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About Hemingford herald. (Hemingford, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1895-190? | View Entire Issue (July 22, 1898)
ri- ' g?tm f THIRD REGIMENT COL. BRYAN AND HIS SOLDIER SOYS GIVEN AN OVATION. GUESTS OF THE EXPOSITION MAGNIFICENT BODY OF MEN UNDER A GREAT LEADER. Governor Holcomb MnkoBn Faro well Spoooh to "Hlo Boys" and Govornor Loedy of Kansas and Major Clarkson Mako Addresses Omaha, Neb., July 19. The march of the Third Nebraska regiment from Fort Omaha to the exposition grounds began at 9:30 Saturday morning. The soldlerB were ail neatly uniformed. The boys carried rifles, haversacks, tin cups, cantcentB filled with water, and scabbards. Governor Holcomb, Adjutant General Barry, the governor's color-bearer, Por ter J. Hand, Adjutant a F. Beck and Colonel William Jennings Bryan, all mounted, led the march, followed by the regimental band, and then by Lieu tenant Colonel Victor Vlfqualn In com mand of the first battalion. This battalion consists of company C from Omaha, under Captain Charles U. Mnrple; company B from Flatts mouth, under Captain George L. Shel don; company D from Omaha, the Danish-American, under Captain William Neve; and company F from Lincoln, under Captain Charles F. Schwurs. Major J. II. McClay, mounted.ln com mand of the second battalion, was ac companied by Dr. Ralph S. Irwin of Slostings, regimental surgeon, ranking mm captain, also mounted, and Second Hospital Steward Hartauest, on foot. The second battalion was formed by company G from Wakefield, In charge cl Captain John H. Brown; I from Alma, In charge of Captain A. A. Un derwood; L from Indlanola, In charge of Lieutenant J. B. Mather, and K from Hastings, In charge of Captain H. B. Dungan. Major C. F. Scharmann, command ing the third battalion, walked, as his Jiorse, Just received yesterday from North Ploitte, was not sufllclcntly trained for the duties of the day. Ma jor Scharmann was accompanied by Dr. O. Grothan of St. Paul, the chief surgeon of the regiment, ranking as majpr, mounted, and Dr. .i. H. Pinto, the handsome young first hospital steward, on foot. The companies making "P the third battalion were H from Stromsburg, commanded by Lieutenant Thomas F. Green; F from Fremont, commanded by Lieutenant Cumlngs; M from Holt county, commanded by Captain Cross, pd E from Blair, commanded by Cap tain Don C. Van Deusen. Dr. A. T. Fltxslmmons of Tecumseh, junior surgeon of the regiment, rank ing as lieutenant, brought up the rear, mounted. Captain John J. Lamborn of com pany L from Indlanola, as ofllcer of the day, was left In charge of the fort, two men from each company remain ing at their respective barracks to look after matters there. The march wns out the main en trance to the post, south to a point opposite the southern boundary of the parade ground, east to Twenty-fourth street, south to Ames avenue and east to the Twentieth street exposition en trance. A CROWD GREETS IT ON THE WAY. Colonel Bryan was cheered as he turned the corner nt Twenty-fourth street, a crowd of people from the city and state being there In waiting for the regiment. Th march was an exceedingly warm cne. and ssveral of the soldiers fall. 'd. MILITARY DAY CROWD. Long before the time when the regi ment was to enter the exposition grounds the people packed up and thronged the sides of the' avenue and of West and East Midway the whole length, down which the troops were to march. - " ..-- The crowds were ready for mllltnry day to begin, and at 10:20, when Gen eral Manager Clarkson, some distance In advance. Governor Holcomb, Adju tant General Barry. Colonel Bryan nnd the regimental olllcers mine through the gate at the north side mounted, with the Pawnee City nnd regimental bands playing, military day was n fact nnd the thousands cheered. The tine anncnrnn;e of the officers and the thoroughly soldierly bearing and air of the men was the subject of universal comment. Omaha had never before seen so large n body of troops together, nnd as the sturdy battalions marched nlong cheer after cheer went up from s crqwdsand the march was a contlnuel ovation. - Every now nnd then, n voice could be heard saying. "There's Bryan," or There's Billy" and then a great shout would be Patsed. -fiSWi. -'- -"-" S& MIDWAY WAS ALL OUT. The Midway people were not behind In demonstrative welcome and compli mentary cheer. Most of the managers had the personal of their attractions nut An the troops passed the Wild West show the cow boys and Indians were out on their horses and fired a vnllev In salute. STACKED ARMS AT GRAND PLAZA rin iHa nrnmi Pinzu the governor. tne General Barry and Color Bearer Porte rotnpil their horses facing west, and the troops, who hnd been marching In fours, formed in platoons to pass in nvipw. Thev continued down the nvenues past the Nebraska and Horti cultuie buildings nnd countermarched to the plaza, where they stacked arms, MARCH TO AUDITORIUM. They then marched to the Auditorium. The doors of the building had been kept closed until their arrival, so that thure might be no dllflculty In reserving seats for them on the lower lloor, Mennwhlle the governor, General Bar ry. Color Bearer Porter.Governor Leedy of Kansas, President Wattle. Gilbert M. Hitchcock. Mrs. Bryan and others, and the Pawnee City band took places nn the Tilatform. At 1 o'cldck there was a oheer out side, the doors opened and the 1,300 eoldleis filed In, led by Colonel Bryan and directed by Major Llewellyn, com mandant of the exposition gunrds. At this moment Mrs. Joslyn, superintend ing the refreshments, the women of the bureau of entertainment, and their associates came In from the siderooms, where they were unpacking the lunch baskets, and led In a cheer and waving of handkerchiefs. SOLDIERS. WERE HOT. Eviy soldier was using, his big brown hat for a fan, for they nnd been marching In the hot sun for an hour and the rattle of the canteens on the back of the seats made . music BUggestlve of the camp. Once seated the soldiers brought their canteens Into a service that was grateful, for the vrssrls had been filled with good water before leaving the fort. All this tlmo the poor public was doing Its best to get a view through the windows of the Interesting and picturesque scene Inptde, nnd the rush at the doors wnB tremendous when the people were finally allowed to come In. The remaining sents below and those In the gallery were filled as soon as eager ness could scramble to them. SHOWED THEIR TRAINING. A little delay was caused In getting to the general admission room because the second battalion, on the far side of the lagoon, had not through an oversight received orders to move, nnd, like true soldiers, the men were standing fast and did stand fast until the matter was reported and an or derly sent to move the boys to the building. ' As the final rush was being made, with guards and police all busy trying to keep some kind of order nnd pre vent people from trampling on one another, several cameras were at work In the different parts of the building tnklng snap shots at the lively throng. For an opening the regiment whs brought to Its feet, everyone else fol lowing the example, nnd amid the wav ing of handcrchlefs nnd the shouts of thousands of throats the Pawnee City bnnd played "The Star Spangled Banner." This was followed by "America." By this time the big build ing was for the first time packed with all It could hold. President Wattles Introduced General Manager Clarkson, who delivered the address of welcome. WELCOMED BY CLARKSON. The major addressed the boys as his comrades, congratulated them for the step they had taken In enlisting In the service of their country and bade them welcome to the exposition. The world, he said, loved a soldier, and especially when he volunteers In the face of great sacrifices to defend his country in a holy cause. Noting the sturdy demeanor of the troops he predicted nothing but good of the Third regiment. It might go hard Rt first, but the Importance of the strict obedience to orders would soon be perceived. The officers, he said, must be proud of the magnificent material In the regi ment, and he was sure It would have their good care. It was a military year, and the country was learning that there was something better nnd higher than the dollar and business. To be a soldier, to suffer, to die If need be, to keep Old Glory afloat, was the highest evidence of manhood and patriotism. These ypung men were not from the slums, the Jails or t he levees, but were the mechanic, the farmer and the clerk. They were fenrless, brave, stolid, mag nanimous In wnr and magnnnlmous In peace. This was the material of the volunteer armies of the United Stntes. Major Clarkson's address was ap plauded from start to finish nnd was followed by "The Battle Cry of Free, dom" by the Third regiment band. KANSAS' GOVERNOR SPEAKS. "Soldiers of Nebraska, soldiers of the republic," said Governor Leedy of Kansas. "I am glad that my visit here Is at such a time, that I can do you honor and bid you godspeed." He said he thought that Kansas had sent out three regiments that could not be matched, but after seeing these boys march and looking Into their faces he was compelled to admit that the Kan sas boys would have the company of those who were their equals In every respect. He described to the soldiers the glorious mission on which they were being sent and on that mission they would not fall. Every American knew how to fight, because every American was a patriot. A battle piece followed, by the Paw nee City bnnd, closing with "The Star Spangled Banner" nnd n patroltic med ley, the audience rising nnd waving handkerchiefs. At the end the au dience would have more, and "Yankee Doodle" and "Dixie" brought out vol umes of every kind of applause. WORLD-HERALD PRESENTS QUID. ONS. President Wattles announced that one of the enterprising newspapers of the city had asked the privilege of pre senting to the regiment a token of Its esteem, and Introduced Mr. Hli-clicock of the World-Herald. Mr. Hitchcock said that It had been the desire of the World-Herald to present to the regi ments Its regimental colors, but was In formed that Uncle Sam would do this, sqJt hnd been determined to present two guidons for each of the three bat talions; nnd Mr. Hitchcock handed the beautiful silken bnnrers to Colonel Brynn amid grent applause. Major ClnrkBon, rising, snld that since presentations were In order he would say that tne Nebraska bnnitnry Aid hnd sent out to Fort Omnha 150 dozen towels with the request that they be used ns much ns possible. President Wattles then enme forward with a fine looking enke, the testi monial of the bureau of entertainment to Colonel Bryan, nnd Colonel Bryan was then Introduced to respond to the greetings of the forenoon to the regi ment! COLONEL BRYAN RESPONDS. Colonel Bryan declared that If he had known bo many thanks were to be prasented he would have been sure to have the proper oillcer of tile regiment there to receive them. - Colonel Bryan acknowledged the gTlutl Service that hud been rendered to the regiment by all who had con tributed to Its composition nnd equip ment. He mentioned several by name, the governor, Adjutant General Barry and others, not forgetting Major Koer per, who hnd testified that nobody In the regiment hud ever suffered from disease. He continued this little pleas antry, by averring that the young ladles wno nail been passing aiounii the water could testify to the health I of., the boys, nnd to the fact that the reglnvsnt could drink enough water to tlnk a Spnnish navy In. Referring to criticism passed on the regiment, the colonel snld they weif not due to the men In It, but to Its commander. It had been called a political regiment, a silver regiment, etc. He said he desired to give assurance that there was no politics In the regi ment. All parties were there. As a matter of fact the majority of the cap tains differed from htmt-elf In political opinion, and the two majors were his opponents In polities. It was simply an American regiment and nil would stnnd together In Its Important undertakings. PLEASURE IN WORLD-HERALD GIFTS, It seemed to be with peculiar pleas ure that Colonel Bryan referred to the tokens presented by the World-Herald. He assured Mr. Hitchcock thnt If he would come out to drill ho would see th3 movements Improved, nnd he com mended the propriety of the gifts sent t,ut by the World-Heialfl In the morning to the fort little cards for each member of the regiment with the i words of the hymn. "America," on one Hde, and "The Star Spangled Banner" 0n the other. Colonel Bryan hoped they would be learned by heart, and It Voild be grand for the 1.800 men to ping them In chorus. He felt sure that when the boys laid down their arms the little children In Cuba would be Hinging, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty." As ne rose to speak nnd as he closed Colonel Bryan was complimented with long cheering, the audience rising nnd waving hnts and handkerchiefs. The applause was renewed when President Wnttles rend from the Noon World-Ilorald that the surrender at Santiago was an actual fact, and that the Spanish army there had laid down Its arms. GOVERNOR BIDS FAREWELL. Governor Holcomb delivered a short farewell address. He called the sol diers his boys, and expressed the hope that the farewell was for but n short time. He hoped that It would not be long before the boys were all back, and meanwhile prayers would go up from every Nebraska home for their safety. The exercises did not close until 1 o'clock. All present except the soldiers were then asked to retire from the building. The troops gave themselves more room nnd the luncheon began, carried to the boys where they sat by the women of the bureauof entertain ment, the Women's Relief Corps and their many assttants. "Enough?" said one of the women, when asked about the quantity o'f the cakes, pies, sandwiches and other good things sent, "enough? Why, we have enough to supply this regiment while it Is in the field." It did seem so, for It wob a long train of A. D. T. wagons that delivered the supplies at the building artd the rooms where they were unpacked were stuffed to the celling and full of pastry fragrance. The service was well rendered nnd the boys received the banquet In a way which showed they were not care ful to conceal the fact that they en joyed It. CAMP LIFE AT FORT OMAHA. Life at Fort Omaha during the mus tering In of the Third regiment under Colonel William J. Bryan has not been a bed of roses for many of the boys, whose patriotism led them to giving up good positions and comfortable homes for a life of hardship and battle for their country's sake. Owing to orders received from the government to muster in and equip the regiment at the earliest moment, the soldiers have been deprived of many conveniences which they otherwise would have had. As a consequence beds were an un known quantity; for many days tables were In the same ratio, and up to the present time the culinary articles have been woefully absent. Notwithstanding these Inconveniences the boys have been happy and con tented, They were and are ex periencing "roughing It," such as their fathers had experienced in earlier days. and were content to undergo such trials as those of whlcn their fathers had made light. Colonel Bryan hns been no exception to the rule. He has endured the same Inconveniences In uncomfortable quar ters as have his rren, but he hus en duied them with a stoicism which has called out many favorable comments on his worth as an officer. His headquarters, while Imposing In exterior, presented a very different as pect Interiorly. Large, open, empty rooms greeted the visitor on every side. The office, where official busi ness hns been transacted, contained only a desk and two common wooden chnlrs, warping In the rnys of the hot sun, which poured In from the unpro tected south windows. The only time any comfort could be experienced was when the sun had passed behind the mass of foliage of the huge tree on the side of the building. The time of the soldiers hns been passed In almost incessant drilling. Drill squads of a dozen men, usually under command of a first or second sergeant, could be found nt all hours, marching back and forth, crossing and recrosslng the parade grounds, going through the motions of changing posi tions of nrmB,' which had not yet been given out, and modelling excellently drilled soldiers from numerous awk. ward squads. When the call to mess Is sounded, then the boys are really happy. The invigorating air- at the fort .gWes all a strong appetite and even though the cook mny have failed to turn the huge chunks of beef sufficiently, or the beans may be a little burned, and the coffee taste a little JJHe old. "bootleg" of civil war days, the boys pitch In with a greediness which shows their health has not been affected. Just how the meals are cooked almost defeats description. The beef, In chunks of two or three feet or thereabouts, Is placed In a huge drlplng pan over a fire of cordwood and allowed to cook at Its plensure, except for occnslonnl turn ings by means of a bale stick and a huge fork. The beans and coffee are In huge pnlls, suspended over the fire, nnd both are stirred frequently with the beef stick, wiped off for the oc casion, on the mess towels, composed of either a mass of wnste or a piece of cloth foraged from some member's house. After meals, as Is usual with satiated the shade and take a "snooze" until persons, the boys spread themselves In the cnll to drill brings them again to their feet, eager to make the best ap pearance and gain encomiums from their olllcers. nmnhn. July 18. The Third regiment, United States volunteers, It was ofll clully announced last evening, leaves Omaha today. Owing to the surrender of Santiago and the dispatches telling of peace pro positions, doubt was expressed In some minrters as to whether the Third would be moved nt all. Captain Baxter, when asked regarding the matter, said that If pence should be declared tomorrow the order moving the regiment would be carried out. and thnt It would re main In service nt least six months. Even after hostilities cease the work of the United States army will not be ended, ns nn army will be required In the Philippines, nn army In Cuba, and nn army In Porto Rico. While the present prospect of the Third Nebraska regiment seeing fighting Is very remote, It hns a fair chance of seeing active service In the "reconstruction" and "army of occupation" line. Portsmouth, N. H July 19. A petty ofllcer of the Oquendo says that his ship lost more than any of the others, one thlrteen-lnch shell from the Ore gon clearing the deck of 120 men, killing them nil. Besides these a number were drowned or eaten by the shnrks that swarmed about the Ill-fated vessel. The barbed wire trocha 'around the outside of the stockade was completed last night. It is eight feet high and seven feet away from the stockade and should a prisoner be foolhardy enough to scale the stockade his life would be In jeopardy by the time he reached the barbed wire. Richard Sylvester, since 1SB5 chief clerk Of the District of Columbia police department, was appointed by the dis trict commissioners as major and sul perlntendent of the police force, to suc ceed the late William G. Moore. IS A GOOD CHANGE SCHOOLS ARE SUPPLIED WITH JUICY FUNDS. HOW UNCLE JAKE DOES IT A CONTRAST FROM REPUBLI CAN METHODS. Why the School Children's Funds Are Flourishing as Thoy Never Have Before In the State's His tory. Lincoln, Neb., July 19. Land Com missioner Wolfe hns made a big change in the management of hlB ofTice. It used to be tho custom to lease a piece of land and get behind four to six years on the rental. Then the tenant could go to the county trensurer and voluntarily surrender his lease and by bo doing be relieved of his debt. At the end of thirty days he would send a friend around who would quietly lease the land at the old rate and assign the lease over to the original holder. ThlB was a good thing for the tenant and a very poor deal for the state. The new plan does away with this little family Bcheme. When land is surrendered now It Is advertised and promptly at the expiration of thirty days bids are received. The highest bidder gets the land and the man who relinquished It is barred from bidding and Is also liable to an action for recovery of the amount which he owes the state. Sur renders used to come in. under the old plan at the rate of about forty per month, as It was an easy way of paying old scores and starting over anew. Sur renders come In now at the rate of about one each month, as a tenant does not give up a good lease without a good cause. One eighty-acre piece of land In Custer county, which was de linquent to the amount of $26 (about four years' rental), was surrendered and re-leased according to the new plan for a bonuB of $1$0 In addition to the regular rental. And another piece In Greeley county, on which four years' rental was due ($35), was surrendered and by the reform plan leased again for a bonus of $190. Under the repub lican plan the parties surrendering could have quietly leased the land, through some friend, and defrauded the state of the rental due on the old contract and got the new ones without paying a bonus. Under "Uncle Jake's" plan everyone Interested In the land hnd an opportunity to bid for It and In these two cases the state receives the benefit of reform to the tune of $350. The following circular letter, sent to the county treasurers, explains the plan: When surrender of delinquent con tract Is accepted the county treasurer will be notified of the date of such acceptance and will hold such land one month from that date. For In stancewhere surrender Is accepted May 5, land will be held until June 5; where surrender Is accepted Feb ruary 3, land will be held until Mnrch 13, etc. While this does not always work out as thirty days, even, yet It accomplishes the object Intended, viz, fixes a uniform term and holds the land open long enough, after surrender, for persons who might desire to lease to become Informed of Its condition and to afford competition, getting good prices and making sure It will be taken by sonleone who will hold In good faith and pay for Its use. On the day succeeding the expira tion of this term such land will bo con sldered as again upon the market (ex cept to parties mentioned In last para graph), and be open for bidders during all of that day; and, at the close of that day, if more than one person hns ap plied for said land, the contract will be w warded to the one ho has offered the greatest amount of bonus In addition to the required legal rental. If this day falls on Sunday or a holiday It will recede to the previous day. 'Application to lease by or in the Interest of the party surrendering such delinquent contrnct cannot be accepted and treasurers nre especially requested to give attention to this point. J. V. WOLFE, Commissioner of Public Lands nnd Buildings. ... , Lincoln, Neb., July 18. Secretary A. H. Gleason of the state committee of the silver republican party has sent out to the county committeemen and other members of that party a letter In which he calls upon them to line up for the fight against "the common enemy of mankind, "ns represented In the Hanna. cratlc combine in this state. In hla letter Secretary Gleason says: "Our conventlons.state.congresslonal, legislative and county, have been called and you are urged to use your influence in securing full delegations of safe, representative citizens and aid in nom inating good, honest men for offices of profit or trust. As free silver repub licans we can rejoice with all good citizens over the results secured, in part at least, through our aid In re forming the administration of our state government. Without our votes a full reform state ticket would not have been elected in 1S96 and our school funds would yet have been misappro priated, our charitable and reforma tory Institutions would have continued to be mismanaged and extravagant purchases for their maintenance made In discounted state warrants. "Gold standard republicans are now profuse with promises of reform, to be brought about by Infusing new blood Into old party management, thereby se curing the nomination of better men for officers, but the outlook Is not prom ising. "The disreputable elements of their party, so called by the silk stocking. aristocratic federal office-holding chaps, have so far controlled their caucuses nnd conventions, nnd the same list of gentlemen head and lead the delega tions ns of yore. The leopard has not changed his spots. "Two years ago the people of Ne braska were told that the success of th reform ticket would ruin the credit of the state, drive out capital and even render life and propeity Insecure. Pome timid people were mnde to believe these falsehoods. What hns experience taught us? State warrants have been raised from a, discount of from 5 to 7 pet cent to a premium of 1 per cent There Is not a money-market In the world where any legal demand ngnlnst the state of Nebraska will not bring a pie mium. Not only that, but moneys taxed from the people have been up plled for the purposes levied. Debts and taxes have been reduced, life hus been made more desirable and property more valuable. All business Interests have been carefully gunrded and business men of all parties credit the reform administration with honest, economical nnd conservative management Why change It? To nsk you to continue your influence In the good work Is the pur pose of this communication." ' WHAT 0TJB ATTACK ON A Naval Officer Points Out Numerous American PrecodontB-Comlnfir Expedition Ib In Line with Many Brilliant Achievements. Shortly after the breaking out of this wnr of outb with Spain a flying squad ron, under the command of Commodore Schley, was formed. The suggestion was made at that time that this squad ron proceed to the Mediterranean, cap ture Port Mohon, on Mlnorcn, one of the Belearlc Islands, nnd, using that well known harbor as a base, proceed to ravage the coasts of the kingdom. A somewhat similar plan Is about to be adopted, and. though the details dlf fer somewhat from thlse originally suggested, the Idea underlying the scheme Is practically the same. It Is to carry the wnr Into Spain, so as to Impress upon the people of that be nighted kingdom that there Is really a serious, dangerous wnr being fought against them, that they nre powerless to oppose It, and that, unless they would suffer dire disaster, they would better sue for peace, and be quick about It, too. A very powerful squadron Is the one our navy department will dispatch to "singe the beard of the king of Spnln" though that the unfortunate young boy king has not yet grown his beard will not prevent his feeling the warmth of the shot of our guns. It Is com manded by Commodore John Critten den Watson, a man who Is devoid of the sense of fear, who Is bold to a fault, and who will take any risk un hesitatingly. Watson was Farragut's flag lieutenant off New Orleans, Mobile, Vlcksburg and Port Hudson. He knowB well the music of the cannon ball and the din of battle, and, while he Is a thorough Christian gentleman, full of Christian virtues, he relishes shooting and being shot at. This determination to wage war about the distant coasts of a foreign enemy's country, and over which he claims sov ereignty Is not new In our history. Repeatedly have we made attacks upon the coasts, the commerce and the ships of an enemy, and victory has Invari ably crowned our efforts. The first American vessel of war to show the stars and stripes abroad was the sixteen gun brig Reprisal, com manded by Lieutenant Lambert WIlkeB and the first time the flag was ever floated over a foreign fortress was a little later, when the brig Providence ceptured Fort Nassau on the island of New Providence. The Providence car ried twenty-two guns, and sailed In squadron from the Delaware to attack a British force then ravaging the coasts of Virginia. Admiral Hopkins, an energetic officer, was the commander-in-chief, and, not finding the enemy, he steered for New Providence, in the Bahamas. He captured the place and destroyed many stores. It is peculiarly Interesting In this connection to note tha,t "Hopkins' landing party consisted of about three hundred men, and on this occasion, the first that ever occurred In the regular American navy, the ma rines, under the command of Captain Nichols, appear to have behaved with the spirit and readiness that have dis tinguished the corps from that hour down to the present moment." Paul Jones, that redoubtable old warrior who never wenrled In doing deeds of extraordinary daring, accom plished no less a feat than taking the American man-ofrwar Ranger, a slow, cranky vessel of eighteen guns, Into the port of Whitehaven. He, seised forts, spiked the guns and then boarded a ship and set fire to it. This one man terrrorlzed the coast, paralyzed trade and set all the people Into a state of trepidation lest he return and worse befalll them. Something akin to this feeding of dread alarm, of constant fear. Is what Commodore Watson will inspire In the breasts of the Spaniards when they see the fine ships standing In toward their ports firing shot and shell and then hastening away to some other haven to repeat the same per formance. Captain WIckes, with the Reprisal apd a couple of other ships, made a tour "of the coast of Ireland In 1777, going about his work of capturing prizes and seizing everything about his size he could lay hands on, In much the same way Paul Jones did, and very much the same way we trust Commo dore Watson will do when he reaches his cruising ground. Of Conyngham, another one of those daredevils of the seas, Commissioner Deane reported: "Conyngham by his first and second expeditions Is become the terror of nil the eastern coast of England and Scotland." This bold nav igator commanded the Revenge. He was searched for high and low, but disguising his ship he not only went Into an English port unrecognized, but actually fitted out his ship there with out detection. Of course. Commodore Watson could not possibly hope to be able to do such an astonishing bit of work as this. The Tripoli war furnishes many examples of bold raiding by ships and of great, even astonishing, personal bravery. Decatur's cutting out of the Philadelphia from under the guns of the Trlpolltan forts was an act In many ways similar to Hobson's tak ing the Merrlmac Into Santiago. A famous cruise far away from home was that of Captain Porter In the Es sex. For months this resourceful com mander cruised In the Pacific, carrying on his work of destruction and depre dation. He drove the English flag off the seas, but was finally captured off Valparaiso by a superior force and under circumstances not discreditable to him. In 1821 the West Indies were the fa vorite cruising grounds of the French nnd Spanish picaroons. These men of the Bea were freebooters pirates, in other words. They plundered nnd lootoed merchant vessels, and often murdered the crews. Our government determined to stop It, and a force of men-of-war under the well known commanders. Blddle, Porter and War rington, routed them out and hunted them to the deatn. Another action In an opposite quar ter of the world occurred In 1831, when Commodore John Downs landed his men on the soil of Sumatra and cap tured all the forts of the port but one, nnd this one his ship, the Potomac, bat tered down the next day. Even so long ago ns this our ships were en gaged In attacking forts. Doubtless the eastern squadron, when It appears oft Cadiz, Barcelona, Tama, ferroi ana other ports will have an opportunity to try Its guns at silencing forts though the modern fortification cannot be so easily Injured by a modern gun ns wns the case when Downs attacked the Malays. Yet again must we recall that the stars and stripes have waved trlumph nntly over foreign foes In foreign wa ters; this time the place Is China, not so very far from the scene of Admiral Dewey's magnificent, smashing victory. In 1866 the Cnnton barrier forts were destroyed by the Portsmouth and Le vant. A desperate defence was made, but the Americans would not keep back. The capture of the forts led to a termination of the war and the formation of a treaty of amity and commerce. Such an end to crown Com SPAIN'S COAST MEANS. modore Watson's coming would be most glorious nnd desirable. Formosa and Corea were threatened by pur squadrons In 1867 and 1879, but the engagements of our ships were not of much Importance, though sufficient to bring about n speedy and satisfac tory solution of the dilllculties. The object to be gained by despatch ing Commodore Watson and his ships to the consts nnd waters of the king dom of Spnln Is the same as in the cases of Formosa and Corea, and In engagementB elsewhere the world over to bring about peace and to cause the flag and authority of the United States to be respected. We demand security from Spanish rule In the West Indies nnd security from Spain on the high seas. If the mere showing of the flag will bring about these results so much the better; If ports must be terrorized It wlll'be a pity; if places must be bom barded and captured It will appear al most a sin, for Spain must yield, nnd we must make her yield peacefully If we can, forcibly If we must. Not all From West Point. (New York Herald.) To the Editor: Is the Mr. Poultney Blgelow who Is rampaging In your col umns every now and then the same gentleman of whom we saw It stated Just after the war was declared by the United States against Spain that he was leaving England to offer his services as a cavalryman In our army? On his arrival here did he offer his servlceB? If so, were they rejected? And has he found this rejection cause sufficient to justify him In his attacks upon every one who has charge of the conduct of the wnr? Or Is he one of those who believe with Richelieu (according to Bulwer) that "the pen Is mightier than the sword?" And does he think (with a chaplain of one of the regiments that did not go to the front with It because he thought he could do more good by fighting their enemies at home than by giving them the consolation of relig ion when they required It, or by sett ting them an example of a plus life in camp) that with his pen he can slash more effectually than he could with a sabre? We recall to Mr. Blgelow's attention that the above quotation from Riche lieu Is preceded by the qualification "In the hands of men entirely great." Whence does he derive how an army should be called Into existence, dis ciplined, maneuvered or used? and If he hns no knowledge or experience of what value Is his criticism? But, above all, what excuse can he give for showing an Ignorance of his tory of which any boy In one of the higher classes of the public schools would be ashamed? Has the time ever been, will It ever be, In this country, when appointments for office, except ns regards high grades in the navy, have not been governed by political necessity or In furtherance of political schemes? Who were the generals and other field officers whom President Polk nppolnted under the act authoriz ing the Increase of the army during the Mexican wnr? How many of them were whlgs? And, In later days, how many generalB and other field officers and subordinates did President Lincoln through pulls and policy appoint who did not know the difference between a pruning hook and a sabre? A list of them would fill a page. Mr. Blgelow says: "The Mexican war. which was the most brilliant cam paign of Its kind In military history, was conducted by graduates of West Point." Will he name those officers. Will he mention subordinate officers who distinguished themselves more than Shields. P. S. Smith. Butler, of Kentucky; Quitman of Mississippi, or Pillow (even If the latter did die his ditch on-.be wionp side of his fortifi cation)? Which of these officers was graduated from West Point? And Gen eral Wlnfield Scott, did he graduate from West Point? He was a practicing lawyer In Virginia when he was ap pointed captain of artillery. He prob ably never snw the Point until after the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. And General Taylor? He wns a Ken tucky backwoodsman when he was np polnted first lieutenant In the Seventh Infantry, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his brother, who held that rank In the nrmy. At that time he knew nothing more of literature than enabled him to read and write. Did any West Pointer distinguish himself more than these two generals did In Mexico? Did nny Amerlcnn gen ernl ever nchleve a greater victory than General Taylor achieved over General Snnta Ana at Buena Vlstn? No disparagement to Grant, Lee, Sherman, Beauregard. Sheridan, Stone wall Jackson, Beauregard and a host of other graduates of West Point whose illustrious deeds will live In history so long ns history Is read. No dispar agement either to the academy at West Point. No other country turns out more accomplished soldiers. At the same time, do not slight those who, though not graduates of thut Institu tion, have yet carried our fing gallant ly In the very front of war. Above all, do not too lightly estimate the power and manhood of our volun teers. They mny not march with the solemn tread and mathematical pre cision of soldiers who have long been drilled by experts In the profession; they mny growl nt delay, grumble at their necessarily Improvised camp; but rest assured. Mr. Blgelow, that when they meet the Spanish soldiers on the soil of Cuba they will stand as firm nnd fight as successfully as their fore fathers did at Buena Vista. M. S. "No, sir," said the congressman with the lay-down collar and the large feet, "the Idea of taking charge of these , tropical Islands Is utterwiy Impractica ble." "But It would add to our wealth and power and be the menns of broadening the Influence of our Institutions." "I don't care. The agricultural de partment Is having trouble enough now keepln' the farmers posted on weevils and Canada thistles. I don' know where we'd be If they had to go to work and educate the mnsses In rais in' mangoes and bread-fruit trees an' things like them." It is said to be no uncommon occur rence on the new Siberian- railway for fuel or water to give out. In the latter case a halt Is made and snow collected and melted until enough water Is pro vided for proceeding to the next sta tion. Boston's water ' pipes are Infested by ell hundreds and thousands of them and the water board Is at its wits' endB to devise some means to get rid of them. They go through the strainers when young and small and grow to great size, obstructing the flow of water or stopping it altogether. .1 h 4 L Pi y