Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-24

Other sounds besides that OF the drum were
heard in this valley in the olden times. In the
hollow on the Virginia side, just below the
Falls there was. until recent years. great
building with wheels. First it was fiour-mill.
then woolen factory. afterwards dstllery,
and lastly paper MILL When the rebellion
commenced. the walls OF the paper mill were
standing. but the troops made target of them
for their cannon and now YOU can hardly recog-
nize the spot upon which they stood AT this
point, too, in former years. there was a
store. and Of course a tavern, and it was
for many years the regular lOafing place
for the people of COOney. Here a lot of the
wild Cooneys could always be found. cutting all
kinds of capers, ruiq1pg themselves and starving
their families by drink; and one Of their
pastimeS. on Sunday afternoons. was to fight
with each other, like cats and dogs, simply for
the wager Of a drink of rum or whisky. But
those wretched people are all gone away for
ever. In the days which now speak of. small
cargoes of flour were brought down the Potomac
in keel-boats and once in while man would
appear who preferred to run the Falls with his
boat. instead OF going around by the canal. At
the Great Falls above. this could never be done.
but here the feat was sometimes performed. OF
one OF these daring men, named Cameron, it is
said that he was thrown from his boat on the
top of the SpOuting Rock, or middle landing
where he was compelled to remain III a continu-
Gus rain for three days. During that time he
could only be fed by catching loaves of bread or
pieces of meat which were thrown to him from
the southern shore. He was finally rescued by
means of a boat which was drawn up the rapid
by long ropes from either side of the river; and
on the next day after his escape the water had
risen at least twenty feet above the top of Spout
ing Rock. and the ordinary width of the river.
of perhaps two hundred feet. was increased
until the flood was half mile wide. and washed
the high hills Of the Maryland shore.
But nothing SO cOnvnces me of my declining
years as the changes which have taken place in
my family and among my acquaintance and
friends. The little boy who twenty-five years
ago brought me my meals to the river side while
dipping for shad. fishing for rock fish, or grap-
ping for sturgeon, is now great strong man,
and the eldest of my ten children. OF my old
friends, many of them have wandered to I'M
known parts, and many OF them are dead. They
came here oftentmes bleached by the cOntine-
ment of city life. and after spending day with
me at the falls, drinking in the pure air and en-
joying the wild scenery and good sport. they al
ways went away happier and in better health
than when they came. Some of them had roamed
much over the world. and it did me good to hear
them talk about the wonders they had seen.
Among my departed friends and patrons were
some who were great men, or had names that
were known thrOug bout the land.
Foremost among these was Daniel Webster.
When Secretary of State, he used to come here,
always early in the morning. and accompanied
by his private secretary. He liked the fresh
morning air as much as any man ever saw, and
when he talked to me freely about fish and fish
ing, could believe that he had been in the bus-
ness all his life. He was always liberal. and
where other men would give me one dollar for a
mornings sport, he would give me ten. And
for an Old man. as he then was he was good
fsherm an. l remember well the day that he
caught his biggest rock-fish. had taken him
in one OF my boats to the eating rock, and as
he swung across the roaring waters. the great
man clapped his hand like little child. The
fish weighed sixteen pounds. and gave him
we knew it was safe, he dropped his rod in the
bottom of the boat, jumped to his feet and gave
yell--a regular Indian yell--wtici might have
been heard in Georgetown. He came often
was always pleasant in his WAYS. generally on
the ground as early as five O'clock and once he
gave me as reason for winding up the sport at
nine O'Clock, that he was President FllmOre's
clerk. and was obliged to be at the department
before noon. But his fishing days are long
since ended, and have thought that if he had
lived at the time, we might have been spared
the great rebellion.
Another glorious old man who used to fish
with me at the Falls was Gen. George Gibson.
In his love OF the sport he was ahead of many
other men, and am told that in the army he
was universally beloved. He used light tackle.
fancy hooks and flies that were made in Europe,
and was always as kind and gentle as any man
could be He threw the fly with great dex-
terty, and usually preferred to fish from the
rocks with the fly. and in the afternoon when
there was shadoW on the stream. He was
very fond of talking about old times. and there
was no end to his stories about the fish he had
caught in every part of the land. His last visit
to the Falls was made short time before his
death, and remember well that he was so
ntirin and feeble from old age that his body
servant and myself were obliged to support him
on his feet as he threw the fly. He was lucky to
grave. n
Gov. Geo. NJ. Bibb was another of my old
friends. That man was positively almost mad
Oh the subject of fishing. Hetalways fished with
bait in boat. and was as patient as the day is
long. He was kind-hearted genial. generous
to fault. a great talker. and had so many
harmless eccentricities that he was want to keep
his fishing companions in a continual roar of
laughter. After an unlucky day, in his per-
verseness, he would sometimes spend the greater
part of the night upon the river. as if deter
mined to turn the tide Of luck in his favor. He
tished with me in those days when he was Secre-
tary of the Treasury and also in those more unfor
tunate days when. for a bare support, he held
subordinate position in the same department
building, though paid by the Attorney General.
Peace to the memory Of Gov. Bbb
Many amusing stories are related of him. and
give YOU one Of them. One day, early in the
morning. he planted himself on certain wharf
for quiet day of sporting At noon a friend
passed by and asked him about his luck
go. II hain't had bite" replied the Governor;
lIIC ilSil aIC SCdiCc Az SuuuONu
friend passed by. and seeing handsome yellow
frog crOaching by the side of the Governor, and
evidently enjoying the scenery suddenly ex-
claimed: ''What's that?" THAT" replied the
Governor, with look Of horror. 'is my bait
and the id thing has been squatting there,
suppose, ever since 9 o'clock this morning.
Ofmy distinguished friends, now living. may
mention with pride and pleasure the late British
Minister, John F. Champion. He too was very
fond of sport, and ever proved himself to be a
true and kind gentleman. When he came here
he never allowed himself to go away dsap-
pointed. for if the fish did not bite, he would
take out his sketch-bOOk and go to work upon
picture of the falls or of some curious rock His
fishing companion invariably was the same
good friend of mine who fshed with Daniel
Webster. and who has now fished with me at the
Little Falls for twenty-fOur years. and whose
eyes | yesterday saw glisten with delight as he
caught ten-pOund rock fish.
Among those who have visited the Little
Falls from curiosity, must mention the dis
tinguished authOreSs. Frederick Bremen. Never
can forget the excitement of the little lady.
She clambered over the rocks. plucking more
flowers and plants than she could carry without
assistance; she ran about like child, eXclaim-
ing at the grand bluffs and the emerald water,
and she questioned me as to my manner of life
until became bewidered. I enjoyed her visit,
however, and she was happy. but l have
thought that it was not exactly kind in her to
sneak of m in hpr hONk Ana a wild