The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-16
A MEMBER FROM TEXAS
A PICTURESQUE AND ORIGINAL
STATESMAN AND SOLDIER.

How zen. stone or kentucky
Belriended Needy Veteran.
Copyright 1851
WASHINGTON. Dec. 15.-The most Iowa
bic of the quaint characters in the house is
Major William II. Martin of Texas. He
was born in Alabama aud went to Texas
thirty-eight years ago. He settled in the
district SO long represented by John H.
Reagan, and he is now congressman from
that district When Reagan was sent to
the United States Senate there was long
and bitter struggle for his seat in the house.
The nominating convention was in session
several days. Ballot after ballot was taken
unavailingly. The delegates were worn
out. Their hotel bills were increasing, and
there was apparently no way out of the
difficulty Finally an old confederate SOL
der placed Maj. NJ rtin in nomination.
The competing candidates rather laughed at
the idea. The major was a plain, old fash
ioned lawyer, with cattle ranch and un-
sullied character. He hadn't an enemy in
the district His heart warmed toward
everybody, and everybody's heart warmed
toward him. He had served throughout
the war in Hoods Texas brigade. In one
derness he distinguished himself
at a critical moment. Hancock's corps had
made Judgement that threatened disaster
to the confederate line. Gen. Lee made
repeated efforts to recapture the position
Nettled by these failures, "Uncle Robertn
placed himself at the head of the rexa;
brigade, intending to lead final charge in
person. At this tall, lean, lank officer.
bronzed by Virginia suns, laid his hand
l,,.l H. ,F,l,.
der. "Your place, general" sad he. sis
thar" pointing to the rear. "Your life is
too valuable to be lost. The safety of the
army demands its preservation. Your
presence is not necessary for the Texas
brigade to do its duty
The tall officer was Maj Martin. With
tears in his eyes he implored Gen. Lee to
90 to the rear, and trust to his children
from the Lone Star State. He finally
turned the horses head to the south, and
led the animal to a place of comparative
safety.
Then the Texas brigade faced storm of
bullets With fixed bayOnets they dashed
beneath the pines, and after fearful con-
fiict they drove back Hancock's troops and
held the pc ition. 1t is said that this Incl
dent is commemorated by a large painting
in the state house at Austin. Certain it is
that the democratic congressional conven-
tiol remembered it. They swamped all the
other candidates and nominated Martin b
reclamation.
When Mai. Martin came TO Washington
his homely manners and quaint ways at
tracted the attention of the repo. ters
They treated him very much as they would
have treated Davy Crockett in days gone
by. He was accused of bl wing out the
gas at Wizards. of breaking his finger
nails on electric buttons, and of setting his
watch by dials in horse cars. All these
stories were untrue. Their repetition in the
newspapers. however, made the major
character when the louise was organized
Guides eagerly pointed him out to visitor
and contributed to the stories already
afoat. The majors appearance increased
the interest Of those VINO saw him. He is
over feet tall. He wears a road-brimmea
felt hat and his snow-gray locks, long and
curly, would have done credit to the court
of Charles ii. He has the face of vet
eran. 1t is scanned and bronzed by time and
exposure. The eyes are gray and sunken and
the brows bushy and Shaggy. The Major is
about 65 years old. Heis careless in dress, and
he usually saunters around the house with
unhuttoned waistcoat and his hands in his
pockets his cuffs futter from his wrists
like the wings of dove. His linen is not as
white as snow, nor are his boots of a mirror
like polish, but he has heart as warm as
that would grace many resident of Fifth
avenue. No man is more punctual in his at
tendance at prayers, and none more dev0ut
He never misses the meetings of the COM
mittees on patents, and on coinage, weight
and measures and he has been absent only
three days since the tiftieth congress com
menced its work. He chews the finest of
plug tobacco. When the proceedings IN
the house become wearisome he rocks him
81 -, i, taI nhnf,-
from cheek to cheek, and whiting like q
Yankee. Paul Renonard, the Partisan art
list, caricatured him in HdTpef''S Weekly
The sketches pleased no one more than the
Major himself. They illustrated the only
set speech made by him on the floor. 1t
was a tariff speech delivered at a night se5
sion. L. had been studiously prepared, but
the light was so bad that the Old man could
not see his notes. He made fanciful ar
gument, but it lacked lucidity and symme
try. None who heard it can ever forget il.
1t was extremely fervid, and was garnished
with the sweeping gestures characterizing
eloquence on the border. While the speecn
was being delivered, two of the ma or's
congressional friends paid a predatory visi
to the capitol grounds, and tore two huge
bouquets from the lilac bushe'. Being ha, d
pressed by the police, they scaled balcony
of the capitol, slipped into the house through
OuS speaker lODD1, tlou u Diodl, NhlOS SLlh
ribbon around the e. ibute, and placed it
upon the veterans desk. "Old Howdy,n as
he is affectionately termed, was delighted
He is the only man, thus far, who ha,
drawn + Ill galleries at an evening session.
An affecting story is ahoat in Washington
illustrative of the majors warm heart. He
saw in a newspaper an announcement of the
arrival of the twin daughters of his old
General John B. Hood. The general died in
New Orleans years ago. The major called
upon the orphans and showed them every
attention. He accompanied them to the
white house and secured them an intToduc-
ton to the wife of the President Mrs.
Cleveland treated them with great kind
ness and courtesy. She afterward returned
the call and did everything to make their
visit to the capital pleasant.
One Of the warmest friends OF the major
in congress is tho Hon. John II. Motif, o.
Franklin county, New York. Mr.. Motif is a
republican. While q private in New
York regiment, he met the Texas brigade
at Games Mills. They lett him sorely
wounded on the field of battle where he re-
NAMED all night in tue rain. 1t was III
honor of these two old soldiers that the
Congressional Press Club gave dinner last
winter. The table stood beneath bower
OF roses. A miniature cannon guarded each
mans plate. The wines were exquisite, ana
the dinner was one of the costllest OF the
kind ever given in Washington. Tbs
menus bore the majors portrait. None at
tie table was more happy than the two
soldiers, who fought their campaigns anew,
ofs1 ANFlAFa 80 ffa