Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06
MuRRAY,S MUSINGS.
Dick Croker's Vindication Before the Fas-
sett tCommittee-ArtiIlery Men Love the
Golden Gate-President Cleveland Not
So FIesby m. When mt Wn.hingtou.

Dick Croker's Vindication Before the Fas.
sett tCommittee-ArtiIlery Men Love the
Golden, Gate-President Cleveland Not
So FIeshy as When at Washington.
rFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
JUST as was predicted in this column at the
J time of the sensational charges Of one Nc
Cam against Mayor Grant and Tammany Boss
Croker, the investigation develops the fact that
the whole thing was based, on women's tattle.
Mr.. Croker's unexpected return from Europe
at the risk of his life to confront his accusers.
and the putting of Mrs. Croker on the stand to
corroborate her husband, knocked the spots
out of the whole story. The bold braggart who
was ousted from the restaurant in Central
Park, and who because thereof put these lies on
the credulous market, became under the eye OF
Dick Croker, in the presence of the lnvestt-
eating Committee q mere whimpertng. sniVef-
ing spiritless hound. Even the partisan com m.
litical capital out of the event, was afraiu 70
put bin on the stand. It was disgusted Inc
presence of Mrs. Croker during the cross-e1-
animation of her husband and her own COT.
roborating testimony took all the sand out OF
her brother-in-law, Mccain, and her s1stef,
Mrs. McCann, behind whom that Drotner-ln-
law sought in vain to hide.
In view of all the facts, what would nave
been the result had Boss Croker died in Ger
many without a chance to be heard in his own
defense? What remedy would his wife and
Iilous and defamatory articles launched upon
his head2 Everybody here knows that there
would have been no end of accusations heaped
The tms sartS
short. He was charged point blank and con-
tinuously with having run away on account OF
numerous crimes and misdemeanors, the
smallest OF which would have 1usrned his In
carceration in the peuitentiary. Up to the very
last day preceding his hearing before the COM
mittee he was excorlated as thief, and Mrs.
Croker, sweet, retiring lady of private life,
taunted as an accessory and dared to go on the
stand Now, what was the resultf After hear
ing these two witnesses the committee incon-
tinently adjourned and the whole people of
New York with the exception, perhaps. OF q
few irreconciiable County Democrats, sympa-
thize with and believe Mr.. and Mrs Croker.
After all OF this torrent of personal Vilincatlon
the root Of the difficulty is discovered to be in
the fairy tales of jealous married sister and
an angry brother-in-law. 1t is now admitted
that this brother-in-law wonld never be be-
heyed under oath even by his best friends.
Now, looking at all sides of this last political
row. what wonder that the New York news
papers have such a slender hold upon the
sensible public.
A Highly CoI0red Affair.
THE newest style of fashionable Broadway
costume looks like paint shop struck by
lightning.
Wall of the Arfillerymen.
WHILE over at Fort Hamilton the other day
Imet Lieutenant Van Ness, of the First
United States Artillery, which has recently
been transferred from the Pacific coast Lieu
tenant Van Ness belongs to the famous Van
Ness family whose mansion of a hundred years
ago stands upon the banks of the Potomac be-
low the White House and has been the subject
of undying interest to the Washington corre-
spondent. 1 remember some 10 or ID years ago,
ul,an tbaU Uar, nsnlnn w TQmOVl0
from the heart of the city of Washington, near
''G" and Tenth streets, 1t had stood there Tor
half century and was one OF the landmarks OF
the earlier capital The city authorities, now
ever, removed it by legal decree, and the tomb
has been restored where it now stands. Lieu
tenant Van Ness was mere boy toward tue
close OF the Rebellion, since which ne mas peen
in the service where his father was before him.
There was a vein of pathos in his tone when
he informed me that he had been for ZS years
in his present grade rs First Lieutenant OF ar
tillery. He stands at the head of his grade,
however, and will probably be rewarded with
the next captaincy which becomes vacant.
That is TO say, If no eX-army officer IS restored
to the army register unexpectedly to interfere
with his promotion. If our navy officers, who
kick SO much about the slowness of promotion,
would glance at the chances of a young subal-
tern of artillery, they would feel that they had
much to be thankful for. was surprised to
learn from the officers thus transferred from
San Francisco that the most of them regretted
the change. In the army and navy 1t is popu-
larly supposed that New York is desirable
post. 1t seems, however, that, SO far as the
United States Artillery is concerned, that San
Francisco is much more desirable. While Fort
Hamilton is very pleasantly situated, overlook
ing the lower bay and commanding the Mar
rows, through which passes most OF the COM
merce of the Western world, and the quarters
of the officers seem to be in every way suitable
for such an insignificant post, the surroundings
OF the military station at the Colleen Gate are
in every respect more pleasant. There are
always more or less close friendships to be
broken by such a transfer. The very fact that
the soldier must leave his favorite horse be-
hiud him, and is separated from his family and
daily acquaIntences of guns and equipments,
and must take what is offered him at his new
post, Is not without the elements OF deep re-
gret.
If you could hear one of these men recalling
the memory of the horse he had trained to his
personal use or speaking fondly of the cannon
his own hands had helped daily to burnish you
would think that these objects animate and In
animate were craven on his heart The guns
we left behind u.s. said Lieutenant Fan Ness.
as he gazed contemptuously upon the lacquered
piece before him and speaking as man might
speak of the girl he had left behind him, shone
like FURNISHED silver. Look at these"
THE horse had in San Francisco" said the
sergeant softly stroking the slick coat Of the
animal in the stall, II had trained to answer
the bugle and to lie down and rise up at the
word of command. Ahi he was a beauty!'
And thus officer and soldier retain green
spot the memory of their humdrum LIE OF
peace, very much the same as man cherlsnes
in his breast the sweet remembrance OF Wlte or
sweetheart from whom he has been separated
by war.
Not Very Desirable situations.
THERE is a small bay line railroad or steam
tramway skirting South Brooklyn, fanked