The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-09
CHAPTER XVI.


military propriety. Moreland told thu
owners OF the steamer line, the Chamber
OF Commerce. the easily gathered au'
dience on Rush and Montgomery streets
the usual customers at Barry g. Patton's
the loungers in the Hobbies OF the hotels
every body who would listen and who
would not-how that brave fellow Loring
who ought to have been sailor faced
down that quartet OF blue bellied lob
sters" at headquarters. The general was
not a popular character. His principal
claim TO distinction during the great war
seemed TO be that OF being able 10 criti-
else every other generals battles and to
win none OF his own.
He never went into n fight that he
didn't get licked" declared the exultant
MoreIand. '.and now he's bowled over by
his youngest lieutenant.
The story OF that interview went over
the hay like wildfre and stirred up the
fellows at the Preside and Angel island
while the islanders OF Alcatraz came
bustling to town TO learn the facts as re-
tailed at the Occidental and to hear
something more about that queer, silent
fellow Loring. Among the junior subal-
terms In the artillery We're one or two
who knew him at the Point. and they
rcouted the story OF his having ever
stolen a cents worth. or the idea OF ex-
tracing anything about the matter from
his lips. The latest yarn In circulation
was that after the now famous interview
Loring had "laid for Captain PETTY. =
aid-de-camp referred to- young Gotha-
mite OF good family who had got into the
regulars In the war and out OF company
duty from that Time 10 this. and. having
met the aid-de-camp. Loring had there
upon calmly pulled the gentleman's aaui-
line nose for him.
Petty could not be found. He had gone
10 Fort Yuma on important business for
the department commander, was the ex-
planation The general properly refused
10 be interviewed by reporters of the
papers. and couldn't be approached by
anybody else on the subject Only tw
things were positively known. Lieutenant
Loring had received telegrap phic notifica-
tion from the chief OF engineers of his
relief from duty in the department and
his assignment to similar work In the
department Of the Platte. and IL was ru-
rnored though IL could not be confirmed,
that the general had been directed by
telegraph to designate a stan officer TO
receipt TO Lieutenant Loring at once for
the public property for which he was ac-
countable in order that the latter officer
might. take an early steamer for the
isthnus. as his services were urgently
needed at his new station. IL was an
open secret that the general considered
himself aggrieved by the action of the
authorities at Washington. and said so.
He had made no charge against Lieu
tenant Loring He had merely called that
ti<sx. tha tr.t.
Allegations laid at his door, and this
was true.
On the other hand, people who had been
permitted 10 know anything about the
matter Notably certain senior officers OF
the engineer corps not under the generals 8
orders. ane one or two staff department
officers who. .unhapply for themselves. were
under his orders and subject TO his semi
occasional rebuke. now openly said that
rot one allegation against Loring came
from a reliable or respectable source. and
that IL was an outrage to have held him
even To inferent.al account on the state
ment OF such a cad as Esealante's agent,
who hadn't been near the once since the
recovery Of Captain Moreland, the insinu-
at,ons OF Mr. Purser Traynor, now to-
tally vanished. and the rumored asper-
s.cns OF fair incognita, known only to
CAPTAIN Petty a man who had few as
eociates In the line or outside the linn
tied circle of the generals personal staff,
and who was not TO well liked even there
And. as the revusion OF feeling set IN,
Petty ret out for Yuma. Where there
IS so dashed much smoke" said he, as II
iater transpired, there must be some
fire.f ard the general had hidden him go
90 Yuma, 10 G.la Bend. to Guaymas. "a
the devil m need be, and find out all the
facts. But the linesmen at Presidio and
the jovlal blades at Moreland's elbow
were loud in their laughing statement
that r Petty were looking for fire he coulo
nave foyali II here in abundance. Lorine
could have given him more than he want
ed
Then came the order I'm the case oi
Captain Nevins dismissng that worthy
from the service on charges OF conduc,
unbecomirg an officer and gentleman
and awarding a years imprisonment AZ
such penitentiary, etc. as the review
ing authority should difcet and by tho
same post the Official order Transferring
Lieutenant Loring OF the engineers "a
duty In the department OF the Platte, and
then what dii the steamship company &c
but Issue invitations for a dinner TO ne
given I'm honor OF that distinguished
young officer, and great was the Noise
thereof until it was known that the gen.
tleman had gracefully. but nrmly. de-
clined.
Then the papers said 1T was rumored'
that the general had forbidden his ac
ceptance. despite the fact that the gen
eral had expressed publicly his gratifica
tion that the company had at last don,
something In recognition OF It's indebted
ness 10 the army. which was most adroi
and equally lmpersonal And all IN,
while I,orlng himself was having any
thing but sn enviable time OF u. A mar
so retlcent and retiring could not but b,
annoyed by the persistent calls and eros
questions Of all manner OF people IN
whom he had but small personal interest
lie wished TO have nothing whatever u
say upon the subject. denied himseif a
reporters and reiapsed into impenetrabl
reserve when importuned by brother ON
Gers whom ne but slightly knew.
One or two with whom he would gladl
have held counsel were far removed on
at least forever. from his circle. Tn
staiwart old Inspector. Turnbuli. la
sleeping IN his last sleep IN the cemeter
at Monterey. The veteran who serve
as president OF the Nevins court was 4
far Arizona. and Blake. sound OF heart
N not OF head. was under a cloud y
Yuma. His forceful expressions concern
irg the inbecility OF department oficial
led 20 his being confined very closely I
company work and minor. yet exactins
duffee af then 0sf ali because OF nj