The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-01
4 e

The WRATH OF WAsHINGToN.-An anecdote
I derived from colonel Lear shortly before his
death in 1916, may here be related, showing
the height to which Washngton's passion rose,
and vet was controlled 1t belongs to his pri-
vate life which I am dealing with, having oc-
CURED under his own roof, while it marks pub-
lie feeling the most intense, and points TO the
moral of his life. I give it Col Lear's words
as nearly as Lean, having made note OF them
at the time.
Towards the close of winters dayln 1871,
an officer in uniform was seen to dsmount in
front of the presidents house in Philadelphia,
and giving the bride to his servant, knock at
the door of the mansion. Learning from the
porter that the president was at dinner, be said
he was on public business and had dispatches
for the president. A servant was sent into the
dining room to give the information to Mr.. L..
who left the table and went into the hall where
the officer repeated what he had said. Mr..
Lear replied that, as the presidents secretary.
he would take charge Of the dispatches and de-
liver them at the proper time. The officer re-
piled that he had just arrived from the wes-
tern army, and his orders were to deliver them
with all prompitude, and to the general in per-
SON. out that he would wait his directions. Mr..
Lear returned and in awhispers impaired to the
president what had passed. Gen Washing
ton rose from the table and went to the officer.
He was back in short time, made word Of
apology for his absence, but no allusion to the
cause of it. He had company that day. Ev
erything went on as usual. Dinner over, the
gentlemen passed to.the dining room OF Mrs.
Washington, which was open IN the evening.
The general spoke courteously 10 every lady
in the room, as was his custom. His hours
were early. and by 10 o'clock all the company
had gone Mrs. Washington and Nj. Lear re
mained. Soon after Mrs. Washington left the
room. n
The general now walked backward and for
ward slowly for some moments, without speak
ing. Then he sat down sofa by the fire,
telling Mr. Lear to sit down. To this moment
there had been no change in his manner since
his interruption at the table. Mr.. Lear now
perceived emotion. This rising in him, he at
length broke out suddenly, "1t's all over, st.
Clair's defeated--routed; the officers nearly
all killed, the men by wholesale; the rout COM
plete-too shocking to think of-and a surprise
in the bargain"
He uttered all this with great yeLemence;
then be paused got up from the sofa and walk
ed about the room several times, agtated, but
saying nothing. Near the door he stopped
short and stood still for few moments, when
his wrath became terrible.
"Yes,'' he burst forth, s'here on this spot,
took leave of him; | wished him success and
| honor; you have your instructions from the
secretary of war, had strict eye to them,
and will add but one word-6eUare Of q surprise.
| [ repeat it, BEWARE OF A sURPRIsE!-you know
how the Indians fight US He went off with
that as my last solemn warning thrown into his
ears. And yet! to suffer that army to be cut
to pieces, hacked, butchered, tomahawked by
surprise--the very thing | wished to guard
him against! Oh, God! oh, God! he's worse
than murderer! how can he answer for it to
his country, the blood of the slain is upon
him-the curse of heaven
This torrent came out in tones appalling
His very frame shook. It was awful, said Mr..
Lear. More than once he threw his hands up
AS he hurled imprecations on St. Clair. Mr..
Lear remained speechess, awed into breath
less silence.
The reused chief sat down on the sofa once
more. He seemed conscious of his passion,
and uncomfortable He was silent His ex-
element beginning to subside, he at length
E said in an altered tone: ''Ths must not 60 be-
yond this room" Another pause followed
longer one--When he said iE lower tone of
voice: "Gen ST. Clair 81 all have justice; | has
ty looked through the dispatches, saw all the
disaster but not the particulars | will receive
him without displeasure; [ will hear him with
out prejudice, he shall have full Justice
He5was now, said Mr.. Lear, perfectly calm.
Half an hour had gone BY. The storm was
over and no sign of It was afterwards seen in
f his conduct. or heard in his conversation. The
result is known. The whole case was invest-
gated by congress. St Clair was excul pated,
and regained the confidence Washington had
in him when appointing him to that command.
He had put himself in the thckest of the fight
and escaped unhurt, though so i'll as to be car
ried on litter and unable to mount his horse
without help.
AN ELEGANT INVENTION morning Mr.
Matthews, of the firm of Messrs. Denman d
Matthews. Carondelet street. showed us a sno
del of new carriage wheel, which appears to
be great improvement on those now in use,
being much stronger through the increased
number of spokes and rivcts. The wheel is
thus described by the patcntees:
The spokes, instead Of being framed into a
hub, are formed into an arch upon collar or
disc, with an aperture through its centre for the
point of the axle to pass through. The box
has two hanges, the inside one being stationa-
ry, the outside one movable. The wheel after
it is put together upon the ring or Disc is placed
upon the box, and the outside fiange screwed
on, bringing it close against the inside tiange,
that securing the wheel permanently to its
place upon the box, and making it firm and
substantial, giving a finely finished and hand
some appearance.
The inventor claims over the common wheel
"a greater amount Of strength at the circum
ference by increasing the number Of spokes,
= without weakening the centre of the wheel
We never use less than eighteen consequent
ly we can make the teltoes and tire lighter
We get the full strength Of spokes at the face
,pf the hub, nothing being cut away from the
4. teffBfIs he tire will not need resetting, az
theresWllahe no yielding in the centre Of toe
: wheeITa common difficulty in wood hubs The
wheel must be perfectly true, as the boxes and
fanges are turned from common centre, and
= . If,x-T