The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-07-05
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
The Weeks DOiIgS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital

northern
tory which presents the strangest mutations
have ever known OF IN one lie.
] see the old man frequently. and each time
I feel impressed with something Of sadness.
he is of medium hight, spare IN build, stoop-
shouldered. aud his by no means handsome
face is ss,arsely decorated win ragged growth
Of dull-red beard, bis head being covered with
8 bushy shook OF hair OF the same color. lie
is rather shabbily dressed at All times, and IN
the Winter days ] used to fancy that he was
too thiuiy clad.
He is Edmund P Gaines. and is the only
surviving Sob of that II ai.-tEeu. Gaines who was
once the senior general officer OF the United
States Army. He and his wife, who Is some
where near the same age, are cEildless aud from
what have noticed they are IN very much re-
duced circumstances
When Mr. Gaines was born his father was
commanding what was known as the South
ern Department" the United States being then
divided into two commands by line that gem
orally followed Mason aud DIxOns line"
Mai Gen. Macomb being in command OF the
Northern Department.
Gen. Gainess headquarters were at New
Orleans. and he enjoyed lie as well as very
large fortune would enable him 10 do. During
those DAYS a little woman who had recently
lost her husband. one NAituey, was making
desperate fight TO establish the fact that she
was a legitimate child. aud the Widow Whit
Her battle for good name involved tue 20
immense ates held bv others and thus she
was confronted by wealthy corporations and
persons.
1t was sorely unequal FIGHT but the little
woman was plucky, au4 many persons became
interested ia her behalf Among these were
Mai-Cen Gaines. Gen. Gaines, then a WidOweT,
finally went 10 the little, lair-haired Widow
Whitney one day and said. Mrs. Whitney, !
am an old man; / know of your case and believe
IN the truth aud justice OF your claims. i
know that you have not Jhe means 10 carry the
matter through the courts to which your
wealthy opponents viii appeal. and, therefore,
all viii Toe lost. ] cannot, uor do 1 expect any
thing so absurd a. ttat y3a couid love an old
man like me, but want yen TO be my wife. l
am very rich: IN a very few years ! viii pass
away. and then yoa viii nave my fortune TO
back You in youg battle and provide Tor your
children until vou can gain your rights. and
meantime you sha have all the money you
need for the purpose. by own children are
provided for. Think Of TINS carefully and let
me know your decision"
1t was d strange proposition, but Widow
Whitney Thought the matter over, saw how
noble the plan Of the old man was, and the re-
suit was that in a few weeks she became Myra
Clark Gaines.
The battle 10 prove herself the true and law
ful daughter Of Daniel Clark began afresh,
tinned until il became one OF the most famous
law cases ever known in tais OF any other coua-
try. Gen. Gain 5 lived number of years after
his marriage 10 Myra Clark Gaines and, dying,
gave all his f0rlu e 10 her as he had promised.
Mrs. Gaines told me many years ago. when re-
lating the incidents / have written here that
while there was ouly deep gratitude 10 her
aged husband ar first. there came next deep
admiration for the nobility Of character that
LED him 10 take such step and long before he
died a deep and sincere affection.
She was nearly 20 years Of age when she told
me this, yet there Were unmistakable tears on
her cheeks, and Gen. Gaines had been dead for
many years, and she could scarcely speak for
emotion.
Edmund p Gaines. have heard, inherited q
considerable fortune from bis mother. How
he lost it ] do not know bat be irifted here TO
Washington, and gh~n frst saw sirn, about
1866 be had been 9r many years clerk IN the
Treasury. He was then in the Secretary s
Office. at tie bead Of the Law Division, that lad
charge of revenue matters, and had the Tcputa-
tion then q being the best. informed man 10 the
United States ali laws relating to the Gus
toms and internal Revenue.
! had lost sight q hlm for years past, but
when removed 10 the northern part Of the city
year ago, Sound him living as I have told.
How Or when be lost b IS place I'D the Treasury
1 dent know. but 81 seems shame that the son
n
position IN one o. The Departments here and
especially one WHO has proved himself SO emf
nently capable. II Is one IF those men OF IN
tense Vitality-like most red barred men-thai
he is more like man Of 40 70 day than Of over go
SEVENTY YEARS AN OFFICER
Not more than a month ago ] was 1t the Wal
Departm eat one day when j saw AutterinC
around very short, rather stout. rosy faced
man Of apparently 60 years Of age, whose
moyemeuts and Jolly ways strikihgly reminded
me Of one OF Dickeus's theeryble Brothers.
became interested I'D BIN, for ] saw that ht
was apparently an Army officer and yet didn'
know ham or even remember ever having seer
him before.
1t was the then Oldest officer in the &. s
Army,-iOr he was mustered out last week -
Capt. Benjamn KING Assistant Surgeon IRE
tired aHd be had ruu over here for the day from
his home near Annapolis. where be has LIVED
since his retirement - years ago. he JUS
came over 70 take look a the old boys, hj
said.
he was the Oldest Array officer in years, 70
Gen. william 5. HaFaey, who has long beer
supposed 70 be the oldest. aud who entered th,
service eight months earlier was four years hi
junior in years.
Capt. King was born near Annapolis IN 1896
while Gen. Washington was still the head o
the Army. De studied medicine IN AnnaBoii
and Baltimore, and Oct. j., l-I8 at the age 0
Wa tii3lLtcl fSlI Mate ia the lEh h
S. Int la those day each regiment had al
Assistant Surgeon and q bate, while the Surg
cons were attached 10 the headquarters Of geo
graphical departments and districts. In ISL
be became 2l Assistant surgeon. AMI IL was 40
until the Mexican war February, 1877. Q
years later, that be became a Captain. Tn
outbreak Of The rebellion found him still
Captain, and promotion 10 Major had no
reached him when be retired IN November
1863
If our young officers IN the service grow
nowadays about the sl0Wness of promotion
what shall we thiuk Of the state Of affairs /,
the Army Medical Corps before the war. vine
al officer serves % years as a First Lieutenau
and follows that with IS more as CAPTAIN
until old aye forced reiiremeut2
] was perfectly astouished when I learae
who that CHEEKY little man was. for ] kner
enough o. him 20 have a good idea Of his I'd
vanced age. Gen. Harvey At s. looks ever
day q his great axe. aud is feeble bat this ID
"Cheeryble" King WAS as brisk afo0t as a ma
Of 90 aud didn't look day over three-sc0re.
When DR.. King was retired he went back
his Old-time home, where he has lived cy,
since, and from seeing him can imagine VIII:
happy, conteuted aud peaceful life he live
among bis descendants, amid the scenes Of h
youth Death came 70 him suddenly and pail
lessly.
GEE. ABSALoM BAIRD
II VIII be q great source Of qualification
very many people here. in aud out OF Il
service. that Gen Absalom Baird now tho n