The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-01
TWO MEN OF GRIT.
Generals Franklin and
Mcmahon Here.
WARRIORS OF WIDE FAME.
They Arrive With Other Members Of
the National Board of Soldiers
Home Managers.

arrived last evening from Los Angeles
after completing the annual inspection
of the Pacific branch at Santa Monica.
The party consists of General William B..
Franklin Of Hartford, Conn. the presi-
dent of the board General Martin 7. Nc
Mahnn of New York. the secretary; Gen.
eral James Barnett of Cleveland, Ohio, and
Major E. \. Morrill, of Kansas. The other
mem ers of the board did not come to this
coast, but, with Captain A. w. Barrett of
Los Angeles, a quorum for the meeting
was secured.
Accompanying the party, all of whom
are registered mt the Palace Hotel, were
General W. w. Averell. the famous cav
airy leader, who is assistant inspector
general of soldiers homes; George 3.
Patrick. who is General Franklin's private
secretary, and Colonel Walter Fra kiln of
Baltimore, a brother OF the general, who
is along as his guest.
No visit will be made to the Yountville
Home, except by General Averell, who
goes up there 10 inspect the institution on
Tuesday morning. The Royce defalcation
Is no special concern of the national board
of managers, as its province is simply TO
pay 500 yer annum to the State of Cali
fornia for every inmate cared for at Yount-
vile. There will therefore be no inveSti-
cation Of the management eff the State
Soldiers home by Its directors.
The managers will remain only one day
in San Francisco. They are travelling on
a special car which leaves Tonight for
Milwaukee, where the next meeting of the
board viii be held. A banquet was ten
dered the visitors by the Cali nrnia Com
mandery OF the Loyal Legion, which they
were mpelled to decline on account of
having to return East this evening.
General Franklin reports the Branch
Home at Santa Monica in admirable con-
iii ion. II is one Of the functions of the
board to hear complaints of the veterans,
but not one of the 1900 sheltered at Santa
Monica submitted so much as solitary
grivance.
General William 3. Franklin has been
president Of the board since April 81. 1880.
Hf is over 20 years of age. and nati7e Of
Y ORR, Pa, where be was born February
81 1928. He graduated at the West Point
Military Academy July l, 1913. he ap-
peared quite hale and hearty as he sat
down in the Office of the hotel last night to
smoke a cigar before retiring.
His first military service was in the
corps of Typographical engineers. lie is
veteran of the Mexican war and the war
tor the preservation of the Union. His
first brevet was won for gallant conduct
in the battle of Buena Vista. His army
career includes service as an instructor at
West Point. as secretary of the light
house board aud as SupPrintending en-
queer III CudIEt Oh TIE NdUOIal OaDltOl,
General POsi0tfice and Treasury building
extensions at Washington.
A the outbreak of the rebellion he was
promoted colonel OF the Twelfth United
States Infantry, and three days later he
received commission as brgadler-
general of volunteers. He commanded a
brigade Ia EeintZle mans division at the
battle of first Bull Run. lie entered the
peninsula campaign as a division COM
mander, but was soon al the head of the
Sixth Army Corps At the battle OF
Fredericksburg he directed the operations
OF the lett grand division, ting Of his
own and tie First Army Corps. He COM
mandel the Nineteenth Army Corps in
the Red River expedition of 1864 and was
wounded In the battle of Sabine Cross
roads April OF that year. While on a sick
leave of absence lie was captured by Con-
federate raiders while riding on the Phla-
delDhja and Baltimore Railroad july II,
1864, but escaped from them on the fol
loving night. On March -, 1866 he re-
signed from the service with the rank of
preVet majOr-general in the United States
army. The brevet was "for gallant and
meritorious services in the field during tue
rebellion"
Since he entered civil life General
Franklin has been an exceedingly busy
man. In addition TO his labors as general
agent for many years OF the Colts Fire
arms Manufacturing Company at Hart
thirteen years the executive head of the
board which controls The largest and most
benetceDt institutions in the country.
which eXpends millions of dollars and en-
p!oys little army of officers, clerks and
labOrerS in its numerous branches So
quietly have their operations been con-
Quoted that notwithstanding their magni-
tude and vast territorial dispersion, the
achievement passes comparatively IN
noticed by congress, the press and the
people.
In addition to these responsibilities
General Franklin has been engaged at
different times in other activities. He has
had charge OF the construction of the new
Safe House at Hartford, was State Com
missioner for Connecticut at the Centep-
NAL Exposition, Presidential eleetor in
1876 and adjutant-general of Connecticnt
in 1677-78. He has also found time TO CON
tribute various articles on military TONES
to military literature.
General Franklin is a companion of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion and
enjoys tie distinction of being the only
citizen or the United States upon whom
has been conferred the French decoration
of Grand Officer de la Legion dillon
neur."
General Martin T. Mcmahon, the secre-
tary OF the board, is Canadian by birth
his iather was connected with the Cana
dian rebellion OF 1888, and 10 avoid arrest
took refuge in the United States. General
Meditation was born IN Laprarie, Canada,
on NJ rch 81, that year. lie i now in his
hity--lXth year. At the age Of II he gradu-
ated at st. Johns College, FordbamtsN. Y
his alma mater has since conferred upon
HIM the degree of LID. Before he was
OF age he succeeded his elder brother as
corresponding clerk in the appointment
office OF the POstoffice Department al
Washington, and in the last year of Presi-
dent Buchanan's administration he was
sent TO this coast as special agent of the
POstoffice Department. He was on duty
In San Francisco when the batteries trained
on Fort Sumter shook the continent.
General Mcmahon could, if he wished
contribute an interesting paper on Cali
fornia's first military operations during
that memorable crisis. as he was elected
captain of the first company of cavalry
organized on tie Pacific Coast. He was
not mustered in. however, as orders had
been received from Washington to retain
the California Olunteers to relieve the
regular troops on duty here. Mcmahon
theTeupon resigned his commission and
started for the theater of war. The next
thing heard Of him he was an additional
aid-de-camp with the rank of captain On
the s:aff of General Mcclellan. who had
just then been called to Washin gton. In
1862 he was appointed Acknowledgement
ana chief staff OF The Sixth Corps under
General William b. Franklin, subsequently,
serving alsn under Generals John Sedg-
wick and HoratiD G. Wright until after
the final operations before Petersburg.
He served with the Army of he Potomac