New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-16
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
A KENTUCKIAN CHEATED OF HIS RE-
VENICE IN CUBA.
OPINIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR. REVISED BY
RIPENING EXPERIENCE-TRADE IMPROVE
MENT IN CHINA.

OPINIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR. REVISED BY
RIPENING ExPERIENcE-TRADEI IMPROVE
MENT IN CHINA.
Washington. Oct 15.--A visitor from Louis
vile said to a representative Of The Tribune to-
day:
"One OF the most deeply disappointed men In
the country a the early close Of the war with
Spain is Lieutenant Colonel David r. Murray.
OF the 4th Kentncky Infantry. whose regiment
was mustered in too late for assignment 70 the
forces that captured Santiago The story goes
back 70 the early hfties. when p half-brother OF
Colonel Murray was captured by the Spaniards
in Cuba and shot. This was Lieutenant Crlt-
tenden nephew Of John J. Crltten1en a hand
and gallant young fellow, a graduate OF
West Point. who had been induced to join the
famous and Inflated Lopez expedition. Tho en-
terprise was bungled IN some way the Ameri-
cans became separated from their Cuban allies
surprised and taken prisoners by the Span
iards. and executed In rows of ten. Crittenden
was a young fellow Of fine spirit and presence
and when his position before the firing squad
was explained to him ne stouty and emphati-
cally objected. The order was that he be blind
folded and made 10 kneel with his back 20 the
guns When the soldiers advanced with the
handkerchief he wav'd him off. and said In
Spanish 10 the officer In command. An Ameri-
can always faces his enemy. and kneels only TO
his Cod The prisoners bearing was so fine. as
full Of manly appeal Of energy. that the
Spanish officer was touched. He bowed and
changed the order. and Critenden. standing
erect and facing the enemy. went down with the
bullets In his breast
The tragedy made profound impression in
Kentucky. The story OF Crittenden's death was
told at every freside. and even schoolooys re-
peated with admiration his last words 20 the
Spanish officer Murray IVES bur child MINI
self at the time. but Of course grew up WITH a
passionate attachment 70 the memory OF the
family hero He has always hoped FOR CUBA $
freedom and when the United States decided 10
interfere he offered his services 20 the Govern
ment Immediately. Their. was some delay, now
ever. and ne has only seen camp service here
at home. He now has the prospect Of going 70
cuba 10 do garrison duty, and that may some
what satisfy his desire to assist the country .or
whose freedom his brother. vainly at the Time
laid down his life.
At dinner the other night, attended by sew
eral men Of prominence. one Of the number en-
tertaned the company with Good sIo'y VI 'Ae
Civil War. He said.
Gently unearthed an old diary he had kept as a
soldier N the war for the Union and found that
he had committed himself at the time TO al! OF
the floating nonsense and tittle-tattle Of the
ne-iod is similar to that If my oldest brother.
He was a lively energetic young fellow, VINO
went out as a lieutenant served through the
whole four years and came back a colonel My
fathers last Injunction 20 him was to write as
often as II was possible 70 his mother She'll
worry about you a good deal more than shall
He vas a dudful son. and remembered this.
and wrote whenever there was opportunity The
first letters were full Of impotence and crit-
cism Nothing was going right with the Army
or the cause II was not difficult for him TO eX-
plain why The men at the head Of affairs were
wholly incompetent. Mr.. Lincoln was buffoon,
General Grants personal habits were deplorable,
the odds in camp were to ! that General
Sherman vas crazy. while the tyranny and high
handedness OF Mr. Stanton called for court
martial and firing squad. My father read
these letters with much amusement IF Jack is
spared he would say after finishing one Of
them he'll change his key II was a true
prophecy. After a little Jack did change his
key. without referring TO mis- earlier opinions.
he had new views Of men and affairs 10 express
as the time passed and toward the end he be-
came the most enthusiastic eulogist OF the very
men whom at the start he had covered with dis
approval and dispeasure.
"One evening soon after his return home a.
the close OF hostilities. while were listening
around the hreside to some camp stories, my
mother said to Jack: I've kept all your letters.
Would you like to look them over?' He jumped
at the chance. and when they were produced
began at the beginning and went through the
whole parcel His mingled modification and
amusement AZ the sentiments IN the earlier ones
ne could not conceal. He was alternately blush
ing and laughing al mis- easy and supreme self
assertion in disposing % his superioTs solely on
the strength Of camp gossip. and when ne got
through he said 20 my mother What will you
take for these? I couldn't be induced to part
with them was her teasing reply. But he IN
sisted I really dont want such productions
with my name signed TO them 70 be in exist
ence' Finally. after Jack had owned up that
al the start ne had felt able to run the whole
governmental machine. but found toward the
close that the Office OF colonel quite taxed his
movers. his earlier letters we're separated from
the others and handed over 10 him.
II never saw greater relief on a mans face
than his showed while he laid those letters one
by one on the live Goals Of an open crate AMI
held the paper down with an iron poker while
his Youthful folly turned 70 ashes
Had You remembered the nature Of them
NY mother inquired.
Nom he replied. think should have de
MED ever expressing such opinions Il my sig
nature and general handwriting had not con-
fronted me-"
A well-known Washington correspondent tells
this story OF Mr.. Bayard:
Lfc, md several