The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-09-05
nuR WASHINGTON LETTER.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST;
The storm-eloud has been upon US in
all its fury. Never before have the
wild elements beat upon our proud city
with such wild frenzy as was recently
her fate. The day, up to entering the
afternoon, had been bright, when sud-
denly the clouds gathered into q heavy
pail from which shot crooked light
ming, followed by crashes Of thnnder
and a binding sheet Of rain, that soon
flooded the streets as river-cOurses.
Flash after flash cleaned through the
{ descending torrents. aud the loud report
Of heavens artillery deafened at short
intervals, its shafts shattering trees and
houses, while the wild wind rose and
howled and tore down our beautiful av-
enues and streets, uprOotiDg trees,
wrenching Off house-tOps, demolishing
unfinished buildings, precipitating their
walls upon and crushing neighboring
dwellings. Meanwhile the icy hail, in
the torrent of the wind, dashed into
windows, destroying countless panes of
costly plate-glass, while from the merei-
less pelting great numbers of our poor
little sparrows were battered to death.
From the swollen waters sewers burst,
cellars filed, and easements flooded.
Some of the finest buildings in the
city suffered, among which is Castle
Stewart, a magnificent, tall edifce,
whose great roof was seen to rise and
then settle back again, leaving a breach
into which the rain poured, and ruined
the elegant frescoed ceilings of the
upper floors. But one life is known to
be lost, that of a colored woman whose
house crushed upon her. Others have
sustained injuries, while many barely
escaped death. The total loss Of prop
erty is estimated at 100000. Alto
gether, this was one Of the severest
drenchings Washington ever received.
While merchants, officials and pri-
vate citizens are rushing out of the city
with their families to escape the heat,
there is a class Of men among US who
seem to scorn and defy the perpendie-
ular rays Of a sweltering sun, and
boldly go forth every day to perform
the most violent gyrations. These are
our baseball players. Matters not a
lofty mercury; never a thought they
give il, but, with minds filled with
dreams Of victory, they bat and run,
and pitch and halloO in a style perfectly
appalling to those of US who make a
business Of trying to keep cool. To
offset these, there has a sort Of philan-
throPic business man sprung up in the
shape Of the steamboat captain, who
gives excursions down the cool Potomac,
fifty and one hundred miles, at from
five to fifteen cents a trip, going in the
mornings, evenings, and by moonlight.
Thousands avail themselves Of the Op-
portuuity, where, upon the majestic
river, famed by the delightful breezes,
they watch the gliding shores Of green,
the musical parting of the water under
the boats prov, and the various crafts
that, saluuug, pass, leaving their
trembling trail upon the wavelet flood,
while forgetfulness, under the soft in-
/. spiratiOn, Obliterates blistering walls
and sufiocating pavements. This enter
prise, in which capital pushes thriv-
ing business by opening to the poorer
classes opportunity for healthful pleas
, ure, places itself almost on plane with
our charitable institutions. The mys-
. terry to the casual observer is how the
large investment involved in a steamer
e can be made to pay after deducting the
wear and tear, expenses OF fuel, labor,
and band of music. But such is the
fact, to the joy of many.
J It is generally understood that the
5 Chinese Embassador, soon to arrive in
; Washington to take into consideration
the settlement of the Chinese trouble;
. on the Pacific Coast, has rented Mr.
3 Stewards mansion, mentioned above
4 The Celestials seem disposed to make a.
! imposing an appearance as any of th,
e modern governments, for which pur.
D pose they could not have made a bette
= selection OF residence.
; The commissioners appointed by
Congress to report a bill for the re-or
] ganization of the army, have been in.
dustriOusly at work, but as yet withou
e any fixed result. The members, how
{ ever, have harmOnized their wides
e differences Of opinions, and, from tn,
concessions made, the country may
=, look for a recommendation TO Congress
n to preserve the army at twenty-five
j. thousand, consolidate the regiments
y now but skeletons, and eliminate al
n unnecessary officers who are now on BIZ
d salaries. Such is the belief about tn
i War Department, from the reports re
( ceived Of the action Of the committee.
:, FELIX.
/ Washington, D. c., August Is, 1878
n