The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-15


Boxers. Captain Jack is on his way to
China.
Compared with this announcement the
report of the rapid progress of the allies
sinks to the level of Government crop
bulletin, and the expedition appears ILL
timed ard premature because the gallant
captain is not there to make it a complete
success. When America acceded to the APP
pointment of Won Waldersee, the officials
overlooked bet. Certainly had It been
known that Captain Jack would have ac-
cepted chief command, the German ield
marshal's name would never have been
considered.
The captain returned to England from
putting down the war in South Africa a
short time ago. After he and Roberts
had subdued the Beers to such extent
that it was no longer necessary for the
guiding hand to busy itself with minor de-
tails. such as the capture of De Wet and
Deiarey, Captain Jack left, instructing
General Roberts, of course. as to the best
means Ter continuing the campaign. Upon
arriving at Southampton from Cape Town,
he learned of the hostilities in China. Re-
alizing that he must go where duty called,
he left two days later for Shanghai.
Capt. Arthur B. Jack is one of the most
picturesque characters that ever came be-
fore the notice of tie Washington pub
lie. The word public is used advisedly,
for the dapper little officer never plays to
any but large audiences. He first came TO
the Capital city IN Inc spring OF 1899. He
claimed to have aided the Cubans in re-
moving the iron heel of Spain from their
necks. He stated that he had served on
General Roloff's staff, and later to have
tod int VOC for nj Shof TOR
when the Americans occupied Santiago.
While stories of certain malicious per-
sons have tended to somewhat discredit
the captains war record in the Pearl of
the Antilles, the young officer had a mag
netic personality and engaging manners,
and the calumnies went for naught The
captains eyes we're soft brown, somewhat
of the hue attributed by poets to the
gazelle and other herbivorous animals. His
method OF refuting the vile ISLANDERS re-
feTred to was to put on a look Of lin
jured innocence" The method was al
ways effective. For the captains eyes
were fully as eloquent as his tongue, and
he did not wish to work the latter over
time
The captain is an able exponent Of the
srt of living without working. He tolls
not, neither does he spin-anything except
war yarns. He is an adept IN the practice
of what is commonly known as making a
touch" Alorg Newspaper Row there is
many a scribe who reluctantly confesses
his inability to resis; the captains plea
for cash. There are afro several hotel pro-
Drietors in this city who have allowed the
gallant son of Mars to board at their car
ayansaries without other compensation
than a pleasant smile and a few anecdotes
concerning the charge up San Juan Hill.
After remaining in Washington until late
in the summer, Captain Jack went to New
York. II is to be chroncled to the everlast-
ing shame Of the metropolis that he was
rudely treated by the Gothamites. He
flonored the Broadway Central Hotel by
coHdescending to stop there. True, he ran
up ar enormous bill for a weeks board,
and offered no cash in settlement. He did
however proffer smiles and explanations.
but they did not pass as legal tender in
New York, and the gallant captain was
sentenced TO a short term of penal servi-
tude
Nothing was heard Of the captain until
he bobbed up in London early in February
of the present year. No one knows how
he got there. but there were many who
hazarded the assertion that he did not
put up the price of the transatlantic
passage in the good coin of the United
States. Be that as it may the captain
created a great sensation among the arts
tocratic scions Of British society. The
war fever was then at its height, and
when the young captain narrated wild
tales OF adventure in Cuba and spoke of
how he and Creelman and Teddy drove
the Spaniards out of the Western Henri
sphere. he was looked upon as a valuable
auxiliary in the campaign against the
Beers.
He enlisted lin Paget's horse yeonanry.
This led to his undoing once more He
borrowed fat sum, stated to have been
I fifty pounds. from the London represen-
tative OF J. PierpOnt Morgan on the plea
that he wanted good horse and that
a real patriotic American who had led the
charge up San Juan Hill-or helped Ted
dy lead it-could not afford to be mounted
On a spawned pillow horse when his En-
gIish comrades bestrode clean-Iimbed hun
tiers. The banker could not resist the
captains eloqUence. and parted with the
cash. But the captain neglected 20 pur-
chaserthe horse. For this trifiing neglect
he was stripped of his uniform and cash
tered from the regiment
The London Times" spoke of him in a
very indignant and ponderous fashion. He
staggered down the street." 1t said, and
borrowed from everyone he met"
The captain then disappeared again hu.
rot for long. That his humiliation did not
, deter him from going to South Africa is
shown by a letter which announces his
return from the scene of hostiIitiss. II
is not ct all surprising that the captain
VAS not killed by the Beers. His ac-
qusintahces have often said that his skin
was sufficiently thick to be nnper, ions 10
dum-drm bullets or steel hosed projec-
tIics
Captain Jack announces that he is on
his way TO China. and that tde condition
Of ai'airs in the Far East will determine
the length of his stay. If that be so We
can therefore expect the captains return
before a great while. II his arrival in
China Is made known to the Boxers they
will Immediately lay down their arms
and sue for peace. for the captain Will
see 10 it that they know what a valiant
warrior he is even il he has to hire an in
terpretal. The only regrettable feature
CT the affair is that many such soldiers as
Chaffee. Gaselee. and Won Waldesrsee will
not be able to show what metal they are
made Of and that the laurels will be
plucked By Captain Jack, who already has
enough.