National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-21
A PHASE OF CITY LIFE.
CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS.

he sports In the District Reflections
q, n Foolish and brutal Practice.
,The man who makes practice Of carrying q
plsto, is always a coward and generally scoun-
drel.n
The speaker wns lne looking old gentleman
with an erect bearing and nrm step, which
seemed almost too erect and too nrm for his
whltened hair and the deep burrows about his
eyes and on his brow. His eyes, OF dark grey
color, however, were clear and strong, scorning
the assistance OF spectaclcs, and his lips, slightly
curling In derison rs he spoke, Of that kind
which indicate will to command circumstances,
while several scars about his face, which did not
detract from his appearance, told plainly that
experience had been his teRchsr, and that the
lessons she taught him were not always admins
tered In the mldest and gentlest fashion. The
time was between daylight and starlight one
warm evening last week, and the place was In
front Of the Ebbitt house, on Y street, where
number OF gentlemen were seated and standing
either smoking their after dinner cigars or DIS
cussing the topics Of the day.
An open barouche had Just driven up to the
curb, Its only occupant besides the driver oeing
young man, OF kind so frequently seen in
washington that his appearance, although the
type Of a class, falls to arrest more than ordi-
nary notice. lie was well dressed-that Is, his
clothes ltted him and were OF nne material; his
shirt was clean aud white, cut low In the neck
and fastened with gold studs. In all probability
he would have passed into the hotel without re-
marx hal not his coat been canght In the door
Of the carriage, and In the Jerk to free the gar
ment sllyer.mounted seven-shooter been sent
spinning out on the stones. BY a miracle Of
good fortune the weapon struck on Its sides, or
a ball would have been discharged into the
crowd towards which the muzzlc pointed.
This, and the remark OF the old Colonel, caused
q closer observation OF the young man 90 he
smilingly returned the pistol TO his pocket and
passed into the bar-room. 1t was then seen that
his moustache was dyed, that his face bore the
inevitable stain OF whisky; that his eyes were
weakened by late hours and liccntious living,
although his tout ensemble was SUFFICIENT to give
HIM the pass-current among gentlemen ana
ladies, or rather In society" Us the word goes.
He subsequently came out with couple OF
ladies' and went away for an evening drive. The
old Colonel looked indignant, and continued to
comment on tho subject which the incident OF
the pistol excited.
81 have spent most Of my llfe," said he,
"among rough men, and In scenes OF frequent
danger, and 1 never yet saw the time, except In
battle, where the use OF pistol was necessary
either for defence or offence. But at this day
10 this city, In a time Of peace, where there Is no
political excitement, I am positively assured
that at least quarter OF the male citizens carry
pistols, while another quarter Is armed with
knives, knuckles, slung-shots and razors. And
the habit isn't even confined TO the males. OF
late the women are getting into the way OF II,
until II Is not an uncommon thing to hear OF a
would-be heroine drawing a revolver on the
slightest provocatlon or fanced insult. Now,
that young fellow that we saw was going out fol
q drive with those ladies'. There wasn't the
slightest possible chance OF his meeting even 0
mad dog. and yet he must needs endanger the
lives OF the ladies, as well as his own,
by carting around that implement OF
hell, for no reason whatever, except
TO crafty the instinct OF bully. II he would
keep sober and attend to his business, he nigh,
never do any harm with 1t, except by accident;
but the chances are that sooner or later he will
get excited, either with liquor or passion, and
having the pistol about him. Will pull out aud let
nv at the nearest man. He will then escape the
Just penalty OF the law through come technical
ity, and be hero for dime novel. II he Is a
man OF any mind at all, his usefulness will be de-
stroyed by remorse, and II he is q thorough bully
by nature, he will 90 on killing people until he
either gets Killed himself or gets hung"
The old gentleman was getting warmed up to
his subject, and would have continued uninter-
rupted II a by-stander had not suggested that, as
some individuals were certain 10 carry concealed
weapons, II was the duty OF all good citizens 70
protect themselves by dong likewise.
"That objection Is the thinnest OF all excuses
In the nrst place, the accidents which arise from
the practice more than counteTbalaDce tn,
cases Of protection; and, In the second place
there never was a scoundrel who would draw
pistol on an unarmed man who was not such 1
coward at heart that prompt use OF the meas
ures at hand, with nerve and intrepidity, woulC
prevent any serious injury. was once travel
Ing on a Western river steamboat" continued
the ancient Mariner" when saw a striking illus
tration Of that species OF courage which prompt.
the carrying OF weapons. The most conspicuous
person on board was a burly six-foOter from
Texas. His hair was long, and hung on hi
shoulders. lie wore velvet jacket and long
boots, and carried a big revolver and bowie
knife In belt around his waist lie
was as fierce and dlsagreeable an individual
as could well be imagined. lie had killed several
men In tights where the advantage was all his
and was said to be invlnclble. For several days
he made himself excessively annoying 10 every
one. One night, rs our steamer was rushing
rapidly with the swollen stream, she struck Q
snag, and began to sink before any organized
escape could he planned. As soon as saw thai
the boat was doomed, hurried aft, in order Il
render what assistance could to the few ladlei
on board. gave them all life preseryers II
turn, and after providing myself, I came back :,
an interesting young invalid to whom had de
teTmined TO give my special assistance. At thi
time the water was alreadNIn the cabins. has
tened TO the sick girl Just In time to sec the biz
pistol-carying brute wrestling the life preservei
from her arms for his own use. ordered him
to desist, when he turned with an oath and
pointed the pistol at my head. Expecting to SET
Inc turn and run, lie was surprised when spranI
-. 49,. a Ia
minute was on his knees pteously begging fol
life."
The old gentleman continued to illustrate his
opinions on the subject OF plstol-carrylng, with
chapters from his experience, and spoke SC
forcibly that the writer was induced to look Into
the subject as 1t exists In this city.
THE STATUTES or THs DISTRICT
contain the following:
at shall not be lawful for any person or per-
sons to carry or have concealed about their per-
sons any deadly or dangerous weapon, such rs a
dagger, pistol, bowie or dlrk-Sulie, dirk, colt,
slung-shot, or brass or any other metal knuckles
In the city Of Washington" subject to nne OF
not less than $50 nor more than 800. Perhaps
there Is not II law Of the District more familiar
to the writer than that same statute. It was
deeply impressed upon his brain by an incident
which occurred few years ago on the occasion
of his nrst visit to the national capital. One
afternoon he had resisted an exorbltant demand
of q hickman, and threatened him with thrash.
ing II he persisted. The fellow drove on grum-
bling, and was, for the time being, forgotten.
In the evening OF the same day, however.
as he was returning from the theatre
with q friend 1t began TO rain, and he ac-
cordingly hailed q passing hack, which
they entered and ordered to be driven home.
They did not notice the direction taken until the
carriage stopped in an alley near some stables,
and they heard the driver calling "Come over
here, boys; here's the damned rascals who cheated
me to-day" The young men got out OF the We.
hicle as rapidly as possible, and after passing
crack or two ut the treacherous driver, beat a
hasty retreat, as they supposed. Instead Of q
retreat, they ran directly into crowd OF hack.
men, who assalled them with the butts Of their
whips. They did the best they could against
big odds until the original driver arrived on the
scene with a couple OF very black eyes and an
extra-sized roof on his head; all OF which ex-
asperated him to such an extent that he made
f,t the writer with pItchfOrk. At this stage Of
the game the writer's friend pulled out pistol
and demanded fair play About the time both
might have Deep murdered, couple OF policemen
happened along and arrested the young men,
who were taken before a high-minded justice
and nned $50 each tor carrying one Sisto, al
though the facts In the case were clearly stated.
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