The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-03-19
The Crowd at the Capital.


The special Washington correspondent of
the Cincinnati Commercial thus illustrates
the crowd ut the capital on Inauguration
day: 4,a.
went to the depot to receive some
friends, who telegraphed me from New
York for aid and coDfort in Washington.
The New York train came in on time-
fifteen cars crowded to suffocation, many
forced to stand eight weary hours. and, as
they tumbled out, the appearance of the
crowd was study. Covered with dust and
oinders, with faces weary and woe-begone,
they severally clutched their sacks and
bundles. and hurried through to hacks, cars
and omnibnses. At the entrance, the uproar
was hideous. Haokmen shouted and
screamed, stage drivers shouted and scream
ed, Ger conductors threatened themselves
with apoplexy in an attempt to be heard,
while all danced and pirouetted, seizng
the passengers and attempting to make
them captives despite resistance and the po-
lice. 49,
My friends were not on the regular train,
but Captain Dunan, formerly of Cincinnati,
and lately of the army-he fought gallantly
in the quartermaster's department. aud is
80 perfect gentleman" I'd. h.)-told me
three other trains (extra) were on the way.
And suro enough, they came laundering in
to re-enact the scenes of the first train.
miles Of baggage was piled mp along the
track, with all the stoutest rnffians in the
District attacking the heap with ferocity
unparalleled l must write you On essay
one day on the baggage master or smasher.
see law is pending in New York to give
him employment in the penitentiary Lord
send him q safe deliverance.
That extraordinary specimen of self satis-
fed humanity called the clerk at that hotel,
1, Itua1 In IL, ,,~1 o,l,
ear and one in his mouth, he registers with
one hand, while with the other he rings
that everlasting bell, and gives orders so
wide of the requests, that the enraged pas
senger is stirred to eXnsperati on and dis
position to kill somebody then and there.
"Can you give me a room, sir?" asks q
pompous, overgrown specimen of humanity,
perspiring under furs put on in Northern
latitude. The clerk stares at him, rings his
bell, and responds:
"Boy, show the gentleman cot forty-two,
in the smoking room"
"Cot, sir, cot; good Lord, what do I want
with cot? I've got my wife and two
daughters, sir. -
''I say, mister, can't you give me an old
Fireplace. or q vacated water-closet? I'm n
little exclusive" shouts ON unmistakable
Kentuckian.
We had two Government hospitals sold
u
business, altogether. The landlords and
boardinghous keepers got together, and
broughtabont the sale, and, in consequence,
the supply of iron bedsteads and mattresses
has been sufficient. 1t is glorious thought
that the cots on which our gallant soldiers
sickened and died. are now occupied by the
gifted men who seek to serve their country
for n reasonable compensation. The small
pox h1s been unusually prevalent of late
HnlI h,ya L..
which one can get q cot and cold for the
same money. [ read q sign on the avenue,
"For rent front room, over hat store. y
Why over hat store2 What the devil is the
advantage of q front room over hat store:
The reason must be fell, not seen. Rather
good, that, considering the hour. ga nice
room over tin-shop," would be attractive
was shown huge chamber formerly d
church, later billiard d-room, now an i'm
mense dormitory, filed with the hospital
cots. Phe cots were nearly all occupied
when l walked through. had an opportu
nifty of studying sleeping humanity, of the
male gender Some men stretch themselves
ut full length. Some curl up. A small
number lie on their backs-the large mum
Der on their side. Some fellows bundle NJ
to the nose, with nightcap on. These
are mean, selfish cusses. Others sprawl out
and some make an exhibit of naked foot
1t was still as cemetery, disturbed, occa
sionally, by grumbling from nervous, dis
contented old pumps. One raised himsel
up and wanted to know if that was the gonl
eor breakfast or somebody snoring? Anothe
mildly requested his immediate neighbo
not to work his toes.
was remarking to Col. Tom Key once
that to read Hawthorne's books always de
pressed me, they gave one such an unhapp.
knowledge OF humanity. He replied thu
the exhibition Of that article, to be obtaine,
OF q convention or an inauguration, was ia
worse, and made man w:sh he were dog
or q woman lesE.