The National tribune., 1906-07-19

1uIHDld, ana executed ne Hat
once been worth $4,000, but wine. wo-
smen and cards had brought him to beg
gary. This was confirmation of the
alleged hoodoo on all connected with
Guiteau's trial and execution. Willis
Croker. son of the late Gen. Croker
denies this story. and gives the follow
ing circumstantial story of Guiteaus ex-
ecution. showing that no man Of the
name OF Manning had anything to do
with it:
my father. the late Gen. Croker
was Warden of the United States Jail,
and had full charge of Guiteau, the as
sassin, from the day he fired the fatal
shot until his execution. June 80, 1882.
"A few minutes after IL o'clock of that
day Gen. Croker entered the condemn
ed mans cell to read the death war
rant.
There was very little preliminary
about this. as Gen. Croker was a plain.
matter-of-fact business man. He simply
said:
With the events of the past year
crewding around me now, as the hours
of life enfold around you, 1 find myself
called upon to perform a solemn duty.
HE then read the warrant. During
this short ceremony two of the guards
began to tie the arms of the condemne ed
man behind his back. 1t was believed
that he would faint. as he trembled
greatly and had to sit down. AS soon
10 the door leading into the large ro-
tunda of the JAIL and the march to the
gallows was begun in this order:
Gen. John 8. Croker. Warden. with
Robert Strong, guard: the Rev. DR.. w.
wv. Hicks, of the Tabernacle Church:
the prisoner, with Guards Woodward
and Coleman. Guards Jones. Hudson,
Dutton and Johnson bringing up the
rear.
"The execution took place promptly
at 1890. and was one of the most per-
feet hangings that ever took place in
the District of Columbia.
MY father was Warden of the Jail
Tor 22 years. and made it model pris-
ON. Mrs. James A. Garfield's brother.
Marshal Henry. was Marshal of the Dis
was an officer of the United States Jail
and can vouch for the accuracy Of this
statement"
With her days of usefulness In the
work for which she was designed pass
ed, the Texas. the first battleship and
hoodOo Of the American Navy. will
spend the remainder of her time quiet
iiy In harbors as a reserve ship Old
ffme-worn. totally out of date in plan
and manner of construction, it has been
decided by the Navy Department off,
Gals that the warship named in honor
OF the Lone Star State will never again
take her place in line with other battle
ships or with any warships in fleet or
squadron formation. unless she should
be pressed into use by the advent Of
war, and this is not probable.
A few weeks ago the Texas was Dock
ed In the Norfolk Navy Yard for re-
pairs, when an examination convinced
the officials that 1t would be useless to
overhaul the ship. Consequently was
decided to hold her in reserve, and now
secretary Bonaparte has practically
concluded that she shall be sent to the
new Navy Yard at Charleston, S. C., to
serve Indefinitely as a receiving and
training ship.
The six six-fnch guns OF the Texas
have been removed at the Norfolk Yard
but 1t is likely that the two eight-inch
turret guns will remain on the ship for
some time yet.
In her EARLIER days the Texas ac-
quired tn, reputation of being the "hoo-
doc ship Of the American Navy. owing
70 the number of seemingly unaccount-
20Ie accidents that overlook her from
time to time. and this name stuck to her
till the Spanish-American War, when.
under the confmand Of Capt. Jack
Philip. she redeemed herself, and did
fully her amount Of valiant service at
Guantanamo and Santiago.
CiHCc JACK DrOugnC ncr
through safely, made her show her
speed. the strength and reliability of
her guns, and her ability to keep her
"feet, the old vessel has been looked
upon kindly and tenderly by the older
naval officials, more particularly since
the nero that commanded her in the
only real action she ever experienced
passed away two years. almost to a day,
after her work before Santiago, after
having been raised to the rank Of Rear
Admiral.
In the early days she was the butt of
every joke ridicuiing the Navy. both ut
home and abroad, till the Texas became
known the world over as clumsy, imi-
fation battleship. that would sink her
SELF the moment she saw an enemy's
gun pointed toward her
1t was near the close of Cleveiand's
Administration that construction Of the
ship was begun. The work was done at
the Government Yard at Norfolk, and
under the supervision of Naval Con-
structor Bowlesr now at the head OF a
Dig shipbu.iding company In Massachu-
sets.
After nearly four years work the shin
was finally completed and launched at
the Norfolk Navy Yard In the Spring of
1892. 1t was great official and social
event-the launching Of Americas first
great battleship-se the cream of
washington Official circles and society
was present. Even foreign diplomats
were invited.
In describing launchings, Il IS usually
said that the gallant ship glided grace
fully down the ways into the waves -
but in describing the launching OF the
Texas a writer might have disposed Of
1t briefly by saying that 1.-The eumber-
some warship slid awkwardly down into
the water and turned turtle"
That was the beginning Of the bad
luck of the Texas-the ship was born
unlucky. everyone said. The first tim.
the Texas was ever taken into New York
Harbor for the people of the metropolis
to view the Nations battleship she ran
her nose into the mud. and It was sew
eral days before she could be pulled out
When the vessel was sent out to sea
she would roll and tulble in a storm
like frail craft: 1t was even said that
II there was rock in the bottom Of the
sea she was sure to scrape It; she sell
dom entered harbor that she did no,
get stuck or bump into some other craft
and some were mean enough to declare
that she could run as swiftly backward
or broadside as forward.
Then 1t was declared that her guns
were defective. They wouldn't carr,
shin's dacta % n