The National tribune., 1901-01-03
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.

At a largely attended meeting of Gen.
Nelson a. Miles Command, Mol, Span
ish War Veterans, held last week at
Grand Army, Hall. Miss Cornelia Clay,
daughter of Goli1CStil Clay, was rc-elect-
ed Sponsor Of the Gemmand by acclama-
ton. iniib =
sGF -
Senator VIM v. Sullivan. of Missis-
sippi, was quietly married to Mrs. Marie
Newman Atkins, of Washington, Mt the
rectory of st. Stephens Catholic Church,
Dec. 10. Three policemen in citizens
clothes were stationed at the rect0Fy in
anticipation of n scene by woman who
has sued the Senator for breach of prom
Use, but she did not appear.
The Navy Yard Mt Washington boasts
of what are believed to be the most Won
derful set of scales in the world. The
large scales upon which entire freight
cars. with their loads of many tons. are
weighed are considered colossal, but with
all their immensely they are meagcr in
the eyes of Uncle Sam. This machine
can outweigh the largest railroad scales
by 80 tons, and when it is considered that
it's results must be accurate to n pound,
while railroad scales are considered good
when they come within 30 pounds of the
exact weight, the result obtained is little
less than marvellous.
There is nothing attractive about the
scales. From the surfacc of the ground
they look like ordinary hay scales. Their
delicate mechanism. like the vital organs
of the human body. is invisible to the
eye. The most intricate parts are in
broad pit below the ground. Close investi-
CATION however. and Il foot rule would
show that the platform Of the machine is
As feet long and II feet wide. Beneath
the powerful machinery is cement base,
laid upon long piles. The ground is some
what low, and it was necessary to utilize
the services of a piledrivcr to secure
stable foundation. \ solid base is one of
the prime requisites of perfect weigh
ing machine The machine is so sensitive
that it will give the exact weight of any
thing from q pound of feathers to pair
of 13-inch guns, and do it accurately. The
capacity of the scales is $50 tons. 10
inch gun weighs about 50 tons. Two of
these monster instruments of war, reclln-
ing on 4S-foot car truck, can be weighed
on the machine without taxing its ca
pacity.
Can't. Henry w. Hewgate, a prominent
officer of the Signal Corps during the re-
bellion. and for years Disbursing othcer
of the Corps, returned to Washington last
Sunday, after having finished five years
term in the Albany Penitentary. The
President refused to pardon him, even at
the close of his time, and so restore him
to citizenship. After his arrest, about ~
wears ago. he made his escape in some
mysterious way. He wandered about the
country for some time, and finally settled
down in New York and opened book
store. He conducted this for Ia years,
supported himself and made some money.
He claims that he made no attempt at
concealment, and thousands of his old
friends knew where he was. The Gov
eminent did not want him. But the Chief
of the Secret Service heard of his where
abouts, arrested him, and he was SEN
fenced to eight years in the penitentIary.
This was shortened by good conduct al
lowances to five years and four months.
The prison authorities treated him well.
He was made librarian and bOokkeeper.
He is now 20 years old, but full of life
and hope, and ready to begin anew. He
has not yet determined what he will start
at. He was once much interested in polar
explorations, and was the originator OF
the circum-polar station idea. His faith
full daughter, Ada, who is a clerk in the
Treasury, has him at her house.