The National tribune., 1885-07-02
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
DEATH OF CAPT. PHELPS.


after which he visited the coast of Africa on
training cruiser, where he distinguished him
self IN a case of uutiny, for bravery. Durlns
the Mexican war he was attached 10 the Bonita
and took part in several engagements. In 1oo'
he went with Lieut.. Calls to establish an OBJ
servatory at Santiago, Chill. In 1882 he re
turned to this city, where he soon after married
Miss Lizzie Maynadier, daughter OF Gen May
nader of the Ordnance Corps. At the out
break of the war he was sent 10 Norfolk, ant
assisted in the destruction of the Gosport Navy
Yard. Afterwards he rendered gallant service
under Gen. Porter on the Mississippi After
the fall of Fort Donelson he commanded tho
ironclad Benton aud sank the rebel vessel Gen
SoYall. He also participated III the BED Rivel
expedition, where he commanded the Eastport
During one OF the hottest fights the Eastport
was wedged in, aud rather than Surrender
Capt. Phelps blew up the vessel with his own
hands, aud escaped in one of the boats III
1864 he returned to Washington, and after
having served his country for over 80 years h'
resigned. After leaving the navy he became
connected with several business enterprises, ons
of which was the establishment of the first line
of steamers between San Francisco and China
he was warm personal friend of Gen. Grant
and on one occasion was rendered the mission
10 Belgium, bat refused ii, and was appointed
Commissioner of the District of Columbia III
1875, which position he held until 1885, when
he resigned on account of i'll health. In June
1883, be was rendered the mission to Peru by
President Arthur, which he accepted.
THE PROPOSED NAVAL SCHOOL.
On July the school proposed by Commander
Scbiey for the instruction of seamen in the I'M
proved armament of modern vessels, will open
at the Navy Yard in this city, with class OF
20 sailors who have been selected. Another
class of 20 will open August l at Newport
The latter will receive torpedo instruction fol
six months. at the end of which time it will
come 10 Washington and the class here will GO
10 Newport. The instruction at the two points
will conclude at the end of one year, when
new classes will be formed. Commander Schley
says of the plan: Z" These men are TO go on
vessels at the end of the years instruction
and act as teachers of other men who may be
on board. Our sailors have not kept pace with
the advance in gun machinery. The Govern
ment is TO blame for this, for since the war
DO attempt at Improvement in guns has been
made until within the past year. Now we
have no improved guns, nor men to handle
them if they should DC obtained. The ball ol
the war fired at modern vessel is like a pea
snapped at a window pane. We expect to Sc.
cure new guns and viii need men TO handle
them"
THE NEW ARMY OFFICERS.
1t is expected that within week the recent
graduates from the Military Academy at West
Point, 80 in number, will be assigned to their
regiments and posts of duty. at the present
time there are fifty-four vacancies among the
officers Of the Army, of which sixteen are in the
cavalry branch, seven in the artillery, twenty
nine in the infantry, and two in the engineer
corps. After the assignment of the West Point
graduates the non-commiSSioned officers who
have passed the examinations by the boards
convened by the various departments will be
assigned. Twelve men were ordered before
examining boards. 1t is believed that six oi
them have successfully passed their examina-
tions. This viii make total of forty five men
TO be assigned, leaving nine vacancies to be
filled. The question has been raised whether
or not these vacancies will be filled by civilians,
or be allowed to remain untitled until the grad
nation of the large class of 80 at West Point
next year 1t is thought that the President
will appoint civilians to the positions, and allow
Congress to provide for the prospective grad
uates.
7atre POLITICS IN DOG DAYS.
The President continues to make haste
slowly" In appointing Democrats to office. The
ciamor OF the disappointed ones shows little
abatement. They grumble because Republi-
cans are not turned out with greater alacrity,
and they find fault with half the appointments
that are made. At the Post-Office there is a
good degree OF activity. Every day a consid-
erable number of the $1,000 Postmasters in the
a
ship" and good Democrats appointed in their
places. Many Democratic Members of Congress
are here with long lists of changes they are
anxious to have made in their Districts. They
besiege Col. Villas from the rising of the sun to
the going down thereof. The crowd of office
seekers in Washington is by no means as large
as two months ago. Many of them are continu.
ing the bombardment from home at long range
SUPERINTENDENT FOR MOUNT VERNON.
On Friday last Mrs. Laughton, of Pennsylva-
MIA, and Mesdames Townsend. of Albany, n Y
Halstead, OF Newark, n. j.; Walder. of North
Carolina. and Mitchell, of Wisconsin, of the
Ladies Mount Vernon Association. the com
mittee designated to select Superintendent foI
Mount Vernon, met in Philadelphia and ap-
pointed Mr.. Harrison Howell Dodge, of George.
town, ID. c., TO the position. AT the last ses-
sion of the board a number of improvements
were decided upon, and the expenditure oi
quite large sum of money was authorized in
repairing the buildings and grounds. These
changes will be carried out to the extent of the
plans adopted, and later On if others are found
necessary they viii be made.
PROMPT PENsIoNING.
Acting Commissioner of Pensions Mclean
granted a pension on Monday of last week in
Just twenty minutes. His attention was called
TO paragraph in a newspaper regarding .
woman named Cox living in Philadelphia, who
was terribly burned the other day. The woman
was the mother of a large family of children
and the paragraph stated that she had an appli
cation for a pension on file as the widow of q
soldier. Col. Mclean hunted up the record o!
the case, approved il, and in twenty minutes
the back pay and allowance was on the way to
the woman's home.
MISCELLANEOUS AND PERSONAL.
A brother of the late Vice President Wilson
is employed as guide at the Bureau of Print
ing and Engraving at salary of so per day
Secretary Whitney's invitation to officers OF
the Navy and others to submit plans to him fol
the construction of steel cruisers has had the
effect of bringing out from Admiral Porter
who has been for some time engaged on the
work, the plans of vessel which, if she viii
do all that is claimed for her, cannot fail to
prove valuable addition to our Navy She il
to be kind of combination boat-a ram, tor.
pedo boat, and gunboat all in one She will
run backwards or forwards with equal speed
and facility, carry very heavy armor; and
in addition TO ali this she is to attain a tre
mendous speed.
Among the applications filed in the Depart
ments for positions are some literary curiosi.
ties. There is one from Rhode Island mar
who wants to be appointed Medical Examiner
in the Pension Office. His Endorsement and
application were inclosed in a large and es
thetic envelope. This envelope was inclose6
in handsome Russia leather portfolio Their,
are diagrams of various surgical operations per
formed or alleged to have been performed by
the applicant. Some of these are very cleyerl,
executed and are realistic. There are also tive
original poems by the applicant. Each poem il
tastefuliy engrossed. The title of one is :" u xor
ct Matri Victoria Est" and another, I" Hew t.
- ...1 A. e =.