The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-11-08
AN ADVENTURE IN WAsMINGTOy.
III FRANCIS c. LONG.

tlllt y0il nave not I0F nslt leW. even
among the old citizens, know the pre-
else locality Of the place ~ question.
| A 70 v Of rirkety frame buildings in u
part of the city known as Hooker's
Division was ehriStened BY our soldiers
during the war Cat-'l'ail Row; but
! why It was thus designated no one has
attempted to explain.
Nv friend Cad Wooster pointed out
the place to me from the dome Of the
,'aDitol il short time since. and at the
/ same time he related the following al
venture as having occurred there.
n was In the winter Of 1864. when
Grants army was investing Peters
bro, Va, that left City Polnton the
lanes, to make my first visit to the
Federal Capital. At that time was
1 member Of the Sanitary Commission
land in my possession was considera-
ble sum Of money, principally belong
| ing to soldiers who had lately been
| paid off. and had entrusted as much Of
| their hara-earned treasure as they
could spare to my keeping to forward
| to friends at home.
On board the steamer was a burly,
carroty-headed man Of by no means
pleasing appearance. who introduced
hirnselfto me asa Mr.. Simpson. suit
Ter to some New Jersey regiment. aud
although far from heiaga congenial
companiOn. his qnaint anecdotes, and
exploits IN smuggling tobacco and
whisky through the lines IN defiance
ofyigilant provo t-marsllals served, IN
a measure, to while away the tedious
monutony of the voyage.
Inst before reaching Washington a
! fuimls storm broke upon rs, and we
effected Il landing at the Eighth street
/ wharf at eleven o'clock in the night in
/ the midst of binding tempest of rain
and slett, and knew no better where
to seek for shelter from tie ttiey than
It'll llad been suddenly translated to
PekiI.
/ II say, Mister said my ssltler ac-
! aaaiita,lce wholnI had islagi,Ied lost
! III the crowd and darkness, II sly,
where are you going to camp to-
night"
'srhat Is conundnm which must
give up.'' answered. However, 1
can see street car at a little distance,
and presume it will carry me to some
place of SHELTER"
"Ahem--yes, it will take yon some
where, but nat within mile Of llo-
tel, lie returned; and it'll did, little
4 GOOD 1t would do you. Congress is in
session and the town is chock full Of
visitors, officers Oh leave, discharged
soldiers gamblers, pickpoekets, and
cut-tllroats Of all descriptions. Ten to
one. Mister. ifyou can secure q bed up
town.
"l'llen what is to be done?" in
Quiw4l shuullering in the 10y blast
Mister. It amt for me to say what
yon Shall do; yon do as you please,
but Ill tell you what I'm agoil' to do
myself. A friend of mine keeps Il
place near lefe; u sort O. respectable
restaurant, aud althoughhe don 'tmake
| d practice Of takin' IN lodgers he al
ways accommodates me. His conven-
fences aren't much to speak on, but
| they are elean. however and respecta-
biz. aud that suits me.
.'Do yoa think that cln secure a
cup Of ten and a bed for the night.n
| | inqrjred, anxious 10 escape FROM the
binding fury at the storm.
las fnrthc tea. returned my friend.
III cailallSwer ycs, t'or that's l,is bnsi-
ness meals atall hours, yon know,
EVrt for tile bed can't ay. However.
If y0n'r willin'. it viii do no harm to
inquire. Any port in . storui, says
the psllmist md without further
delay, lie l,Al me d short way mp the
street. mud into ,lingy eating saloon
and bar room. the entrance 10 which
MAS arnamcntel aatl Illuminated with
d battered tin laltpra with u red glass
globe that | hatl mistaken for u street
CIR. On one side of the door noticed
4, gorgeous inscription ~ red letters
on white ground:
RESTAURANT HY W. PLYMrToN.
Mr., plympton. the gentlenanly
proprietor, was ut his post among the
icttlcs and becr-kegs, and he was en-
Gagged lit the moment Iii tldyiig up his
bar. Owing to the lateness Of the
huurhe was alone with the exception
Of i lalf-iuebriated cavalry sergeant,
who with bleaNd eyes, dirty-yellow
tllevrons. aid unsteady legs, leaned
against The counter III the attitude d
Il professional hummer.
..Isay, Bill, n said my friend. AS we
entered, heres me, and Mr.. Wooster
Of the Sanitary Commission, and ~
are both halfstarved and hllf-fr0zen,
and want some supper au,l 4 bed y
The man addressed a. Blll, had 4
yillalnous face, | thought, aslc looked
tlrst 1T me, chen ut Mr.. Simpson. \:
n,,,,.h ur II, cAV sAsvhas Ii iii tlla SNilllI.