Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-28
NOT DRIVEN INTO RETIREMENT.
A Former Cabinet Officer's Affection
and Its Elect.
= Of TEE LvHSIsa STAR:

To the Editor Of TEE LvsSIss STAR:
The following. clipped from Mr. John F.
Coyle's "reminiscences of Washington, published
in Saturdays STAR, seems to me to require q
little correction:
The year Of which was speaking and which
was recalled to me by the death of Prof. John
H. Hewitt, was one full OF sad and painful in
cidents which transpired here. The calamity
on the steamer Princeton, by which two men,
bers of Mr.. Tyler's cabinet met their death,
was followed by the hanging o, NIdshipman
Spencer, the son of the Secretary of the
Treasury, by Capt. Slidell Mckenzie. a brother
of the late John Slidell of Louisiana. He
changed his name to inhe.i. fortune. The
whole country sympathZed with the afflicted
father, who resigned his cabinet position and
returned to his hone-New York. Mckenzie
was tried by eOurt-martial, but acquitted,
proceeding which did not mitigate the uni
yersGl condemnation which drove him into
retiracy, and where IN q few years he died"
In February. 1913. / came to- Washington
with nv mother 10 obtain the appointment of
cadet at West Point from the York Pa. dis
trlct, then represented Ct the academy by the
present Gen. William b. Franklin Gpd III Con-
gress by Hon. James Gerry. My mother and
were the guests of Mr.. James Larned. who
then lived IN the residence now No. SIC 18th
street. President Tyler mad just appointed
Hon. James VI. Porter OF Easton. Pa. to he
Spencer, appointed Secretary OF the Treasury,
bat still holding the portfolio of war. Accom-
panied by John L. Cochraue. whom Mr. Coyie
speaks OF IN the next paragraph my mother
and called on the Secrc Iary. Mr.. Spencer. at
his residence, which, it seems TO me, very
near Mr.. Blalne's present residence. II not
there. though Mr.. SpencCr-a cold. stoical-
looking mainland his family appeared crushed
under their heavy weight OF sorrow III the ter
rible affection from the tragedy OF the United
States brig SOmers.Ihey received Us kindly and
cOurteOusly and listened to Mr.. CocLrane's and
my mothers presentation of Ey claims
patiently and favOrably, confirmed afte-ward
By the actual appointment on the 9th day of
March. 1913, signed by j. c. Spencer and
brought that very day by Samuel Humes Por-
ter, chief clerk of the War Department. to my
mother ct Mr.. James Larneds. Nr. Spencer III
q few days entered the Treasury and Judge Por-
ter the war office, the former TO the great dread
OF his new clerical force. who believed HIM to
be a hard tasAmaster. McChntOck Young, who,
with his children, lived at Mr.. james Larned's
had been acting Secretary up 10 that time. i
think Mr.. Spencer remained IN the Treasury,
or If lie resigned it was time after the
PAINFUL and ua.c death of hi. son, Philip
Spencer. Soon after receiving my appoint
ment left Washington and III June proceeded
10 West Point; WAS admitted and purchased
1.-THE articles marked thus :" as my first mill
tary outfit. in June, 1877. / was graduated.
and after less than the Usual leave OF Absence
was ordered TO Mexico and jOUrneyed from home
10 New Orleans with my BROTHER and two of
my classmates. and with the former to Pensa-
cola, where became the guest OF Mai. Vim. II.
Chase Of the engineers on shore. and en- VOYAGE
on board OF the steam frigate mississippi OF Capt
Alexander Shdcn Mckenzie. We arrived on
October y, 1917, at Vera Cruz and anchored
at SacrIncios. barge or cutter coming along
side soon after We dropped anchor L went
ashore TO report for duty, expecting TO return
the next day, but a heavy nosth { set III and
prevented any communication with tho ship
ping while l remained in camp ut Vergara. l
saw Capt. Mckenzie afterward bu- once at Conn.,
Perrys shore headquarters and the next
heard OF EIHI was that he was dead. but do
not think the sad tragedy with which his
name Will be ever associated, keenly as a man
of his kindness OF heart but stern sense Of duty
felt in regard to it, drove him into retiracy.
II. q. GIBSON,
Colonel Third Artillery