The National tribune., 1888-05-31
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Tie Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital


present rank last week byEhe Senate Is WASH
snetcn boy, whose mother lives here quietly,
proud Of the brilliant attsinments of her son,
and still cherishing tender memory of her
witty and cratic husband, VINO was better
known to the world outside the old Regular
Army. by his writings under the signature of
John Phoenix" The elder Derby graduated
AS dad his son afterward-at West Point at
che head of his class, and thus into the Engi-
neers; but skilled as he was Ia military and
civil engineering, his pranl1s of pen and pencil
shade him much better known, though these
kept him constantly IN hot water. But little
cared he for hot water OF that kind; he rather
ujeyed knocking out the whole pedestal from
cnder human statue ofOficial dignity When
- was serving on the frontier many years ago,
I was garTisoned with several officers who had
known John Phoenix" Derby well, and /
Frieve that / cannot give now the many stories
4 heard OF his sudacious Jokes. Perhaps the
best Of although ] fear it is chestnutty-was
the one be had the sublime cheek TO play upon
Jefferson Davis when that person was Secre-
fsry of War. Just fancy young Lieutenant pre-
Stunning to guy the Secretary Of Wari Davis
had issued a circular, telling all concerned that
the service needed improvement IN various
ways, and especially in the matter OF arms aud
outfit for Indian warfare in rough countries,
and more particularly as 70 the transportation
Of small artillery. Derby gravely wrote q long
screed on the subject Of Transporting and ope-
apt with pencil as pen. added a series Of we'll
colored drawings 10 illustrate bis alleged ideas.
be would load each mule with two h0WltzeTs,
one on the hack pointing aft. and one under
the belly, pointing forward between the fore
legs. To operate, he proposed pointing the
mule stern first TO the enemy and firing, when
the recOH would turn the mule clear over SO
that the second gun would come in position,
and the second recoil would place the beast on
foot again ready for reloading the guns. The
drawings represented every position Of the ope-
ration, even to the movement from one posi-
ton 10 the other and depicted great slaughter
OF the ast0aished enemy. Davis was furious,
and ragged about threatening court-martial of
the offender, but Gov. Marcy, who was Secre-
fary OF State, happened to hear OF the matter,
and, sitter seeing the drawings, warned Davis
as soon as he could get his breath from laugh
ing so heartily-that If he took any official
steps IN the matter the whole public would
learn Of the case, and he would be laughed en-
hrely Out ot public life even If not out Of the
country. know the younger Derby-the pres
ent CaptSin-and he is as fine specimen Of
young American soldier as one could wish to
sec. he has & keen love Of humor. but I hear
its moi SO broad and yuugent as was lis fathers.
AZ old officer told me that he never In his life
felt such a feeling Of intense relief as OF one
occasion when be was proudly displaying some
new ard esudy article Of uniform, when Lieut..
Derby cane INTO the room unexpectedly and
looked al the article, for lac went out without
giving bin single verbal shot.
THE sBUFELDTs.
The daily papers here last week briefly re-
1errec - the curious case OF DR.. Robert ~ Shu-
feidt Captain and Assistant Surgeon, L. Army,
who has Tor some time past been stationed as
Post Surgeon at Fort WiHgate. New Mexico, and
] have before me the official papers that give
the details and prove this TO be The straugest
CnEa I have eyer kscVr7 of Dr EhnE-fat1.
home is mere in Washington, and be is the old
est son Of kcar-AdmiTal Robert w. Shufeldt,
1. 5. Navy, vino is the officer that only few
years ago succeeded in making the first treaty
with the Koreans, az did Commodore Perry
S0-Odd years ago with those other secluded
people. the Japanese. Dr. ShUfeldt was ap-
pointed in the army from here IN 1876. not long
after his graduation IN medicine, and was duly
sent 70 posi- on the distant frontier Of Arizona.
There he became somewhat interested in the
study Of the natural history Of that region 70
relieve the dull mOnoi0ly Of garrison life in
quiet times, but the more he studied the more
deeply interested he became. and finally made
some discoveries. which he embodied IN paper
read before some scientific society. and which at
tracteo considerable attention from nasuralists
at home and abroad. lie was immensely stilnu-
lated by bis Arst success and plunged deeper
into has self-impos1d studies with such ardor
that be began after awhile 10 neglect his official
more 70 the assistant that bis promotion TO
Captain lfOm Lieutenant entitled him TO. His
neglect was brought 70 the attention Of his De-
psrtmeBt commander. and lie was transferred
from Arizona 10 New Mexico under the idea
that the change would take him away from the
subject be was Studying, and turn his attention
again 70 lis uleCical practice. On the contrary
the change made matters worse, Tor in his new
he'd nc found q new class Of fauna that plunged
him with renewed ardor into his scientific
Studies. At last be almost wholly neglected
the sick and wounded. and so frequently com
planned q his cistaste Tor his profession that
renewed complaints were made aud last Octo-
Der be was called upon to explain himself to
the Secretary Of War, which he did in a most
remarkable letter. In that letter he saws: -
Em ~ reality a scientist; the routine duties Of
the army have At last come 70 have no place in
my miDo, and are now wholly distasteful to
ne, which duties include. the care Of the sick
and disabled and the charge Of a hospital. H.
deco, my mind Is given over. soul and BODY TO
my Lies work aud ] am rendered totally IN
htted T. undertake any more the kind Of duty
il mas been ny lot l. do" Again he saws. " Fl
Daliy the worry engendered by a constant
concern i0r tine safety OF valuable MSS and
eneraflii9s- transmitted through the mails has
mace serious iur0ads upon my health. and I
an personally aware THAT ny mind is at least
being affected by the strain"
Then Gen. Miles ordered a Court Of INQUIRY
at Fort AiHgate, with Gen. Ben T. Grierson.
Co0nel. l9lh Cav, as President which court
Convened list November, making its report IN
Apfll las. The report was to the effect that
ID. sha.1idt bad been so much engaged I'M
scientific studies that be had net given proper
attention 10 hls duties as Post Surgeon. that
his expressed distaste fos the practice Of mcdi-
cine bad created oistrust Of his efficiency; that
he evidently regarded bis position IN the
army only as q lucrative means 10 pursue his
scientific studies" aud that his mind has be-
come affected. Further proceedings were rec
onmeuoea by the court AS necessary IN the
cGsc.
After long study over the matter. Gen. Miles
Anaiiy proved tie findings and also the
opinion % the court that further PROCEEDINGS
D. this unusual and extraordinary case are nee
essary Three DAYS later, Nav u lie ordered
1cae!l Court Martial 10 convene Nav y al
Tor; nlngate 70 Try DR.. Shuieldt on charges
q ne-ierl q duty, and detailed full eonrf ~
y member with Capt Jesse a. Lee. 9Th Inf.
as Recorder. The case IS deemed So inluortau I
that The detail includes, besides Col Charles e.
Compton. 4tl Cav, three Lieutenant g lonels.
Tour Majors aud nve Captains. Three OF the
members arc medical officers.
Admiral sAuleldt resides on Seventeenth
street, 20 lhe corner OF DE Sales, and has two
other Sous besides DT. Shufeldt Lieut. Mason
4. sbuieiGts Y. >. Navy, is the young officer
WhO twice explored Eadagascar during tile
past l0 years and whose books gave the world
the first real k-ugFu sra nj o.,