The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-08-11
SOUTH WASHINGTON.


Quito breeze was created on Wednesday ON
Van street, by the sudden death Of Amelia
Butler, cOl0red woman. Van street, or more
properly, alley, Is situated between NJ and
and Third and Four.and.a.half streets, n brick
row and n few frame shanties constituting tho
entire architecture of the thoroughfare, and
the inhabitants, with the exception OF ono
family, arc negroes. col0red herb doctor
has been attending TO the physical sufferings
OF the population since the wintor months and
created big reputation among his sable asso.
was his fame that his services were
preferred 70 that OF the best white
doctors. In the city. Amella's son was
suIerlng with supposed ineura6le disease,
as he was called In the nofghborhood, cured
him. As n natural consequence, when Amelia
became sick few days ago, his services were
Immediately procured, but, instead OF his at.
tendance proving beneficial, tho woman grew
gradually worse, and, while sitting In chair
on Wednesday morning, suddenly expired.
warned the colored people against the danger
OF placing too much confidence In the strange
doctor, for IL was well known that several
OF tho herbs he used In his medicines
were deadly poisOns. After tho death OF tho
woman suspicion Immediately fell upon tho
doctor, especially Ms she was swollen onor-
mously; and the new doctor, from being al
most saint, became subject OF bitter hatred
In the neighborhood, and frequent threats
wero made OF using violent measures toward
him. Coroner Patterson was notified, and, as.
sisted by other physicians, made mn oxamlna-
lion for traces OF poison. Tho physicians do
clded that tho Immediate cause OF her death
was paralysis; but II was thought that death
was much hastonod by tho powerful medicine
used by the rash doctor. This somewhat
stayed tho tongues OF the dead woman's
friends, but many OF them still adhere TO the
belief that she was poisoned, and still make
threats OF mobbing the vagrant doctorlf he
can be found. But the latter, seeing tho hot
condition Of things, made his escape, aud Is
doubtless by this tirno many miles away from
Washington. Tho corpse was gtlll lying Mt tho
woman's house, $40 Van street, this morning,
an object Of great Interest TO tho nelghbore.
The Intention was to bury her at $3.50 this
afternoon.
Tho Fourth street NJ. Il. Church choir gavo
an excursion today TO Cedar Point on tho
steamer Jano Moseley. large crowd patron.
lied tho excursion, and doubtless "a very
pleasant day wns spent at the Point
Yesterday afternoon colorcd laborer, whiie
working In tho Smithsonian grounds with n
number OF other men, found pistol concealed
In the grass Thoweapon was In n good state
OF preservation and was probably dropped by
some frantic hummer while fleeing before the
strong arm Of the law.
Mr.. 9. S. Price, tho popular and vol known
druggist who Tor years assisted TO conduct
the Ebbit House drugstore and others through
out the city, has purchased OF Mr.. II, X. Hol.
nhinstine the drugstore at d26 Seventh street.
The establishment has been thoroughly
stocked with drugs, patent medicines, per
fumes, etc, and doubtless Will continue TO do
ilourishing business. South Washington Is
valuable a citizen as Mr.. Price. Thirsty per.
sons passing can always fall in and obtain n
glass OF unexcelled soda water at 1875 Seventh
street.
The residence In course OF construction by
Mr.. J. II. Grant for Mr.. Yerkes, the general
manager OF the Independent Ice Company, IL
fast nearing completion and the gentleman
Will probably DO able TO occupy It In septem-
Der. The bulk OF the work to be done to II DO
tween now and then Will be the inside orna
mentation. The building is three stories high
xui n M ms on
ments, having bathrooms, water closets and
gas and winter pipes and kitchen
for summer rum ,ous and ono for 40 yin yin
and presents splendid appearance
being pronounced by many already to be tn,
finest private mansion In South Washington
IL has fourteen rooms outside OF the Kitchens
bathrooms, &c. From the upper stories
magnificent view can be had of the entire cit,
OF Alexandria and far below IL down the river
and UniOntown and Arlington Heights can ais
be seen; and looking across the city ono car
see the War, Navy and Treasury Departments
the White House, the Patent and Post oflices
and almost every other Government building
in the city. The house will add much to the
architectural splendor Of South Washington.
Four elegant parlor cars were on the Balti
more X Potomac Railroad sldings this morn
ing. They were destined for Montgomery
Ala, via the Baltimore Potomac and Rich
mond Danville Railway systems, and were
built by the jackson Il Sharp carworks o
| Wilmington, Del, for the Pensacola 4 Atlantic
Railroad systems. All OF them are eight.whee
| coaches.
| In the twenty.four hours ending at 10 n. m
| to-day, twelve culprits were landed In the sta
| tion-house by the Ylgilant South Washingto
| police.
An asphalt sidewalk has been laid ON tn
| south side OF the National Museum. Tn
work was finished yesterday afternoon, an
| visitors can now move, around the building Il
wet weather with no danger Of having 10 wad
| ankle deepfn slush.
The gates at tho Arsenal still continue close
and citizens are deprived by the arbitrar
| action Of military martinets Of the privileg
| OF cool promenade through the grounds
| which has been enjoyed for generations. Tn
| charge that disorderly and Offensive charat
tiers frequented the grounds Is all nonsense
| Tho visitors 10 the Arsenal often belonged I
the most respectable classes of society.
The following is tho South washingto
| wharf report made out by Harbormaster SUI
| ton for yesterday; Tho tug Hercules, Captain
Hodges, towed seven barges OF coal from Phlla
| dclphia for city dealers; the barge Western
| Captain Marcl, brought $50 tons for s. Emery
| Sixth street; barge Mary Mullen, Captai
Mullen, 2G1 tons for j. Williams, Maynard
tug Francis Bryan, Captain o'Drien, 25l for
Captain Burns, 26s tons for Clark \ Giyer
Eighth street; barge NJ Magrudel
| Captain Magruder, 2G6 tons for Clar
Given; barge Chesapeake, Capital
Layman, 273 tons for Stephenson
Bros, Seventh street; barge James Murray
Tenth street; the schooner Jane Fisher, Cal
tain Skies, with watermelons for W. O. Drur
| Il Co., Eleventh street; schooner Lizzie ReeC
captain Reed, with wetermelons for Abb
| Price; the sloop u. II. Lambert, Captain Davis
with watermelons for W. @. Drury X Co.; tn
cords Of wood for j. q. Carter, Thirteenth
| street,