New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-30
COLONEL WARING.

The death Of Colonel Warng can be truly
described as one Of the losses OF the war with
Spain. and one of the heaviest. In the per-
Torrance Of what he considered 10 be his duty
u duty which al his time of life was not en-
trely enviable. though strictly in the line Of
bis profession and both interesting and honor
ablehe accepted from the President a COM
mission TO investigate the conditions which
have made Havana and other Cuban cities the
prey of yellow fever and constant source Of
danger and loss to the United States. and 10
suggest measures Tor their sanitary transforma-
ton. After snch preliminary study CT the
problem as circumstances permitted he was
returning with information and conclusions
which be believed to be Of large value when.
by a melancholy fate. he was stricken with the
malady which had been the subject OF his in
quiry and which lie was hoping u eXterminate
How far the results of his fatal expedition can
be utilized now that he is gone IL uncertain,
but 1t may be hoped that in years to come
Cuba's immunity from yellow fever will he
recognized as one Of Colonel Warnings titles TO
grateful remembrance. lie died in the service
OF his country and N honcr
Colonel Warng aid not need 10 establish ad-
ditional claims 10 The regard of this community
IN order 70 insure the preparation Of his
memory He had already performed here
work scarcely Inferior in magnitude and i'm
portance 10 any which IS recorded in the his
tory Of New-York He demonstrated the pos
sibility Of clearing lis streets and keeping them
clean. and thus incal'ulably promoted the com
fort aud safety Of living. lie accomplished
this invaluable achievement by methods which,
though they were intrinsiCaly as simple az
they were sound nevertheless bore the stamp
Of originality and for time made him the
object Of more rlcule than praise. But such
We're his character and temperament that this
helped instead Of harminG him lie had COM
plcte fl.th in himself and was not sensitive 10
detraction. Indeed. there IS good reason 10
believe that he enjoyed attacks which results
were constantly rull.fyng. and which, more
over. gave him frequent opportunities 10 en-
ploy his singular capacity for rctOyt. II Is not
remembered that he ever came out second best
from any verbal engagement with the adverse
ries who began by thinking that he was an
easy mark. Every encounter left him little
more secure in his position. and there was an
air If cheerful audacity about the man which
enlisted admiration even when full approval
had 10 be withheld Doubtless some OF his ut
terances if not some Of his acts, were unwar-
rantable as when he indscriminately called
the members OF the Grand Army pension
bummCrs." But he possessed unboUnded cour-
nge. and suspect that even the veterans
whom he m8li2ued almost forGave him when
they found that he was not frightened in the
least degree by the storm which that unhappy
characterization aroused.
At all events. the tempest did not Inst long.
The main fact in his case was that he was
cleaning the streets He spent an immense
amount Of money. and never apoloszed for
doing So He said in advance that he intend
ed 10 spend whatever was necessary. and that
be was 10 be the judge Of his own require
ments And the people liked 1t. They liked It
because the streets were cleaned. and they saw
clearly that they were getting the worth OF
their money They saw n system created out
Of chaos. and a mob Of indolent individuals
converted into n service. II was n teaching
example TO the whole community ard most
of all 70 the least fortunate part Of H. Of how
municipal business might be and ought TO he
transacted Surprise and distrust turned 10
satisfaction and confidence and PRIDE resent
ment II 1t fingered. did not dare TO express T.