The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-02-28
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks Doings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital

%
guard was stationed both day and night. 1t
was highly important 70 have for this Office
two men who could be relied upon 10 obey or
ders; so Senator ingalls,, the President OF the
Senate, chose two soldiers because, as he knew,
the discipline Of the army permits no side
views Of a subject and the only thing remem-
bered by one educated ia that severe but ef-
fectual school is the order of his superior I'll
Ger The two men selected were Capt. Z. A.
Wood. Of New Hampshire, for night duty, and
Col L. D. Bumpus, Of Pennsylvania, through
the day, when the building is filed with ali
kinds Of people, making his charge very re-
spOnsihle one.
Now there is one fixed rule in the Senate
that all must obey; when the electric bell
sounds the call for a secret session, the CALLER
les and Hobbies must be cleared and it SO hap
pened that in a very few days after Col. Bum
pus had been placed at his post, with the order
70 stay there tin relieved, an Executive session
was ordered; but in the hurry and scurry of
visitors. and employees clearing the galleries
and lobby, the sentinel sat still at his post
Pages, hurrying out themselves warned him
TO retire, but he sat like the sphinx; messen-
gers called 10 him 20 follow, as they, too passed
out, but he never budged; the doorkeepers,
coming to close the doors, ordered him out, but
he refused TO recognize any orders but those
under which be was acting; even the dreadful
threat Of reporting him to the Senate failed to
terrify the soldier in the performance Of his
duty; he would not desert his post.
Senator ingalls, had vacated the chair for
awhile, and was not present TO decide the mat
ter. so q messenger was sent for him in hot
haste 70 turn out this obstreperous individual,
who was defving the whole Senate Mr.. ingalls,
came; but Mr.. ingalls, did not order him out
not bit Of it; to the contrary, he praised him
for his obedience, and gave orders that he
should not be further molested.
This circumstance made the gallant Colonel
quite prominent for the time, and visitors pass
ing through asked to be shown the soldier who
would not leave his post, even for the United
States Senate in sacred Executive session as
sembleo. And as they passed the broad shout
dered. silent sentinel thus faithfully guarding
the interests of Nation, many who had never
thought Of il before learned the majesty of that
obedience which our soldiers learned at the
lannon's mouth.
Col. Bumpus is of medium hight. solidly
built and sOldierly in bearing. He entered the
service in the 57th Pa. in 1861 as a private SOL
der when only IS yesrs of age. and at 81 was
promoted 10 the command of his regiment
One may presume, therefore, that the very same
staying qualities characterized him when q
boy, TO have brought him at so early an age
such a speedy succession Of promotions from
the ranks.
When the votes were finally counted in the
Hall Of the House of Representatives, as Capt.
Bsssett, the Assistant Doorkeeper of the SEN
ate, bore the certificates Of election locked up
securely in the brsss-mounted boxes, at the
head Of the procession of Senators and officers,
the two guards walked one on each side of him,
and stood guard still till Benjamin Harrison
was declared elected President of the United
States.
Conversing with Col Bumpus q few days
since, he told me OF curious matter that was
connected with his regiment. Said he:
- had name on the rolls when was Cap
thin .nffl T II
50 peculiar that I do not believe there is another
case ike 1t in al the war annals. 1t was the
name OF soldier who was hired by Miss Annie
Blake OF Pittsburg, as her representative in the
struggle for the preservation Of her country.
The mans name was Howard II. Stoughton:
he had served three years on his own account,
and when he was mustered out, and possibly
for some domestic reasons, could not enter the
army again, this noble woman made il straight
for him By paying a good round sum to enable
him 70 20 back, with the stipulation that his
name should be recorded on the rolls as her
representatives and 1t was SO carried on the
rolls till the close of the war.
We have been discussing he continued,
whether this gallant woman would not have
been entitled to pension had Stoughton been
killed. In point Of fact would she not be enti-
tied 70 q service pension for that year of his
time should such bill ever be passed? This
Is question for our comrades to decide"
OLD ROsEY" IN THE HOUSE.
1t was soldiers day in the House Of Repre-
sentRtives last Friday.
After hrs. Sheridau's pension bill had been
disposed Of by passing it-frst reducing it from
$500 to &, 500-the Senate bill for the retire
menf OF Gen. ROsecrans was brought up This
net with some rather unexpected opposition
from certain members, who are still smartinQ
under " Old ROsey's" opposition to a like bill
for Gen Grant, and several speeches worthy
OF better cause were made by these over
jealous friends Of him who said Let Us have
peace" But the friends Of the measure strong
in the right, had the best of It. and the crown
ing Bat Of elOquence was contributed by Hon
d. b. Henderson, Of Iowa, who followed Rose
Grams at COrinth, where this gallant young
soldier lett one OF his legs on that dreadful
day and as he stood up in the midst Of hi:
associates last Friday, while the crowded CALLER.
les and floor of the House hung breathless on
his words, painting his Ord-piciure of Rose.
Grams as he charged the foe, the effect was
electrical. when IT comes to doing Justice by
soldier who has brayely served his country
know no politics" he began, and then he struck
the keynote Of the trHest patriotism. The
Iact that =" Gen. Grant and Gen. Rosecrans ex.
changed courtesies that were not courteous
had nothing 10 do with the question at issu,
either, in the opinion Of the square de-
Scotch American.
WEAR THESE FOB MY SAKE"
The embarrassments Of the British Legation
here did not end with the dismissal of the nm.
lucky Lord Saekville for his indiscretion In
writing letter expressing his true sentiments
and that Of other Englishmen, and allowing
the same 10 become public at an exceedingly
critical time for the Admin istrstion he was try.
ing TO assist Just now another member of til,
Legation IS quite as deep in the tureen as hi
respected chief The name of the gentleman
who IS doing the immersion act in the SOUP Il
george barclay, an attache, and dude of th,
dudes his first appearance before the pnbli,
eye was on account Of bet made with mem
Der OF the New York forcing house for dudes
the KnickerbOcker Club-that he could %
home, put on his dress-suit and be back inside
OF ~ minutes. Barclay won the bet easily. re
turning 70 the club in correct costume inside n
seven minutes Barclay is very much smitfeI
with Miss Letter, daughter Of the Chicago mar
who made several millions selling Ar9oslea,
prints ana Mamsutta musins He is very as
siduous IN his attention TO the fair daughte
Of the pTairies, and last week ordered a boy O
nne Mowers 10 be sent to his lodgings for her
At the same time he ordered some fine yooIe,
drawers for himself, y hich arrived about m
anne time as the flowers, and in a similar-size,
box. The young Briton wrote on the bacl, =
hls card, Wear these for my sake" and tol,
his man 20 deliver il and the box Of flowers !
Miss Letter. The man delivered the wron,
box. and all Washington society Is attic
over it,