the coming summer,
unless they change to all-night work.
So far 2 of the 40 furnaces have been
changed to coal, with the work of changing
the others going on as fast as possible. At
these latter mills Manager Berntraeger has
about concluded his experiments with his
new furnace, and he is quite sure that the
inconvenience resulting Irom a shortage of
gas can be easily overcome. In ordor to
carry out the entire success of his inten
tions all the puddling furnaces in the two
mills will be rempdeled for the use of coaL
The puddlers at the above-named mills will
hereafter work from 1 in the afternoon until
7 in the morning, each turn making about
four heats, in ordef to equalize the earn,
ings of the men on both turns and over,
come, as well as possible, the .gas shortage.
Some Big Improvements.
At the Edith furnace in Lower Allegheny,
which plant has been bought by the Oliver
Iron and Steel Company, extensive improve
ments are "being made. The work of re
lining, which will cost about 150,000, is
soon to be commenced, and new blowing en-
finea of the E. P. Allis & Co. make, costing
v13,000 each, are being put in, and every
improvement about the plant indicates the
intent' on of the company to erect a second
furnace adjoining. The improvements will
not be completed until next March. The
company win ue miuwu us me juiegneny
Purnace Company. "When finished, the
furnace will have a capacity of 175 tons per
day.
The foundation for a new boiler house
for the H and I furnaces of the Edgar
Thomson Steel "Works has just been com
pleted. It twill contain a battery of J.6
boilers, making a total of 154 boi!ers; that
will be in use at this plant and making it
the most complete boiler system in the
world. Morris, Williams and Bailey have
begun the erection of an iron-clad build
ing, 85x45 feet, and new rollsj engines and
other necessary equipment will be added
and the present annealing furnaces enlarged
sufficiently to double the present uipacity.
All three of the Eliza furnaces, ofLaughlins &
Co., are now in full blast after undergoing
extensive repairs.
Preparing for Armor "Work.
The Spang Steel and Iron Company have
finished all plans and specifications for a
new department, to be devoted to all kinds
of Government armor work. "Work on the
six open-hearth and three heating furnaces
adjoining their present plajit will also soon
be commenced, and the cost is estimated at
5250,000. The Pittsburg Malleable Iron
Company have plans prepared for a large
brick and iron building, to be built to meet
the increased demand lor their products. A
large manufacturing plant is to be erected
at Kensington on the "Valley road by the
Boiled Steel "Wheel Company, employing
abont 200 men.
The Pennsylvania Tube Company has
just put in a Smythe gas producer, which is
the largest gas-producing plant in the
world, and its workings are so'satisfactory
that additional producers have been con
tracted for. It is reported that the United
States Iron and Tin Plate Company will in
crease its capital stock to 5500,000, in order
to make extensive additions to its plant for
the manufacture of tin plate. Lucy Fur
naces Nos. 1 and 2, which have been banked
for some time on account of the coke strike,
are now both running full"
Biter & Conley have just shipped a very
large digester for a South Carolina paper
mifl. The firm received" an order for two
such digesters, each 10 feet in diameter and
28 feet long, constructed of J-inch plates,
with lj-inch belt straps. This firm is also
building seven boilers for a "West Superior,
"Wis., steelworks. ,
Other Orders and Shipments.
The Schultz Bridge Company has been
awarded the contracts to build the two iron
bridges adjacent to Schenley Park. McGill
Eipe threading machines for a "Wheeling
rm, and are also working oa orders for
hydraulic cranes and rolling mill machinery.
The 'Wilson-Snyder Manufacturing Com
pany has received the contract to furnish
the North Creek-Valley "Water Company
with a vertical pumping engine of 3,000,000
gallons daily capacity. McConway &
Torley shipped last work from its works,
ten care, all containing Janney couplers to
one consignee. These couplers are the
standard M. C. B. adoption.
Seamon, Sleeth and Black, ofthaPhcenix
Boll works, have just completed a pair of
rolls 25 ljeetS inches over all, and on the
face 23 feet 2 inches and 24 inches in
diameter for the hydraulic machine for bend
ing keel plates at the Mare Island Navy
Yard. These rolls are .said to be the largest
they have ever made.
The. 'Pittsburg office of the Stirling
Boiler Company reports the following sales
during the present month: Akron Electric
Light Company, 600 horse power; the B. iP.
Goodrich Bubber Company, Akron, O., 300
horse power, and to Jones' Bros. Electric
Company, Cincinnati, 300 horse power. D.
B Lean, the local engineer and contractor,
has recently completed a ten-ton open
hearth steel furnace for Norton Bros., May
wood. III. and one ten-ton onen hearth fur-
nace ior tne tsc. .boms steel is oundry com-J
, , . .
jpwui f Btjionisj
C7. E
PAGES 9 TO 12.
1:
TO BE TESTEDAGAII.
tfayal Board Eeports Meager Eesnlta
From the First Trial" of the
DWHITE CEUISEE YESUYIUSr
The
Gun Machinery Is Crude, hut tha
Tessel Has Good Points
IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ARE NEEDED,
"Washington', May 29. The official re
port of the Board of Officers appointed by
the Secretary ot the Navy to supervise the)
trial last week of the aerial torpedo-hrow-ing
vessel, the "Vesuvius, was made public
to-day. The formal report confirms in
every detail the special account of the trial.
The trial board finds that the gun had not
been "ranged," that is, that previous testa
had not been made to give data for firing
them with accuracy; that the pneumatic
machinery of two of the guns was out of
order; .that no fights had been fitted and
that great improvements can be made in the
arrangements of the curving tower and for
firing.
Nevertheless, the trial board concludes)
the trial was satisfactory enough, "under
the circumstances," to warrant at least an
other test before condemning the vessel as
an ejaculator of shells loaded with high ex.
plosives through the air, and the Navy De
partment has promptly responded by order
ing another test under more satisfactory
conditions. There has been a great deal of
gossip, most of it arising from the feeling of
jealousy so curiously prevalent in the Navy
Department, to the general effect that this
test of the Vesuvius was designed to cast
discredit upon Secretary "Whitney, who was
responsible for this experiment. There is
absolutely no reason for such gossip.
The Trial a Fair One.
The trial was fairly conducted, every pos
sible means of ublicity a3 to its results was;
afforded, and the report of the Trial Board
appointed by Secretary Tracy tends very
decidedly in favor off the Vesuvius. Tho
trial proved merely that the science of pnen
matio gunnery had not been developed suf
ficiently to make its practice accurate. It
is upon this very ground that the report of
the Trial Board is based. In other words,
they account for the unsatisfactory nature
of the trial by a lack of projectiles for pre
viously ranging the guns and by defects in
machinery. r
It would seem to a layman that in all fair
ness to the Vesuvius her officers sTiouId
have secured their preliminary conditions
from the Navy Department. TheTr failure)
to do so, or the failure of the Navy De
partment to perfect the conditions of tho
trial so that no protest of unfair treatment
could be raised afterward, has the effect of
clouding the entire test. As was stated,
another triaLwill be necessary, and it may
be made very soon. For the new trial there
onght to be no lack of projectiles,, and the
steering gear and other machinery of the
Vesuvius ought to be in order.
A3Iortlfjlng FosslHUlty.
It would be mortifying to the responsible
officers, and possibly a cause of indignation
to the American people", if the Vesuvius
were to steam down New York harbor to
destroy an advancing battleship and to find
that she could not use her rudder. That is
exactly what happened in Hampton Boads
last week, when for two hours theVesuvius
lay helpless on account of some disarrange
ment with her steering gear: The trial was
alsormafked bythef.tct that only one of
her three pneumatic gnns was in working
order, and even that was fitted with only a
temporary sight. All in all, the report of
the Trial Board must be accepted as a severe
reflection upon either the officers of the
Vesuvius or their superiors in the Navy
Department, for allowingthe trial to ba
made under such conditions.
The report is not intended to he such a
reflection. Oh the contrary, it seems to be
designed merely to correct the imperfect
arransement3 for the test and to secure an
other trial under conditions which may sat
isfactorily prove beyond all cavil the exact
value of a vessel designed to throw torpe
does through the air by pneumatic pressure.
The report of the board says:
"In order to carry out the department's
wishes, as indicated in the orders, the board
is of the opinion that the gnns should be
carefully ranged, for which purpose we will
require 30 projectiles in addition to those
on nand, and the fitting of proper sights.
To complete the programme of firing, a3
laid down by the department, a further sup
ply of 15 projectiles will be necessary.
Some Cnsatlslactoiy Features.
'In conclusion the board would state as
follows: The accuracy of fire of the star
board gun under the conditions we consider
good, that of the middle and port gnns we
are unable to criticise because the valves
were not in satisfactory working order. The
valve of the starboard gun hasbeen modified
and the work is satisfactory throughout.
The range can be very readily altered; tho
setting of the valves can be changed to any
point Yrom extreme to short range in five
seconds. The effect of a moderate sea and
wind on the general efficiency of the gnns
and their range is very slight. x
"Renerallv eneakine the vessel, as a eun
platform, behaved very satisfactorily. There
are many details concerning the steering
gear and conning tower which could be very
much improved. As to the actual efficiency
of the vessel for offensive purposes, the
board has little data on which to base an
opinion.
"The board considers that the fittings and
appliances for loading and firiag these guns,
as fitted, are very crude and capable of great
improvement.
"The board would recommend that the
guns should be carefully ranged in some
suitable locality where the fall of the pro
jectiles can be accurately determined from
shore stations. That some simple and suit
able sight should be fitted, and such changes
made in the mechanism for loading and
firing the guns as may be found advisable
and that the vessel be then subjected 0 i
such further tests as will fully determine
her efficiency as a torpedo thrower.
B, D. Evans, Commander.
A. B. Couden, Lieut. Commander.
J. P. Meigs, Lieutenant"
Action of the department upon the report
is as follows: 'In view of the statement
that as to the actual efficiency of the vessel
for offensive purposes the board has little
data on which to base an opinion, its rec
ommendation that the guns be carefully
ranged in some suitable location, the de
partment orders that the board reconvene
and consider and submit a detailed pro
gramme for any such further tests as they
may recommend."
THE "W03K OF WHITE .CAPS.
An Old 31an Accused of Betraying- Moon
shiners, Brutally Treated.
Birmingham, Ala., May 29. Seven-"
teen miles east of Holmes Gap, in the Sand
Mountains, S.V.Jones, aprominent farmer,
was visited by "VVhito Caps Wednesday
night and beaten half to dcath-with, hickory
switches.
The "White Caps broke down the door and
dragged Mr. Jones up, while two others -held
nis wife He thinks it was the work
of his neighbors, who run illicit distilleries,
which were recently raided by officers,
while they believe Jones gave them away. ' '
TVHUKthesun sets on Death Talleylli
ards, snakes, horned toads, scorpions and
other living horrors come forth In quest of
their prey. It Is a scene for Santo topic-"
tore. A letter from the United States expo
dittos there in the DISFATCTI to-morxowj. .
S . .v
(A3saJ&ii&-&'jC,i