National Republican., 1880-09-11
TErERAN POLICEMEN.
Anniversary of the Organization Of the Met
ropotiian observation-disclosures of old

Anniversary Of tho Organization Of the Met
ropotitan observation-disclosures of old
Times.
1t will be just nineteen years ago tonight
as the story writers say-that squad OF nien
were ranged In line in front Of Island hall,
South Washington, the roll was called and the
squad moved off in the darkness aud the rain
to their posts. The metropolitan police force
was thus brought into life. The anniversaries
Of the organization havo never been observed
by the original members In any formal man
ner, but tue day Is always remembered. The
old members get tocethor somewhere and
talk over the old times and sadly note
their decreasing numbers aud increasing
ages. When the force was organized
on the 1lth day Of September, 1861 William
r. Webb was appointed superintendent. The
force WIS composed Of ten sergcanls aud 100
prvatcs. At first the law made TO provision
for rouudsmen, but rs there was q necessity
for the appointment Of such officers, sixteen
VI the ptiyatcs were detailed as roundsmcn.
Siucc that day DEATH discipline and other
causes have so reduced the numbers OF the
original policemen that only fourteen now
remain on the force. The list is headed by
tho major aud superintendent, William G..
Brock, who entered upon duty in the tenth
precinct as roundsman, and has sue
cessiyely held every official rank
on the force except that of lieutenant which
h0.Skippcd, mp to that of major and superin.
tcndent, which has been conferred upon him
since'thc last anniversary. The second Oh the
list is Captain c. r. Vernon, who has risen
from the rank aud file to his present Office,
the second, in point Of honor, influence aud
emoluments, on the force. The othels are
Lieutensnts A. Eckloh, J. w. Gcssford, ]. f.
Kelly, Cornelius Noonau aud A. A. Greer;
Sergcants Goodwin, Pcarce and X. A. Milstcud;
Acting'Sei geant W. 7. Riley and Priyatcs II.
S. Jones, John +. Findley, Caleb Sebastian aud
&. NJ. Skippon. These "od defenders" can
congratulate themselves on this anniversary
that tho year just passed has witnessed no de-
crease in their numbers. The last death was
that OF Detective CarvOe who died before the
eighteenth anniversary. These fourteen vet
Grams eau spin yarns by the hour of the dar.
ing deeds and exciting adventures of the
police i'll the exciting days Of the war, when
the small force had TO contend with hosts of
reckless men constantly swarning TO The cap.
itol. The metropolitan force succeeded the
old auxiliary guards, whose gray uniforms
were familiar sights on the streets Of WASH
ipgtou before tho war. With tho organizl-
tion OF the force the baton, or billy
was introduced. 1t took the place of
tho formidable "spontoons" with which
the auxiliary guards were armed. The
"spontoon was weapon consisting
Of u hickory club, about three feet in length,
with long spear-hcad like u trOwel bayOuot
on the end. This instrument WAS used to
club fractions prisoners, or to throw after fee.
ing offenders, after the manner of the ancient
jlvclin. The extreme uuhappiness of
pOlicemun's lot, which has been expressed in
song by Messrs. Gilbert II Sullivau was fully
realized by the newly organized metropolitan
force as soon us they went on duty, for the
night of September IL, 1861, was one Uf the
most dlsagreeabc, drizziy, chilly, raw Sep
tembcr nights recorded in the memory of the
oldest inhahitant. ut was just such
Il night rs last night" remarked Major
Brock to REPUBLICAN reporter, re-
fcrrng 10 Wednesday night, when cold
morlhwester and II colder rain caused
fire to I've started in every scrviccable stove in
the city. There was not one OF US who had
OH Il dry stitch when we went oil duty. We
had no station.hOuse then, aud the men in my
precinct, tho tenth, were drawn mp in line in
the street, IN front OF Island hall. That was
II motley crowd. We had no uu forms, ana had
no weapons, except sticks, canes, axe-hclves,
wagon-spokos ana other things which the men
picked up" The force did not get their uni.
forms until the following Christmas, aud made
their first appearance ia uniform OIL New
Years day, 1862, when large detail OF police,
dressed in the conventional blue, with brass
buttons and belts, and the old style policeman's
cap-six inches wider across the fiat top than
ut the band-caused somc CONSERVATION
| among tho guests ut the Presidents New
| Years reception at the executive mansion.
| The caps worn then were long ago consigned
| to oblivion, IN secondhand stores the cos.
| tuners establishments aud the trunks of the
theatrical property-man.