Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-02
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THE recent military lureTdlS Heie' say :
IN old resident. recall to mind several
which took place in this city during the
Mexican war, particularly that of Col
Truman Cross. said to have been the nrst
officer killed in that war. Col Cross had
long been an officer of the regular army.
with his family residence in this city at
the northeast corner of 18th and X streets
(the west house in Franklin row.. and had q
large acquaintance in official and social cir
Giles. As assistant quartermaster general
he was with Gen. Taylor's army in 1916.
Leaving camp for short ride and to re-
counoiter one day cary in the war, ne
never returned alive. and some weeks after
his body was found, and in the fall sent to
this city. The body arrived here on No
venber Is. and was taken 10 his late home'
pending arrangements for the funeral.
which took place on the 9th of November.
There Were no government troops mere at
the time, save a handful OF ordnance men
at the Washington arsenal. The War De-
partment had no means to pay the gallant
officer the honors to which his rank entitled
him. and Yet il the desire to have a
full military funeral In this emergency
the uniformed militia of the District was
called on and the old Washington Light
Infantry tstill in EXISTENCE. the National
Blues tof which the late Gen. Peter F. Ba-
was lieutenanu. the Potomac Dra-
Eoons. the Morgan Rifemen and perhaps
one or two other companies, volunteered
their services. The funeral took place from
the residence. and for that day was a
most imposing one many government off
Gals. including the army and navy officers
then i'll the city. and a large number of our
citizens participating. Under the escort of
the District companies the remains were
taken 10 what We then called Congress
burying ground and inferred. the troops fir
Ing three vOlleys over the grave. l believe
that the War Department published card
N he 1nra mix. for hair
services When l remember this occasion
ami the more recent military funerals. such
as that of Gen. Lawton. l cannot but
notice with what celebrity the government
can now assemble its troops for such sad
occasions.
Though the official records of the DE-
trict do not substantiate it. it is a matter
of fact. and In the memory of many OF the
cider physicians of the city," remarked a
well-known physician to a Star reporter,
that President Lincoln suffered from an
attack of smallpox while he was President.
He was confined to his room for several
weeks. though except for three four days
while the disease was at its height. he
signed all official papers that required his
personal signature. Though the authorized
publication was made at the time that the
attack was mild case of varioloid. IL was
very severe. The health board of the city
was NOT as particular about requiring small
pox signs to be hung out then as during
later years. but the yellow flag was placed
on the White House door. The President
was attended by an army surgeon. 1t was
understood that he contracted the disease.
FIR M visit of an Illinois officer who was 4
patient at kalorama Hospital. where there
were many hundreds of patients from
NO he Of ~. As
deed. smallpox was epidemic that winter
and many soldiers. as well as civilians died
from it. President Lincoln was the only
one in the White House who suffered from
it, During his recovery he wrote a letter
to personal friend. which found its way
INTO the newspapers, and which has been
referred 70 in many of the lives of Lincoln
which have been published.n which he said
For the first time, l have plenty to divide
UP. and cen. | think. fully satisfy all who
come. for I am told 1 have smallpox enough
to accommodate all seekers. / am glad 10
add that if everything turns out as the
doctors inform me l shall be in better
shape to receive my friends in about one
week Under the circumstances. so as to
Create as little alarm possible the cause
OF President Lincoln's illness was kept from
the public for nearly two weeks but after
ward no secret of it was made 1t was
amusing to read the publications which
were made at the time in regard to the
Presidents Illness. Several of the New
through that he was sick at all. while in
several southern papers that came through
the lines the statement was made that not
only was the President sick. but that he
had smallpox of the most virulent type. and
that his death from the same was regarded
as certain. For a week or so. while the
President was at the worst. his family as
matter Of precaution, We're guests of a
friend at a country residence near Silver
Springs Nd
My first experience with guide at the
Capitol said a leading New York mer-
chant who has been visiting the city for
several weeks. to Star reporter, was
really about the most interesting l ever
had. and l have used guides all over the
world since. When / emp Dyed him / had
no idea but that he fully qualified to
assist me to see the sights of the Capitol
But in a little while | discovered, not how
ever. until / had been told about him. that
he was absolutely blind, and had been to-
tally blind for over twenty-five years. The
idea OF being shown the beauties of the
Capitol building by a blind man was an
exceedingly novel one to me, as doubt not
IL was TO the hundreds of others who had
been benefited by his services. He was
known as Prof. John Donaldson. was orig
inally New Yorker and had secured the
right to guide in the Capitol through the
1ntercession and friendship of Fernando
Wood, who then represented part OF New