The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-06-28


partment had passed upon the case; but any
how, the affair created a great sensation all
over the country, coupled with intense indig
nation at Harding and Admiral Amy was so
mad that ne hasn't got over it yet. Do you
know" he told me- " that the blamed sc0undrel
had the sublime impudence to call at my house
in Brooklyn after the war TO SEQ me. ] sent
him about mighty quickly, cOnfound his i'm
pertinence."
Harding was at once dismissed the service
and sent 10 prison, aud Belle was also locked
up think il was in the Old Capitol here,
but I'm not certain. Years afterward Hard
ing was sent on an Arctic expedition as my
assistant (both Of us being obliged to ship be-
fore the mast 20 get on bOard) for New York
paper He was utterly worthless, shiTked
work, put himself promptly the sick list,
and acted generally SO badly that he was trans
ferred TO the Juniata at Upernavik, in North
Greenland, with the record Of " a malingerer
on his transfer papers.
Admiral Amy has a very comfortable for
tune, lives handsomely up on Vermont avenue,
and being fond of society is to be seen at most
OF the fashionable parties and dinners around
town, as was Gen. Sherman when he lived
here, or Gen. Stewart Van Vliet. He belongs
to the club, and haunts the Navy Department
just because his go years of service make hem
feel at home there.
One mistake chance acquaintances make at
times that had best be avoided for fear of an
explosion. The question is sometimes asked
him: You were at Mobile Bay with Farragut,
were you nOt2" His face gets purple, and
when he can speak he blurts out: No. sir: |
never was with Farragut on the Mississippi or
in Mobile Bay. You are thinking of Alden,
sir, IN the Brooklyn, sir, who slowed down to
report tOTped0es in his way. If I'd had the
Brooklyn Farragut wouldn't have needed to
damn the t0Tpedoes and tell me TO go ahead
No, sir" And l don't believe Farragut would.
THE THOMAS STATUE LIGHTS.
One Of the handsomest improvements made
in Washington for many day has just been
completed by Col. John M. Wilson, Corps Of
Engineers, and superintendent of Public Build
ings and Grounds at the Thomas Circle, where
the equestrian statue of the old hero Of Nash
vile stands.
When the Army Of the Cumberland lovingly
placed Gen. Th0mas's statue there years ago, a
handsome pedestal was erected by the Govern
ment, and at each corner of the base was placed
a tail lamp post.
All these years these tall lights have fared
broadly each night, and being so close under
the statue the effect was to brilliantly light up
the under side Of the neck, part of the legs
and most Of the belly OF the horse, while the
image of the great rider could scarcely be seen
at all, except on nights when the moon aided
in the illumination. 1t looked CHASTITY.
When Col. Wilson who served in the West
during he war was appointed to his present
duties three years ago, his artistic taste which
had led BIN also TO be offended with the effect
OF the lights on the statue, determined to re-
move the lamps TO better positions, but on
looking into the matter found that he mustob-
tain the consent of certain officials of the So
ciety Of the Army OF the Cumberland. This
he obtained after a tedious correspondence,
and, as | said above the change has just been
completed.
The effect is wonderful in more ways than
one. The four lamps have been mounted on
handsome granite blocks about three feet high,
placed just by the low coping that bounds the
circle north and south on the line of Four
teenth street and east and west on the II street
line. Thus, one lamp on Fourteenth street is
directly faced by the horse and rider, with the
other directly IN line in the rear, while the
others are directly opposite the sides Now,
riding or walking by at night, the whole statue
Is distinctly visible In the second place. the
new positions Of the lamps beautifully out
line the broad, grassy lawn Of the circle, and
not the least Of ali, the close view now per-
mitted Of the posts show them to be maguifi-
cent works Of art
They are Of bronze, the bases spreading cut
and resting On carved lions feet and claws
while the column rises symmetrically for 10 feet
TO where three branches extend out to hold
huge gas globes. Above these the shaft rises
4yAA AEgL ~ EAALA anu buppDILS Il HuBt JalEtTD,
where three broad jets add to the volume of
light. The carving on pedestal and shaft is
perfection the extending branches are wreath
ed with oak leaves, and each lantern is crowned
with a bronze eagle. Very few people here
knew before the change was made what beau
tiful works Of bronze these lamp posts are and
Col. Wilson is entitled to the thanks of the
soldiers who followed Pap" Thomas, and of
the aTt-l0ving community at-large.
A FAMOUS CAVALRY CHARGE.
In conversation with Gen. PIeasonton short
time ago, he gave an account of the charge of
the Sth Pa Cav. at Charlottesville which
places the famous 600 charge at BaIaclava, in
our opinion, considerably in the shade. 1t is a
conceded fact that this latter event was a seri-
GUS and gross mistake, and has been attributed
TO too much rum. But that Of the 8th Pa Cav
was made when the Eleventh Corps had been
routed, and were in a complete state Of de-
moralizati0n, for the purpose of gaining a
/ little time TO reform some of the scattered and
! panic-strickcn forces and place some batteries
/ in position TO rcpel the attack which Stone
wall Jackson was contemplating, aud which
I was shortly made. Gen. Pleas0ntOn selected for
! this purpose Maj. Peter keenan,, of the sth Pa.
/ Cav, who, with about 400 men of his regiment,
| rode deliberately upon the bayonets of Jack
/ sons whole corps, and more than 200 of these
brave fellows laid down their lives to save the
]
! upon the bayouets OF the enemy.
Every man in this heroic band knew it was
a forlorn hope, and not a man faltered. but
went to his almost certain death with more
/ than Spartan courage, for which thOse.who did
/ survive received the grateful acknowledge
meuts Of the commanding officers and the men
+ whom they had saved from humiliation
After the battle Gen. Lee communicated with
I Gen. Pleasonton by flag Of truce, stating that
/ he had had Maj. keenan, buried with the hon
/ OTIS Of war, as such bravery as had been ex-
hibited by this officer and his men meritcd
and received the highest possible respect from
I brave enemy. The body Of the brave Major
was delivered up TO our forces and taken to his
/ home in Pennsylvania to be buried again
/ among his own people.
In our opinion this charge was much more
| heroic, and required a different kind of cour-
/ age than that which has been so celebrated, in
the fact that these men knew nothing Of what
| was going TO happen. while every man in the
5th Pa. Cav. was fully aware of the awful risk
to which he would be subjected.
TURKEY MOROCCO.
It does not follow that, because the embryo
| Father Of his Country could not tell lie, the
denizens of the city named in his honor arc
/ equally veTaciOus.
his was illustrated by news lately received
Of the doings and sayings Of a Washington boy
the son Of prominent official at the State De.
partment, who went West some time since e
grow up with the country, and, in pursuance
Of that laudable ambition, started out in thu