Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-24
was very familiar at the Duquesne and
Pittsburg Clubs. .'
MEN WHO WILL BE MISSED.

TWO MEN WHO WILL BE MISSED.
1t was something new for the officers
stationed at the arsenal to- mingle in civilian
circles in Pittsburg to such an extent as
frequentinG the clubs, and perhaps Major Nc
Kee and Colonel Morgan, his assistant, are the
only two who ever entered heartily into fash
ionable life here. For that reason the Major
will be sadly missed now. He was one of those
hospitable Kentuckians whose suave manners
and charming style of conversation made cap
tives of friends on all sides. He is verv hand
some, with a distinguished military bearing.
Although he had magnificent Kentucky thor
oughbred in The arsenal stables, he was a man
who loved to walk. On almost any morning up
until his departure East this week he might
have been seen on Penn avenue, walking clear
in from the arsenal TO lunch at the Duquesne, q
distance of three miles
To be commandant at the Allegheny Arsenal
in these piping times of peace is to have un-
bounded opportunity to lead luxurious life of
idleness. The position is sinecure for there
is detail of only 25 soldiers at the post. and
the duties of the commanding officer are
merely to see that the place is taken care of.
He serves as dignitied hitching post for the
line of red tape which reaches here from WASH
ington. The officer is supplied with ample
cl srical force, SO that his office work amounts
to practically nothing. .--.
ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME.
A regal stone mansion, which is partially
furnished, horses, carriages, sleighs and
library are all among the fixed property at the
arsenal, which is temporarily the property of
every officer who is detailed here. The salary,
of course. is regulated by the rank which the
officer happens to hold. The retiring comman,
der, for instance being Major. received some
where in the neighborhood OF $500 yearly.
with his percentages added A certain per-
centage is added to the salaries of mounted
officers every five years.
The stone mansion of the commandant of the
arsenal is one of the Oldest houses III Plitsburg,
N1N his ale
in 1884 and is still as substantial more mod
ern structures. 1t is to the right of the parade
grounds going in from the romantic-looking old
gateway on Butler street. Trees and beautiful
shrubbery surround the mansion, and in sum-
mer 1t is a perfect paradise. Its counterpart is
found on the opposite side of the grounds.
where Colonel Morgan lives.
To go over the names of army officers who
have lived in this stone house, which is now to
be occupied by Major Phipps. furnishes remi-
niscences of many sensational episodes in the
history Of the nation. Its first occupant was
Colonel A. RIWooley, in 1914. He was detailed
to Pittsburg by the Government in the DAYS of.
the Second War of the Revolution to have
charge over the work of building garrison and
arsenal at this point. He remained until the
great enterprise was completed.
MAN HATED BY OLD HICKORY
Colonel Wooley had the honor of being hated
by General jackson. They had some en-
counie er in the war with the Seminole Indians,
and Wooley there offended jackson to such
an extent that the iron fighter threatened to
kill him at sight Some very old Pittsburgers
used to give as their recollection of W ooley
that he was something of martinette. To
this day his initials, "a. r. w." may be seen
on an oval plate, high up on the Butler street
wall of the huge armory stone fortress, or
armory building, in the lower grounds.
The officers who succeeded him, and who in
turn lived in the stone house, were Major r. L.
Baker. r.Major H. K. Craig and Captain Edward
Harding. This was up until the Mexican War.
After that there came to the arsenal to par
tcpate in its command Lieutenant T. j. Rod
man. whose experiments in Piitsburg gave him
undying fame as one of the greatest gun in
ventors who ever lived He was eminently
scientist whose capabilities the manufacturing
interests or this city gave f. ii play. His in
ventions were utilized by the Government, and
afrerward when he was partner of Gunmaker
Knapp, at the old-time Fort Pitt cannon
factory, on Pike streer. he hlled extensive con-
tracts, not only for this nation, but for the
Governments of foreign countries. At the
outbreak of the Civil War "Rodman guns''
were priced as invaluable.
SOME OF THE OTHER CoMMANDANTs.
Major William H. Bell ard Lieutenant 7. J.
Brereton also served as commanders of the
arsenal between 1850 and 1857. Lieutenant
Brereton was son-in-law of Mrs. Denny, of
PIttsburg, and there is an avenue in the
Twelfth ward now named after him
One of the most turbulent careers at the ALLIE
gheny Arsenal was that of Major John SYM
ington. who was the commandant there from
1857 to 1852 On the 24th of December 1850 he
received an order from Floyd, Secretary Of
War, to ship on that day $50 pieces of cannon,
lying at the Allegheny Arsenal. to New Orleans
under pretext that they were wanted for mount
ing on Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico. on
which some Notifications had been begun. The |
intelligence of this order having gotten abroad,
spread rapidly among the people. The DIS |
PATCH of December 25, commenting upon this |
news, said:
,sWilI our people submit To tbisp our citizens |
of all parties as unit denounce the movement |
and prominent Democrats, leading Breckinridge |
men, have telegraphed to Washington 10 have the |
order revoked "H The people of Alle- |
gheny county should see that the cannon pur- |
chased by the national treasure are not conveyed
to the far SOUTH and they need not barricade |
Penn and Liberty streets to pr event it. Let them
decide that no cannon shall be shipped till |
ChdrLestoR Arsenal is in possession Of the Fed
erdl Government and Fort Moultrie reinforced. |
AND NONE WILL BE.''
GUNS HELD ON WOOD STREET.
The italics and capitals are as orig |
lnally printed in the article. Commander