Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-25

ment was then ali night. A few days after
electric wires IN the battery had been cut by
the head Of screw; witness had previously
thought that the police and IRE alarm telegraph
wires had been Gro ssed, and that had been the
cause OF the difficulty. In July, witness re-
ceived orders to turn in all alarms OF fire from
the station, and afterwards received another
order 70 turn in alarms Of IRE from the station
according TO these orders.
Omcer Arnold, sworn-His beat extends from
"a 70 IN streets, and Missouri avenue to the
City Hall. While on duty on the morning Of
the FIRE, and standing on the corner OF 9Th street
ana fennsyivania avenue, witness discovered
the hre. He then walked to Missouri avenue,
tAence to ~ street, in company with Sergeant
johnson, who said some one had better 70 to
Police Headquarters and give the alarm.
Witness went there and proceeded to the Fire
AIarm Telegraph room, and saw gentleman
looking fntently al the instr ument; witness told
him a large fire had been burning some time;
the gentleman (Mr. Miles, the operatorl looked
surprised and inquired what box to strike
witness told him nurredly 70 strike any box
On the island; the operator then looked At q
card and suggested box IL witness told him
ne thought that was about the location Of the
nre; the operator then struck box IL, and wit.
ness heard the number II struck on the large
bells Immediately. 1t was about 20 minutes
ffom the time he first saw the fire until the
alarm was struck.
ment In regard to this fire. He was then sworn,
and stated that on the Monday previous to the
nre tue Board Of Fire Commissioners held
When they called he was searching for a din.
Guilty In regard to the wire. He discovered the
dimculty BY having the bell click, and the
wire give way; examined the table, and dis.
covered that il was what is known as the
south wire; soon satisfied himself that the diff.
fculty was outside Of the Office; stated to the
Commissioners that the wire had broken: after
the Commissioners had retired started ont to
test the line Of wires, which occupied him un.
III dark on returning TO the ONCE, discovered
there was faint electric current on the wire
about nine o'clock at night; the night operator
were given to be extremely vigilant especially
on that wire upon which there was q faint cur.
rent. In the morning witness resumed the
testing, and on thar day went twice over the
wire, testing most carefully all the time; every
box visited demonstrated a faint electric cur.
rent until box IL was reached; between
and very carefully coiled up in the yard
OF dwelling fronting on the north side of
Maryland avenue, near 18th street. This was
on Monday, the 4th. Witness gathered the
wire and bad 1t put up. On going to box IS il
was tested and no current whatever discov.
cred; IT becoming dark witness returned to the
central once and found the current entirely
gone from the wire; Notwithstanding it was
dark witness again went over the wire to test
1t, and continued until late at night; again
went to the Central Office and instructed Mr..
Myles not 10 leave his instrument, but to re.
main and watch all night. This was on Tues.
day night, the 4th instant, and witness left his
son, who is a telegraph operator, to assist Mr..
Myles. On the morning OF the 9Th, the fire at
tlnuing the testing of the wire on that morning
discovered the cause Of the trouble, which con.
sisted in one Of the covered copper wires lead.
ing Gown Ih 70 the navy yard gate being broken,
wire was only discovered by testing to the
very spot, which accounts for the trouble ex.
penenced IN giving prompt alarm on the &C.
casion OF the morning Of the 5th; a wire being
broken at the above point would prevent com.
mnnication on the southern circuit.
Mr. Thompson then asked Mr.. Larcombe il
tnat would AFFECT all the boxes on the south
wire, to which Mr.. L. replied in the Affirmative
mr.. i. then asked If that was the case, how
was 1t that he MIR. L. struck the alarm on the
columbia bell (box ~ on the morning of the
Mr.. L. replied that the current during the
break was variable, but sometimes it was
strong enough TO write.
Fire At Raub's Factory, July 81.
Ofhcer Nelson, sworn:-Was at Squire Clark's
office on 18th street. on the afternoon of July
81, between the hours of three and half.past
three while their heard boys and men CRYING
IRE and running down ID street towards the
Franklin engine house Officer Marden told
him 10 ring in the alarm, and they both went
to box 81, opened it, and Marden turned the
crank slowly 70 times, while witness counted
the revelations, but heard no response Mar.
den suggested that witness go to the Central
q uard House, which he did, and while ON his
met officers coming from there, who told him
that the alarm had already been turned in
from the Central Guard House. Witness had
turned in alarms before, bat never before from
box 50.
Mr.. Thompson asked Mr.. Larcombe if be
bad any questions to ask witness, when Mr.
l.. replied that he was so amazed at the testi.
mony Just given by the witness that he hardly
knew what questions to ask him, and stated
that the ale rm had not been turned in from the
central guard house at ali as stated by the
The witness explained that he did not saw
positively that such was the fact, but was SO
informed by other officers.
Oficer Marden sworn:-was with officer
Nelson at the box 3s and after attempting to
turn in the alarm. remained there about a We or
six min utes, when he heard the gsng in the
engine house strike, but could not say how
many tunes 1t struck; witness thought the
steamer left the house before the gong was
struck.
Fire in Purdy's Court, Aug. 18th.
Officer Cross sworn.-On the morning of the
fire in Purdys Court witness attempted to turn
in an alarm from box 6, adams express of.
fice) turned the crank first about fifteen times,
and then again twenty five times without any
response Then, according to orders received
previously, he ran 10 police headquarters,
where be met Lieut.. Kelly, and informed him
Of the facts No alarm had then been struck
Lieut.. Kelly, on being informed Of the location
gate,) ran up stairs Immediately, and in a few
seconds witness heard the alarm on the large
bells.
The committee then adjourned to meet again
on Thursday evening at ~ O'Clock.
0urRAGkoUs.-For some time past a dis.
orderly party OF negro girls and boys engaged
In picking up coal, wood, &C., about the
have created great disturbance along
he streets of South Washington, as they passed
to and from the wharves. They seem to be
the vilest of the vile by their shockingly OBJ.
scene, profane and flthy language, and their
conduct on the street It seems TO
be their special delight to assail every respect
able person they encounter whether white or
black, and indeed some OF their most shameless
abus zee seems to be directed to respectable col.
ored people who refuse TO 60 down to their
level. Ladies seated at their windows,
young girls meeting them in the street
and even little children Of four and i've
years old are addressed in the foulest language
that tongue ever uttered, and without the
slightest proyocation. A few days ago a child
five years Old was knocked down and ne irly
blinded by stone thrown in pure wantonness
a. him BY one Of this desperate gang. Yester.
day afternoon the gang, in passing along G.
street south, in the vicinity OF 10th street. were
most disgustingly and brutality offensive, caus-
ing no little terror amongst the ladies and chill
depn the street. there heinz NO m n no