Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-05-20
CEDAR FALLS. IOWA. FRIDAY, MAY 20 1864.

stained glass overhead. Mahogany desks
and chairs. Fine pier glasses, and richly
cushioned sofas and chairs in the adjacent
rooms. Handsome carpets throughout. Heat. |
ed by some underground process; hot air,
presume. sat downin one Of the rooms. |
Looked at two ladies and one gentleman
Looked at myself in the mirrors, Thought
appeared rather rough. Looked at the
paintings in the rotunda, a big circular roon,,
about 100 feet in diameter, open to the dome.
There are eight large paintings, on canvass,
each IL feet by IS. They are: The Land.
ing Of Columbus-Discovery of the Missis.
sippi, by DeSoto,-Burgoync' surrender at
Saratoga--Surrender of Cornwallis at York.
town-Baptism of Pocahontas- The En-
barkation Of The Pilgrims in the Ship Speed.
well at Delft ashington's Resigna.
ton as Commander in Chicf-The Declara
ton Of Independence. In panels over the
doors are alto relieves in stone. These are:
The Landing Of the ilgrims----Penn's Trea
ty with the Indians--The Rescue Of Smith
by Pocahontas. - BY this time, business
called me away and off went to the Audit.
or's in the Treasury building up Pennsylva,
MIA Avenue lhe Broadway Of Washington).
The better to take observations, I walked.
There was steady stream Of officers and
soldiers. Ladies, gents, blacks, wenches, all
shades and grades were there. In the Treas
ury building there are many wcmen employ
ed as clerks, each at her desk, and all very
intent upon their work. They frequently
asked questions Of the head clerk in the
fourth Auditors department while l was en-
gagged with him. He would dispose of them
in moment. Next, went to tho Patent
Office where saw innumerablc and indies.
cribable models Of everything Saw the
handwriting of Geo ", who, by the way,
was poor penman when prince regent.
Specimen of Louis Phlipc's also, which was
good, and many others of note Saw many
things that were Washington's. His tent
poles and the covering dinner and supper
plates, iluc edged, quite neat and chnste
portable washstand with glass attached, and
china wash bowl bureau with drawers open,
showing his buff colored vest, with lapels
over the pockets, and many other things Of
his. Saw tod much for my present writing
Then, rough though lad pronounced my.
self, made for an artist to have my likeness
taken. Found that many had been before
me; as Mcclellan, who is fine looking with
determined expression; Meade, who has a
quiet look Capt Maf1it, Of the rebel navy,
who has a boys gleeful look; Charlotte
Cushman, with quiet, motherly expression;
and many others Of the famous, saw. y -
Rum shops or saloons are here without mum.
Der. Whisky appeared to be running down
the..univcrsal throat. | fell in with caval.
ry lieutenant who insisted upon my taking
little ale with him. He wanted to know if I
could ride. | told him "not at present"
and left him drinking with lot Of soldiers.
y After call at the white house, where
did not pay my respects to the President, I
visited a place of more consequence to me
just then, restaurant, where | had beef.
steak, fried potatoes, bread and butter ard
coffee, for which paid soc. II was said OF
Franklin that he never knew ten minutes
after dinner what he had eaten, but you know
that Franklin was never in the navy.
18th. Norfolk Navy Yard. Midnight.
Arrived at Yorktown from Washington on
the ll,h. Left Yorktown this morning.
Made fast alongside the Minnesota Took in
stores for the hospital Arrived here this P.
NJ. Landed stores to the hospital, and put
stores on the store ship Brandywinc. A
few nights since an object was seen close to
the Minnesota. "What boat is that ?" hail
cd the officer Of the deck. Roanoke" was
the answer, as she gave two or three puffs
and run into the ship, causing a terrific cx.
plosion of torpedo Hammock rings and
clew rings Strengthened out. Hamrnocks
came down by the, run, leaving their sleepers
sprawling on the deck Nos. l l and 12 guns
(9.inch) were lifted clear from the deck. !
saw the marks made by these guns. Several
planks broken and about dozen heavy tim.
bers. %" 90 W..
16th.-Towed schooner down from Nor
folk on the 18th, reported to the Flag ship
and since that time have been doing picket
duty, which is to keep under way all night
about the mouth of the James. Was along
side the Atlanta yesterday. The rebs will
h0v int I, A,
pieces. *+ Expedition Of Minncsotas. two
launches, two gunboats and five or six trans.
ports passed US yesterday on their return
from Smithfield with colors at Ealf mast for
Mr.. Wilder, acting First Lieut.. of the Min
neso,a. He was shot through lie head by
sharpshooter. He was young, ignorant, dom.
ineeTing, and much disliked by the ships
company. He was volunteer officer. y
Mark Whitehouse (of Great Falls, n H. is
our chief boatswain's mate and believer in
witches. Here he goes -" Yes, sir, knoy
it. There was witch once, when was a
boy, who li1ed in the same house with my
mother. Well, sir, woman was talking to
my mother one evening, when all of sud
den she was taken sick. 'Why!' says my
mother Mrs. Jones, you are bewitched.
You throw file in the fire, quick The
woman threw file into the fire and got well
instantly. Then the witch began to kick
and roll upon the floor up stairs. 'Oh = says
my mother, you had better take the Gle out
Of the fire. 1t will kill her. / don't care
il II does kill her. said the woman. Then
she changed her mind and took the file from
the fire, and they were troubled no more
with the witch. Yes, sir; any kind Of steel,
throw it right into the fire and you've got