The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-29
STORY OF A ROGUE.
A RECoRDLEss MAN MAKES HIM
a SELF A NATIONAL CHARACTER.

His Whole Life Lle-For the Prestige
of Rank Invented Birthplace for
Himself-Thick With the Brigadiers
He Became the Medium for Their
Dealings With Gen. Hsyes-A Uni.
form Caused rs Downfall.
From the Pittsburo Dispatch.
This story Of a rogue has never been told.
The rogue was never discovered TO the
general public. Skilled in the art of de-
ception, be made a great place for himself
and at one time was a historical figure at
the national capital. He had much imagi-
nation, a fair address and good memory.
He was not satisfied with his position in life
nor his own history BY the force OF will
and bis powers of imagination he created
for himself new position, based entirely
upon falsehood, and through his adroitness
be reached confidential position under the
government and was accredited abroad
with letters of our highest officials, 80 that
abe most exclusive circles Of Europe were
open to him.
The other day saw him, broken, gray
and worn, on one Of the back streets Of
Washington. He is now in the last stages
Of iuvalidism, and has been under treat
ment for some time in the government in
sane hospital AS he is now harmless and
beyond the ability TO deceive any one, 1t
will not be necessary 90 give his full name.
1t will be enough TO call him 'the Colonel"
He was always known as the Colonel, even
In bis most brilliant days, although he had
never served in any army aud had never
even smelled gunpowder.
BE BAMBoozLED THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Through mere force of assumption he
made the grave and dignifed war depart
ment grant him the honors due to a full
colonel Of the regular army, and it was
through the adjutant general of the United
States army that the Colonel was introduced
in England as Lord Weiseley as an officer
of rank and consideration in the service Of
she war department. This successful ad-
venturer played great part In our history
during the eventful winter of 1876 and 1877,
the year of the Tilden-Hayes disputes. At
one time the Colonel was absolutely the
arbiter Of the situation, and held in his hand
all the threads of those delicate negotiations
which we're carried on between the man
ayers of the Republican party In the north
and the political leaders In the south.
/ saw the Colonel a. short range during a
number OF years and was an eyewitness of
some Of the principal phases OF his career.
! sat at the same table with him In the hotel
where he stopped when he first came to
Washington, and received al various times
enough Of his confidence TO keep me we'll
informed concerning his career. After ward,
when he became so successful, became
sufficiently interested 10 make an investi-
cation and learn the exact truth Of his real
history.
He came 10 Washington early in the
winter of 1875 as a Newspaper correspond
ent, representing daily newspaper in the
city OF New Orleans. The Colonel was then
In the neighborhood Of As years OF age,
There was nothing particularly striking
about his appearance; there was nothing TO
suggest the military character that he after
ward 80 well played. he was . small
underlined man With q slight sboop and a
rheumatic limp.
DISTINGUIsHED-LooKIN0 BACE.' |
His face, however, was rather distin- |
guished-looking. His head was large, his |
forehead was very full and broad his iron |
gray hair was cut very short; his color was |
good; his eyes were very dark-brown aud |
most persuasive in their expression; his nose |
was a small aquiline; a slight gray mus
tache shaded his mouth. In front OF each
ear was a small dab OF English whiskers
The Colonel came to Washington unknown
and unheralded. He seemed chiefly remark
able in the early days for hiS ability to
adapt himself to every situation. He had
not been in Washington more than a month
when he adopted the NEST careful and pre-
else dress of what he called 'le haut
the south for the stiff high hat Of the north
and east. He attached himself very soon to
the Louisiana Lottery Company and 80 had
a larger income TO crafty his tastes, which
were extremely social
No one ever saw the Colonel drunk. He
was very careful and abstemious in his
habits. He devoted almost his entire at
tention TO Washington society. He made
as many calls as the wife Of a cabinet
officer. In the easy-going society Of Wash
fngton any one who is we'll dressed and de-
ports himself with decorum and dignity
can go very nearly where he likes. The
Colonel had evidently never had so inviting
q field He attached himself 70 the diplo-
mats by telling them remarkable stories of
his power aud influence In the south. He
made many friends among the southern
men because he represented southern
paper, and when with them he was the
most unreoonstructed rebel living. The
wife of the Spanish minister was pleased
with his formal politeness and attention
and honored him at nearly every enter
tainment with her special favor.
HE WAS A BRILLIANT I4ITAroR.
II was during this winter that the Colonel
decided the role be was TO play. He saw
the attention given 70 of.cers In society at
Washington aid 1scided st once that he
should becnrze a. oc1oer. As be was then
playing she Fsle e 1sla4 an extreme south
ern gee JtsizZEA1, lie could DeRln by being
nothing IesH snsaz &c ex-confederate officer.
No aye Nza sVsr more initiative. He studied
the wsys q liz southern brigadier, and the
imitstioa Sss 30 perfect that never heard
a southern gentleman at that time dispute
the verify Of his assumption of being an ex-
confederate. The Colonel had a fine literary
mind and such powers Of imagination that
if he had applied his talents in the direction
of literature alone he certainly would
have made a name for himself. He
read up all Of the histories of the war, de-
tails of each noted battle, and there was no
real veteran who could afford TO dispute
with him concerning these same details.
His descriptions of engagements in which
he participated were so much more dra-
matte and 80 much more true to life that the
real veterans blushed and sat back when
the Colonel had the floor.
Il must be remembered that this artist
never was IN tue south in his life till after
the war. He had never had real uniform
on his back, not even that Of a militia
company, up TO the day he set up in
Washington the role of an ex-ccnfed-
crate, which be played with such skill and
such address that noted ex-confederate
generals referred TO him in disputes con~
corning strategic points involved in the
southern campaigns. The Colonel, instead
Of coming from h military family was the
son of a Presbyterian divine and was born