The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-23
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weekly Collection About the Ma
tiOnal Capital
DEATH OF GEN. ALvokD.


at his residence in this city on the 10Th inst
He was born in Vermont. and graduated at
West Point in 1888. From 1885 to 1o31 he
served in the Florida war against the Seminole
Indians and took an active part In the sklr-
mishes at Camp lizard in February and March,
1886: in the action at OloklIillha, March 81,
1896 and at TholonCtoSessa Creek, April %,
1886 On Sept. 2S of the same year he was pro-
NOTED to the rank Of First Lieutenant. From
1887 TO 1889 he was on duty at the Military
Academy. where, on Sept. 2S, 1887, he was made
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and princl-
pal Assistant Professor of Natural and EXperl-
mental Philosophy. After staying at west
Point two wears he went again into active serv-
ice on the frontier where he remained until 1871,
when he went again to Florida to serve against
the Seminoles He was twice brevetted for
gallantIy during the Mexican war, and breyet-
ted Brigadier- General during the war of the
rebellion. In 1876 he became a Brigadier-
General and in 1880 was retired at his own re-
quest after is years of continuous service. He
was the author of numerous essays and reviews
on mathematical and allied subjects, and his
work on The Tangencies of Circles and
Spheres has had a large circulation and IS
highly priced.
GEN. WAGER SWAYNE,
who was in the city during the week arguing
q case before the Supreme Court of the United
States, is a type of the grand, unSelfish Christ
ian soldier, of whom there were so many IN
our armies and who, in the traditions of the
English service, is represented by Gen. Have
lock. He is a son of the late Justice Swayne, OF
the United States Supreme Court-a man of the
highest abilities and the purest life, who was
the trusted friend and councillor of Abraham
Lincoln. Gen. Swayne was offered regiment
at the outbreak of the war, but with character
istic unsefishnesS he gave the Colonelcy and
Lieutenant COlonecy to two of his friends,
whom he felt were better fitted for the COM
mand, and took the Maorship himself He
went out with the ADD Ohio, and soon became
Its Colonel. Then his good soldiership won
him promotion to Brigader and Maior-Gen-
eral and Colonelcy in the Regular Army.
While commanding in the advance across the
Sallzehatchie he was struck by piece of
shell, in the thigh, and an amputation of the
leg followed. After the war he was made Mill
tary Governor of Alabama, in that capacity
showed such executive capacity and justice
loving spirit that he is one of the few Govern
ors Of the Reconstruction period who are re-
membered with affection and admiration by
the people they ruled. Gen. Swayne is now
one of the first of the lawyers of New York
City.
DEATH OF JAMES woRMLEY.
James Wormley, the proprietor of one of the
most prominent hotels in this city, died in
Boston Oh the 18th inst, where he went for the
purpose of having q surgical operation per-
formed. He was one of the most successful
colored men in this country. He was born
here of free parents about "a years ago, and
commenced his career by driving carriage for
his father, who kept a livery stable. In his
capacity as driver he made the acquaintance of
mauy public men, and was selected by them to
take charge of fashionable club house, where
he made great reputation as a steward, and
finally opened the hotel which has become
famous throughout the country as 'Normley S. !"
bncippSS md brif has cd
him to amass handsome fortune. Mr.. Worm
ley in the outset of his career received great
deal of encouragement from the earlier aboii-
tionists, and was looked upon by them as a repre-
sentative colored man. In Chas. Sumner he had
a firm friend, that statesman always making his
headquarters at Wormley's Hotel, and to-day
an apartment there is known as the Sumner
room" 1t was not, however, owing to any par
ticular patronage that the hosiery became
famous throughout the land, but to the skill,
energy, and business capacity of James Worm
ley himself, one great charm of his manage
ment being to make his house as free from tt e
rush and hustle Of an ordinary hotel and a
quite and homelike retreat.
THE EXTRAORDINARILY REPORT
In his annual report to the Secretary of
War the Surgeon-General of the Army SAYS
that an increased appropriation for the pur-
chase Of artificial limbs and appliances will be
necessary for the next fiscal year. Medical and
hospital supplies were issued during the year
to the amount OF $l66. 567, and the cost of the
supplies required during the current fiscal
year will probably exceed that amount by at
least $4,000. The total number of deaths
among white troops was $50, or IL per 900 of
mean strength an increase of two per 1000
over the rate for the previous year. The num-
Der of white soldiers discharged for disability
was S3S The total number of deaths among
the colored troops was % or 10 per 1000 of
mean strength, which is one per 1000 lower
than the death rate of the previous year. This
is the lowest death rate yet reached among the
coiored troops, and the first time that il has
fallen lower than for white troops. The num-
Der of recruits examined during the year was
6,263 white 453 colored and 239 Iudan scouts
The number rejected was 2,0I white and LAG
colored.
THE MERIDIAN CONFERENCE DELEGATES.
On Thursday last the delegates to the Inter
national Meridian Conference were presented
10 the President, at the While House, by Sec
Rotary Frelinghuysen. who, in a short speech
spoke OF the purpose of the conference and ex-
pressed the hope that the result of its action
would be satisfactory. President Arthur re-
sponded in few appropriate words, saying in
the course Of his remarks that 81 the opportu-
nifty which this conference has afforded to
bring together, for one friendly purpose rep
resentatives of widely separated peoples, can
not but increase the spirit OF good will and CO.
operation which should exist between them"
In replying to President Arthurs speech, Ad-
miral Rogers, the President of the Conference
said that, although not absolutely unanimous
In their opinions, the conference had been gov
erned by the most friendly spirit and by the
common desire TO secure the greatest good with
the least possible inconvenience to the world
ct large.
THE RTERMASTER-GEGFRAL's REPORT.
QuarteTmaster-GeneralH olabird, in his an
nual report, just submitted to the Secretary of
War, urges the necessity Of assembling the
troops in larger and more permanent posts near
Indian reservations, and in proximity to the
great strategic points Of the country adjacent
TO its valuable public reservations harbors and
forts The report shows that transporta-
tion was provided by the Quartermaster's De-
partment, by railway, etc, for 70,S75 persons
and large number Of horses, mules, ETC., at
cost of 81, $685. 35, of which 1894, 1872 was paid
for the transportation Of persons. The total
cost of maintaining the vessels Of the Quarter
masters Department during the year was
$l0l,S94. In abiding to the National Gene
teries the Quartermaster-Generalm mentions the
unsatisfactory condition of the approaches to
the Arlington Soldiers Burying Ground, the
road from the Acqueduct Bridge to that point
being in very bad order The report also shows
that there are now 81 National Cemeteries, con-
tanning 81 ,633 interments.
THE ARLINGTON.
Whoever is elected President Cleveland or
Blaine, viii probably stay at the Arlington
when he comes here before the Inauguration
On the rare occasions when they have had to