Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-14
ODD CHARACTERS AT THE CAPITOL.
Claimants and Eccentrtcs.


seat of the left hand Senate gallery. He Is
known as the prayer 1end." In rain or shine
he is punctually on hand. At ten minutes be-
fore twelve o'clock he shambles in, takes his
seat and quietly waits until the chaplain
begins his prayer. Then he rises, throws his
body back to an angle which may some day
lose him his balance; poises his head even to a
more extreme backward angle than his body,
and rocks on toe and heel until the amen is
uttered, to which he responds. Then he re-
sumes his seat and generally remains until the
session closes, particularly If there is debate.
He is quite evidently conservative and strict
constructionist. If the Congression al debate is
at all enlivening, he is the NEST excited specta-
tor: II democrat speaks Of the solidity Of the
asS esn how aFoa
ed the galleries, the old man will nod
his sol head .approyiDgly, clap his hands, and
this & sTkng He Is
and thin; more than six feet high. His frame
is angular; face spare and Shrunken. He has
little tufts of gray side whiskers, otherwise his
face Is always cleanly shaven. He dresses in
plain black, wears cloak, ana carries a cane.
His eyes prOtrude well out of their sockets and
have restless look. If he happens to come in
late, no matter who may be in his seat. or how
much difficulty he may have to encounter TO
reach 1t, he will crowd his way to his place and
GUST anyone who may be In it. He is we'll
known to all congressman as the one who keeps
NEST Jealous vigil over their proceedings. The
name of this odd character is Powell Cuthbert,
Virginian by birth. OF late years he seems to
income which cannot be alienated from him In
bis life time barely sufficient to keep him, and
hnds peace in his latter days in the congress
sional gallery.
ANOTHER CONSPICUOUS CHARACTER
is an old lady named Alm1ra Thompson. She
has claim. In fact she has. presented claim
to every Congress since the 43d, and is daily in
attendance both in the gallery and the commit
tee room to see how it Is 'coming on" This claim
is for services alleged to have been rendered as
hospital nurse. Almira has temper OF her
own and woe be it to the congressional solon
who refuses to treat her with consideration.
When the House is in session she goes to the
gallery, n and frequently y manages a to get seat
her because, as he alleges, she is crazy. 1t is
amusing to see the old man try to "cut" Almira
dead. She will sometimes sit by him and talk
at him fifteen or twenty minutes without being
able to elicit response. Then Alm1ra will get
mad and will take hold OF him with both hands,
turn him around so as to face her, whereat the
viii ~ deien to make reny i resume .oiIs his
position in which has been disturbed
and feign sleep to dodge her attentions.
one Of f poDs snd
times proves really an advantage in the gal
lery: If she happens to be near any one who is
willing to listen to her she will point out the
leading members, either praise or abuse them as
episodes of Congressional debates. She has an
especial liking for Ferris Finch, the file clerk of
claim to the catacomb of the files with each re-
curing Congress.
PICTURE OF THE CLAIMANT.
The appearance Of this character is striking.
She is tall, well-preserved old lady of about
sixty, straight as an arrow and as proud as
Lucifer. Her eye is coal black, flashing and
expressive. Her hair is gray, worn In pro-
fusion Of curls which hang over her forehead.
She bears evidence that In her more youthful
days she must have laid claims to superior
ordinary e good looks. She % wears a faded faded gray gray
dress and an old plaid shawl On her head she
wears modest and matronly white cap. No
IS her
livelihood is supposed to be precarious.
THE NAN WITH A GRIEVANCE.
Another character who, up to few months
ago, was daily visitor to the Capitol is Colonel
Maurice Pinchover. This man has grievance.
He seems to be haunted with the phantom Of
clares that Colonel Scott, years ago, robbed him
In railroad transaction, stole his money, and
reduced him to penury. He carries with him.
usually; M TN case about Two feet e long and six
some kind. Originally it might have been q
tracing Of plat of ground and the cross Sec
tions, but whatever it was in its primitive state
1t is unintellg1ble now, by reason of all manner
OF additions which have been added to the
tracings by the mischievouS One day last sum-
mer. when the House was engaged in an exciting
political debate, Pinchover came to the Capitol
with woolen shirt, saturated in blood, and
which he declared was the shirt worn by him
when he was assaulted by Tom Scott on the
plains of Colorado. Pinch0ver also has claim.
All that he has ever yet succeeded In explain
ing is that it is for million dollars,
and Is connected with mine of some kind,
which Scott robbed him of. Since the present
session begun he has not put In an appearance,
and it Is believed that he Is over the Eastern
Branch. At tunes he is dangerous. Journal
Clerk Smith on one occasion filled the tin case
he carries with mucilage. When P1nchover dis
have done Smith bodily Injury had he not fed
1ncont1nently out Of range.
AN UNBLUSHING CLAIMANT.
Another persistent claimant, who comes to
Congress everp year, is John C. Mcconnell. His
claim is for 81, ,26O, and has made its appearance
in every Congress for years. It has for basis
the alleged fact that the claimant rendered
service to the United States in recruiting three
hundred men In Maryland for a Massachusetts,
regiment. Last summer Gen. Bragg, chairman
of the war claims committee, in reporting ad-
versely upon it said:-'"This claim has been re-
jected at the War department and the Treasury
department., when all the parties who knew Of
the transaction were living and the vouchers
now alleged to have been lost were in existence
1t has since been rejected by the committee on
war claims, and now presents itself to this COM
mtttee having only one merit In its favor-,t7a-
blAsing persistence. 1t is time this raid on the
Treasury should cease. The committee report
adversely"