Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-22

manufacture and depository of military
stores,for these purposes IL was exclusively
declaration OF war with England, strong bat
teries were erected on the sides approach Ible
by water, both to protect the arsenal and guard
the river Leading t. the Navy Yard
place was known by the name OF Fort Wash
ington; notwithstanding it's entire want of de-
fence on the land side, which made it neces-
sary, after the British army had entered Wash.
ington, for the American troops to vacate it.
This was done during the night of the 24th of
August, 1874, after burning the workshops and
init. The next morning a detachment of Brit
ish troops marched to the fort and commenced
the destruction OF what ever had been left in
were a number of IS FOUNDER guns,
left by the garrison in the haste of depart ure,
mounted in battery and unspiked. These they
ssnR the to SssGoS s ~ Ssssnarf ba
unfortunately for the operators the first piece
discharged happened to be pointed in the di:
the Waddng Of the gun Was thrown BY s the dis
charge. This communicated fire to a large
quantity OF powder previously paced there
hands of the enemy, and
TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION
was the result, by which one half of the 500
men who entered the place thirty minutes be-
ore, were killed and wounded. Among the
killed was Capt. Frazer, acting adjutant gene
!al of the British army. In the autumn of
1914 the workshops were rebuilt, and the m IN
ufacture and preparation of army supplies
went on as before. In 1916 large storehou Sc
and officers headquarters were erected, form
ing the north and south front of the fort. In
1923 and "a the garrison was withdrawn, the
amparts removed, and pertinent buildings,
Exclusively for arsenal purposes erected on
the same ground, making, with those built In
Sic, the four sides of a rectangle.
FIRE COMPANIES OF THE OLDEN TIMES.
There We're then six efficient fire companies
viz: The columbian" the Columbia" the
,,,Wa.shngtoni" the "FTankn," Phoenix"
three, viz: The ''Nigilant," the Eagle" the
Friendship" the Sun the "Relief," the
Star" aid the "HS draulion"
PLENTY OF FISH IN OLD TINES
The Potomac abOunded in fine fish and
Nater-f0wl. In the lower part of the river
ere taken most of the kinds of fish common
TO the salt waters in this climate. In the upper
/ ant, during the summer and fall, the variety
Il fish was small, consisting principally of the
size. taken with the line, and of the carp and
winter shad, but at certain seasons of the year
the supply was abundant. In the latter part of
winter and early spring, great numbers of
large rock fish weighing from Is to 40 pounds
were taken in seines just above the salts and
brought to the markets in the District OF Co
Iumbia. Besides these there were vast shoals
q migratory fish from the sea, which cast
their spawn, and furnished to the adj tcent
country prrodigiOus supply of delicious and
wholesome food, as well while fresh for inma-
1la'e consumption as when cured for trans
J OFT alton into the interior or abroad. From
l00COO to 1000 Shad were taken in a season
It each of the 20 great landings. From 25 to
40 persons were employed at each landing.
10 accommodate them lodging houses were
uilt: Private crews were constantly leaving
fFr Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria
sDaded with fresh fish from the seine.