Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-17

some time in the Government insane
pital As he is now harmless and beyond
ability to deceive any one, it will not
necessary to give his full name. 1t will
enough to call him "the Colonel" He
always known as the Colonel, even In
most brilliant days, although he had
'er served in any army and had never
smelled gunpowder.
lie Bamboozled the War Department.
through mere force of assumption he
lie the grave and dignifed War Depart
Mt grant him the honors due to a full
lone! of the regular army, and it was
ough the Adiutant General of the United
ties Army that the Colonel was intro
ced in England to Lord Wolseley as an
Ger of rank and consideration in the
vice OF the War Department. This sue
sful adventurer played great part in
history during the eventtul winter of
g and 1877, the year of the Tilden-Hayes
pute. At one time the Colonel was ab-
utely the arbiter of the situation, and
Id in his hand all the threads of those
iicate negotiations which were carried on
ween the managers of the Republican
5ty in the North and the political leaders
the South.
saw the Colonel at short range during a
mber of years and was an eyewitness
some of the principal phases of
career I sat at the same table with him
the hotel where he stopped when he first
ne to Washington and received at various
nes enough of his confidence to keep me
ii informed concerning his career After
nd, when he became SO successful, be-
ne sufficiently interested to make an in
Stigation and learn the exact truth of his
al history.
He came TO Washington early in the
inter- OF 1876 as anewspaper correspondent
presenting daily newspaper in the city
New Orleans. The Colonel was then in
neighborhood of 45 wears of age. There
Is nothing particularly V striking about his
pearance; there was nothing to suggest
e military character that he afterward SO
I'll played. He was small, undersized
an with slight stoop and a rheumatic
up.
A Distinguished Looking Face.
His face, however, was rather distinguished
oking. His head was large, his forehead
IS very full and broad; his iron gray hair
as cut very short; his color was good; his
es were very dark brown and most per-
asiye in their expression; his nose was q
lall aquiline: a slight gray mustache
AIDED his mouth. In front of each ear
as small dab of English whiskers. The
olonel came to Washington unknown and
lheralded, He seemed chiefly remarka-
e in the early days for his ability to adapt
mself to every situation. He had not
.en in Washington more than a month
hen he adopted the most careful and pre-
Sc dress of what he called "le haut
onde." He discarded the soft black hat
the South for the stiff high hat of the
orth and East. He attached himself very
on to the Louisiana Lottery Company,
ID so had larger income to crafty his
stes, which were extremely social.
No one ever saw the Colonel drunk. He
as very careful and abstemious in his hab-
S. He devoted almost his entire attention
Washington society. He made as many
lis as the wife of cabinet officer. In the
sv-going society of Washington any one
ho is well dressed and deports himself
th decorum and dignity can go very near
where he likes. The Colonel had evil
ntly never found so inviting field. He
tached himself to the diplomats by telling
EN- remarkable stories of his power and
huence in the South. He made many
lends emong the Southern men because he
presented Southern paper, anu Wnen
th them he was the most unreconstructed |
bel living. The wife of the Spanish Min
er was pleased with mis- formal politeness |
d attention, and honored him at nearly |
cry entertainment with her special favor. |
He Was Brilliant Imitator.
II was during this winter that the Colonel |
cided the role he was to play. He saw |
e attention given to officers in society at
ashington and decided at once that he
,uId become an officer. As he was then
wing the role of being an extreme South
gentleman, he could begin by being
hing less than an ex-Confederate officer.
apc was ever more initiative. He studied
wsvs OF the Southern Brigadier and the
.aiion was SO perfect that never heard
outharn gentlemen at that time dispute
veritv of his assumption o. being an ex-
,tederate. The Colonel had fine liter
mind and such powers OF Imagination
I If he had applied his talents in the
scuon of literature alone he certainly
aid have made name for himself. he