New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-18
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON
THE CAPTURE or THE ALBEMARLE.

The CAPTCRE OF THE ALBEMARIsE.
A FAIR EXCHANGE NO RoBBERY-Two BRAVE MEN
SERVING EACH UNDER TIE OTHERS SAME-~
LIEUTENANT CUsn1NG's GOLD CHAIN.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIDUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. ia discovery, which
Treasury officials say uncommon, resulted from
the publication in THE TRIBUNE three weeks Ago Of
the story of Daniel George, Of the captors of
| the Rebel ram Albcmare. George was an applicant
for an increase Of pen sion the ground Of total
physical disability resulting from injuries re-
ceived in the service. and the published
story was portion of his record presented to tho
| committee. Two members Of the Pensions Com
| mittee united in adverse minority report upon
the ground that the record unsupported by any
evidence except the word OF the applicant, and this
was deemed insufficient Treasury official,
through whose hands the accounts Of the Abe
| marie's captors had passed, saw THE TRIBUsE's
dispatch and called the attention of The
| TRIBUNE correspondent TO tho fact that
no one by the name of George had
| been connected with the sinking Of the ram. The
records were referred to, and this statement WAS
| borne out.
| 1t was recalled by the correspondent, however.
| that the report of the Pensions Committee men,
toned the fact that George had taken the place oil
| another man. who was drafted but did not wish 10
20 upon the vessel from which the expedition was
The cornmittee's report thereupon referred TO,
and from it the fact was learned that
William Smith was the name of tho drafted mar.
| and that Smith and George had exchanged papers
and names With this information the Treasury
records were again searched and the papers IN set
tiement of the accounts. both of William Smith aud
| Daniel George, were found. Georges story was
borne out in so far as its main features con-
cerned, no having received his dschargc.
bounty and prize money under the name
| of William Smith. At the same time,
| it was found that the real William
Smith had been sent upon other service, and had
| been mustered out and paid prize money for par
| ticipation in the capture destruction OF other
| Confederate vessels always bearing the name Of
| Daniel George.
| The requirements OF the Treasury Department
very strict, and 1t very rarely the case that
man serving under an alias has ever successfully
| prosecuted claim without being compelled 10 dis
close his real name THIS perhaps the first discov
cred instance where two men have exchanged
names and both succeeded in getting their dues
without disclosing the fact of the exchange Tho
conoealment is however, not discfeditable or pre-
| judicial to any claims either may have.
| Another story in relation to the capture of tho
Albemarle was recently told to a TRIBUNE cor
respondent by gentleman who learned II from
ing TIE TRIBUNEs paragraph. few
evenings before his vessel sailed, Lieutenant
| Cushing the leading spirit in the Mbemarle adven
| tnre visited his relatives among whora were some
young lady cousins who greatly admired hiin and
were proud OF the distinction he had already won,
One of them at his departure took from her neck
| gold chain aud gave II to him, asking him to wear
1t when he next went into action Upon the night
| of the Abemarle adventure, before entering the
| torpedo boat, which 1t was expected might prove
to be his tomb Gushing dressed himself in full uni
form aud bcdecked himself in all the insignia 70
which his rank entitled him, wearing IN addition
the gold chain clasped about his arm. outside his
| coat sleeve and above his elbow.
| The explosion which sank the rebel ram also
wrecked the small boat upon which her assallants
| had approached and Cushing and his fellows found
themselves IN the water where all bat Two, one
| being Cushing himself, were Afterwards taken
| prisoners by the Rebels The lieutenant managed
| to secure a position upon piece OF the boatinq
| wreck and in the darkness successfully avoided
the boats OF the enemy: /. After tune
| Cushing divosting hmsef f of his outer clothing.
which he left upon the floating wreck, swan back
to his ship, aud thus escaped capture, having suo-
cessfuy performed one OF the brayest feats Of The
war. HIS coat. with It's gold chain attachment, fell
into the hands of the enemy, and the story of the
chain having been told to the rebel chief. 1t was
| given to one of the prisoners. who after his ex-
change restored it to Cushing himself
SALARIES IN THE NEW-YORK POST OFFICE.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17.-POstmaster Pear
son, Of New-York, recently applied fr on additional
annual praton OF 900 to be used In increasing
the clerical force in his Office. The Commission ap'
| pointed some weeks ago by Postmaster General Howe
10 examine varDus post offices with view OF ascer'
tanning If any changes that could be made to
render service efficient In reporting upon the
NewYork Post Office recommended reduction OF about
$4,000 the higher grades OF salaries. The CoDmis-
sion, referring TO the request OF POSTMASTER Pearson
Tor an additional amount OF $4,000, recOiniiended
that be granted but that the $4,000 10 be taken from
the higher employees should be added T. new
of Sl 900 In order TO make u the snouns
asked for The report OF the Commission was today
approved by Acting POstmas neral HattOn- and
Postmaster Pearson was informed accordingly.