Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-09
ADMIRAL HOWARD
GRANTS PR0TEGE
Owes Position to Compact
Made With Father Fifty
Years Ago.
FAMILY PLEDGE SWORN
ON EVE OF CIVIL WAR
His Command of Pacific Fleet on
Mexican Coast Recalls Humor
of Carabao Dinner.

This story begins in Galena, Ill. in the
days which Immediately preceded the
outbreak of the civil war Every one
knows that one Of the unregarded cit
liens of Galena at that time was Ulysses
s. Grant. He had been a captain in the
United States Army, but he had resigned
and he was poor.
Bush said Grant one day to his
nearest friend. Bushrod Howard. well
have a war. sure. And I'm going
Bushrod Howard had commanded a
company in the Mexican war. He came
of a fighting family.
II agree with you said he. And
I'm going, too. Wen each raise com
pany.''
Bush said Grant. you can't afford
to go to war. II anything happened to
you, who would take care of your
family"
''Ulyss.' said Howard. you can't af-
ford to go to war. either But you're
going, aren't you?"
Make Friendly Combact.
The two men made a friendly com
pact. If either failed to return from
the war. the survivor pledged himself
to watch over those left behind. Capt
Howard raised his company. and was
killed with most Of his men in a rail
road accident on his way to the front.
After the war Grant interested him
self In Towards two sons. One was
sent to West Point. The other, Thomas
Bushrod. received an appointment to
Annapolis. When he graduated Grant
sent him sum of money.
sEitI- hot will col 10
been a boy at graduation time-and
know how many things you'll need.
Over the head of Howard's bed in any
battleship on which his flag may fly is
the sword that he bought with Grant $
money. 1t is more part of him than
the admirals plumed hat he has to
wear occasionally, for Howard i sa sin
gularly unaffected and modest man. He
is a good observation-disclosures stern
disciplinarian-but he wins the affection
of his men. In the routine of service
the higher officers are continually chang
ing ships.
Whenever Howard changed an ava
lanche of requests floods the department
from the men who have come in personal
contact with the admiral and wish to
follow him.
IF / granted these requests, Sec
rotary of the Navy once said to him,
you'd man your ship with stewards and
cooks
Regarded a Reformer.
In the service they speak Of Howard as
'.reformer. That is because he IS a
sort of a. first aid whenever ship or
station has gone bad from executive
causes. Howard commanded the Ten
nessee when that brand-new battleshiI
acted as the path finder for the trip
around the toe of South America some
years ago.
When he reached San Francisco he was
detached to assume command of the
Ohio. That ship was then at the very
bottom of her class in the navy. Mutiny
a thing unheard of in the American
Navy, had been limited at in some of the
highly colored reports which had been
printed. The men We're certainly in a
state verging upon revolt. They felt
that some of their officers were treating
them most unfairly. There is no need to re-
vive at this time that old scandal of the
service. But officers shook their heads
when they discussed conditions on board
the Ohio.
In very few months after he had as
sumed command Howard had brought
the Ohio up to the very top of her class.
He is of Vermont family. with many
of the Vermont characteristics. He is
silent, courteous and conservative: 1t
seemed a bit of irony that Howard who
never tastes liquor except III compliment
to guest at his table, and never smokes
only the other day he wrote his wife
that some people came aboard and l
again tried to smoke a cigar-with the
usual result'-should have been the chief
sufferer by the Cardiac dinner here.
Howard knew nothing of the program.
Another man had been selected to pre-
side. But at the last moment the other
man fell Ill, and Howard was called on.
No doubt he enjoyed the very harm
less humor of the Cardiac entertain
ers, but when the humorists were rep
rimanded by President Wilson he en-
tered no defense. 1t was announced
that Howard was not to be given com
mand of the Asiatic squadron, and was
to be sent to command the tactic fleet,
i'll punishment for his part in the Cara
bao after-dinner merriment. Reporters
fought to talk to him.
There is nothing for me to saw" said
he. Il always obey ORDERS.
Picturesque Incident in Career.
He might have said-and didnt-that
he did not want TO go to the Asiatic
fleet, and infinitely preferred remaining
on the Pacific coast. In its effort to
dissemble its love the administration had
kicked him upstairs. Because of that
Carabao incident Howard has chance
to participate in whatever action and
glory may result from the Mexican war,
instead of Sweltering in iron collins under
the relentless sun Of the eastern seas
Three of Towards sons have gradu-
ated from Annapolis, and two are in the
service. The third was obliged to leave
the navy later, because of defect in
his hearing.
Perhaps the most picturesque incident
in Towards career was his service in
command of the caravel Pinta when
that ancient Spanish model swashed side
wise across the waters to America at the
time Of the Chicago worlds fair The
Pinta could not be sailed. Towards
opinion. as expressed later, was that no
credit was due to Columbus for discov-
ering America in such ship, He thinks
the great navigator was simply blown
off-shore and couldn't get back The
greatness of Columbus consisted in his
ability to stay on board such a foolish