Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1899-08-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, August z, 1899
1t is apparent even to casual visitors
to Washington that the official vacation
is at hand, The President is away and
the White House is going through its
annual renovation. Only three mem
bers OF the Csbinet-Secretaries Gage,
Hitchcock, and Root, are in Washing
ton. In all the other departments as
sistants are in charge, which means
that important matters are being let
alone and only routine work being done
for the time being. This doesn't mean
that important matters are being neg
lected, but that they are not brought
up because OF the absence of the heads
OF the departments and OF the Presi-
dent. The War Department is, howev-
or, a striking exception. There are
fewer Of its prominent officials away
from their desks than usual this season.
This probably owing to hint given
as soon as the date Of Gen. Algers re-
tirement became known that the new
Secretary would want lots OF informa-
tiOu and would prefer to get It from
first hands Every day since he took
charge, Secretary Root has been putting
his subOrdinates through q cross.exGm-
alton on the business methods of the
department with view OF informing
himself, much as he would witnesses in
an important case in which be was
counsel.
No official reports have yet been re.
ceived OF the louisiana lynching, but
the information claimed to have been
received at the Italian Embassy does
not agree with what has reached Wash
ington from other sources. The EN-
bassy claims that four out Of the FIVE
men lynched we're Italian citizens; also
that there were no iustifying circum-
stances. The official reports are await
ed with interest
! Every President starts his admins
tration with the hope of being able to
keep his Cabinet intact during his term
Of Ofice, but only one OF them-PierCe
ever succeeded In doing it. But with
the exception of Jackson and Tyler,
whose Cabinets went all to pieces for
we'll understood reasons, President Nc
Kinley has had more changes In his
cabinet than any of the presidents and
his administration is not twO-thirds
gone yet. Only three OF the original
members Of the Cabinet are still mem
bers-Gsge, Long and Wilson.
DR.. Featherstonhaugh, Of Washing
ton, who recently disinterred the re-
mains Of seven of John Browns follow
ers, who we're buried at Harper's Ferry,
and sent them to North Elba, N. Y, to
be re-interred alongside Of their old
chief, probably knows more about John
Browns ill-iated crusade against slaV-
cry than any living man. lie has been
hunting data for years. The pike and
carbine; the Brown autograph letter,
and the cane carried by Brown, which
are on exhibition at the National Mu-
scum, belong to DIR. +. Only a weak a.
go he was made acquainted with an in
teresting bit Of history concerning the
pixies, intended to be used to arm the
slaves. 1t came from Mr.. Charles IL.
Blair, now living at Beverly, N. j., who
told him that he and his father, then
living at COlliersville, Conn, had made
1000 of these pixies upon the personal
order of Jon Brown, for 81, 900. He said
that Brown said the pixies were fOl
Kansas settlers which he and his father
dou bted, but their financial condition
made them too anxious to get the con
tract to justify their asking too many
questions. DR.. f. regards his collect
ion Of Brown photographs as priceless
He is now preparing for the Southern
History Association a bibliography OF
John Brown and his raid. Speaking o
Brown, DR.. F. said: There was one Gu
: rious thing about it all and that is tha
although John Brown was an intense
" religious man, relying on Scripture
to guide his own life, not single on
his followers, including his sons, he'll
his views. The rest were free-thinker
:, many Of them spiritualists.
Timid persons in Washington are jus
a a little bit frightened because the yel
; low fever has got foot-hold in tn
Il Soldiers Home, at Hampton, Va, an
"a the immediate vicinity, but the NatioI
"a al medical authorities who are hghtin
II to wipe out the disease and to preveT
" its getting outside Of the present inte
ted district, express confidence in the
success and say there is no occasion Il
alarm, but the very name Of yellow fe
sufficient TO scare many person
Is and continued rumors that case hi
y appeared nearby always hnds some b
y levers.
As The committee charged with makiT
N the arrangements for the Washingt'
n n reception Of Admiral Dewey have 81
I ceeded in getting from the Navy D
g. paTj ment metal from the relics Of q
v. battle Of Manila Bay, 70 be used in n
king souvenir medals Of the receptio
and a well-known artist is now MAXI
design for the medal which will