Mohave County miner., 1889-04-20

Hbb W uirCoseT WHICH Oi JDefu mas auLnOr-
ity TO order the court martial OF Major
Ames, court martials Of retired officers
being so rare that precedent Is hard to
find. In the meantime Major Ames ID
assured that there will be no unnecessa-
ry delay. Major Ames lis the self-ap-
pointed aid to the marshal OF inaugnra-
tion day, Governor Beaver, who made
such q nuisance Of himself by trying to
force his way into the procession, and
later by tweaking Governor Beavers
nose in the Ebbitt house lobby. IL is
suspected that the Majors reason is az
fected.
There is something touching in the
courage Of the Office seekers who remain
in the city through the epidemic Of pneu-
monia that has resulted from exposure
during the terrible weather Of inaugura-
ton week. The storm Of Saturday, one
OF the widest In local records, only
served to hold the would-be statesmen in
their respective rooms for little while,
hardly long enough to catch breath for a
further race.
Among the deaths laid al the door oi
the inauguration Is that of James Chris.
tie, assistant doorkeeper Of the Senate,
and one Of the most characteristic figures
about town. Thirty years aao Mr.. Chris
tie, then White Mountain lad OF l6,
came to Washington NJ page In the
Senate, where he remained In various ca.
pacities untal his death. He was ap.
pointed 10 his last position, which was
especially created for him, in 1872. He
was great fayosite with Senators Of both
parties, He will bc chiefly remembered,
however, as the best Judge Of terrapin
and canvass back duck in Washington,
and as an infallibie critic In wine. He
was the ideal bon viyanf. The breath.
less anxiety evinced by the celebrated
caiercr, John Chamberlain. as he would
wait Mr.. Christis's verdict In such gas
tronomic matter as wine, or boiled vir-
ginia ham, was silent tribute 10 genius.
People who have induigently laughed
over the regulations and mismanagemen,
Of the poor-honse ma;ron In "Oliver
Twist" with a mental reservation 10 the
effect that Dickens fancy was too vola.
tile, have been awakened by the charges
just preferred against ths matron OF the
Washington poor-farm. II In charged
that she allowed notorions filth and
nasty morals 10 have full sway, never
going near the buiiding unless under the
influence Of whisky and opiates. About
fifty notes written by her TO the house
physician are exhibited. They are re-
peated orders for six ounces Of laudanum,
alternating with requests for still larger
amounts OF whisky. The woman appears
to be tank, and her thirst is equal TO
any stimnlnnt. Just at present the dis
trict commissioners are grayeIy debating
whether or not they shall proceed to q
formal investigation without sworn
charges. And that IL why the town
laughs.
The court martial 20 long in session
has reported TO the Secretary Of War its
verdict in the Lydecker-Townshend case.
1t will be remembered by the gentle
reader that these are the doughty war
riors who were detailed 10 supervise the
construction Of the Washington acqne-
duct. This acqueduct was q gigantic
swindle. Some Of the work is the worst
imaginable. and whole blocks OF it are 80
bad that ii would cost more to fix it than
would be needed to build an entirely new
one.
Lydecker is specimen Of the careless,
selfish, vain and grasping military ser
want Of the people," SO called in mild
sarcasm. As engineer officer of the dis
triet he first distinguished himself by the
lavish use Of public money in the pur-
chase Of horse and buggy and the nee
essary trimmings. The trimmings were
the things that exhibited his genius. The
lap-robe cost about $50, and, mark this,
was beautifully ornamented with the in
itial "L," and promptly charged to the
United States.