The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-22


Senator Quay, the Chairman of the Repub
lican National Committee, appointed Mr. A.
7. BrttOn, of Washington, Chairman OF the
Inaugural Committee, and George 3. Lemon
Chairman Of the Finance Committee, and they
at once took active steps to insure the largest
demonstration ever before seen in this country
on such occasions. Committees OF leading cltl-
zens for the various duties connected Herewith
have been appointed, and the work of collect
inc money to defray the expense has been going
on at a lively rate, more than $4,000 having
been subscribed within few hours after open
ing the books.
A committee OF leading business men waited
on the Postmaster-G General one day last week
and requested delay in the removal of the
City Postotiice until after the 4th of March, so
that the court of the Pension Office could be
used for the Inauguration ball. Postmaster
General Dickinson stated that he would do
everything in his power to grant the request,
and would tell the committee at some future
day whether this can be done legally. This is
the only suitable place in the city for such an
affair, and the Pension Office was built with
special reference to its use for this purpose. In
fact this is the only excuse for many of the
architectural anomalies which characterize that
tcpendous pile of brick. 1t is TO be hoped that
the Postmaster General can find the law pliable
enough to grant the request.
Large numbers of military and political bodies
from all parts of the country have already signi-
fed their determination to be present and take
part in the ceremony. When Gen. Garfield was
inaugurated the Militia of Pennsylvania was
ordered here by the Governor Of the State and
made that procession the grandest ever seen
on a like occasion, and when President Cleye-
land came in they sent over 5000 soldiers to
swell the procession which escorts the new
President from the Capitol to the White House.
On these two occasions the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company furnished the troops free trans
portation. This they refuse to do on this &C.
casion, saying that they have done so heretofore
at great expense, and they are not inclined to
keep il up. In consequence of this determine
ton on the part of the railroad company, the
| Pennsylvania Militia as body is not likely to
swell the procession which will attend Gen.
Harrison on his way to the White House, as
there is no appropriation available in the Key
stone State for the transportation OF troops
outside the Commonwealth. But large num-
beTs of the militiamen Will pay their own way
to participate in the Inauguration OF the Presl-
dent they did so much toward electing.
REAR-ADMIRAL BALDWIN.
Another of Farraguts veteran commanders,
and almost the last one of those who were
| with him in the desperate passage of Forts
! Jackson and st. Philip, died last Saturday noon,
/ Nov. IL, at his residence on Fifth avenue, New
1 York city.
Rear Admiral Charles Fl. Baldwin was born
in the city of New York Sept. 8, 1922, and en-
! tered the Navy April "a, 1899 with the appoint
ment of Midshipman. He was promoted to
/ Passed Midshipman July 2, 1915; to Master
/ Jan. II, 1853. aud to Lieutenant in December
! of the same year.
Wearying of the inaction and dull routine of
/ service after the Mexican war, in which he
/ took gallant part on the Pacific side about
I Mazatlan, and being possessed of comfortable
/ fortune, he resigned his commission Feb. Is,
! 1874 and raturuad 70 Npw York
Thoroughly loyal, he, like others who had
| left the service rendered his services at once
! to the Government when the rebellion broke
! out in 1861, aud in November of that year was
appointed to his old grade of Lieutenant and
! at once employed in experimenting the altera-
ton and fitting out of the Clifton for active
service. This vessel was one of half a dozen
or more North River ferryboats that the Gov
eFnment in it's sore straits purchased and alter
! ed, but all of them did good service in the
/ war and were much better seaboats than it was
! expected they would prove.
When Farragut's feet rendezvoused at the
mouth of the Mississippi, the Clifton, with
/ Lieut.. Baldwin in command, formed part of
! the second division Of the feet.
In the fierce battle at the passage of the forts
| the vessel and her commander did excellent
service, and when Farragut steamed on up the
river past Port Hudson and Grand Gulf to at
tack the already formidable batteries at Yicks-
/
count of himself and his ferryboat that in the
! following November he was commissioned
! Commander in the regular establishment in the
| Navy, and served therein until his death.
/ In 1868 Commander Baldwin, was placed in
| command of the fast ocean steamer Vanderbilt,
| which had been altered to an armed cruiser,
| and was specially detailed to huut up and
chase down the pirate Alabama. The story of
the cruise of the Vanderbilt for Is months
would read like very romance of the sea, for
! Baldwin chased the pirate over more than half
| the seas of the world, only to learn with vexa-
tion at last that Winslow's luck had enabled
the Kearsarge to sink the Alabama off Cher
bourg.
Next he served at the Mare Island Navy
| Yard, California for three years. and was Chief
| of Staff in the North Pacific fleet when
/ promoted TO Captain in June 1869. He next
commanded the flagship Colorado for q cruise
in AsiatiC waters, during which time the feet
forced the Koreans to acknowledge the right OF
Americans TO enter their lOng-locked country.
In August, 1876, he was promoted to Cemmo-
dore, and from that time his residence was
almost IS much in Washington as in New York
He did duty here as member of the Light
house Board and of the Boards of Examina.
ton for Promotion and for Retirement, and
was on other special duty here. Jan. 81
1883, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, and was
at once sent out to command the European fleet
where he was still serving when he reached the
age of 81 years Sept. 5, 1884, and was placed on
the retired list. Since his retirement he resided
in Europe for the most of the time, and he only
returned from his last trip to the south o.
France in September last to die.
As an old sea faring mans song says:
His anchors down; his sails are furIed:
His cruise is ended for this world
His work good. his years were ripe;
And now he waits the BO'sns pipe.
CARELESS LETTER WRITER'S
As usual, the annual report of the Superin
tendent of the Dead Letter Office shows aston
ishing carelessness on the part of a vast numbe
of people who write letters There were re
ceived during the year the enormous numbel
of 6,2I7, S76 pieces of dead mail matter an in
crease of 49,, 5l3 pieces over last year. OF thi
number i, S00,6l5 were ordinary unclaimed let
ters 1891 bore fictitious addresses, and I73,
70S were returned from foreign countries a
unbelievable. OF the number of pieces opened
: 90 12 contained money, amounting to $35, $50
1867 contained postal notes, aggregating So,
795; %, 1913 contained negotiable paper, etc
valued at $l,3I3,0I9; 1858 contained miscel
laneOus papers, etc, and 93,84S contained arti
Giles of merchandise, books, etc.
Is He ANXIOUS TO RECOUP?
If, as is reported, the President is anxiou
to sell Red Top and wants $l5000O for it, h.
, must be scheming in that way to recoup him
, self for his $4,000 contribution to the cam
pagn fund and his loss of the savings on hi