Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-04-25

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F,rr WAsHINGroN.-Old Fort Washing
,,n ON the Potomac river, below this city
!. ,arrisoueti now by but one soldier, Sergt
y f joyce, Of the ordnance department
Tn.. sergeant has his family with hun, and
lives in the old UNCOVERED house, surround
a. with broad ve!audas, that was at one
ii;o,. occupied by the commanding officer OF
th.. fort. Fort Washington is Que OF the
Iy... defenses in the United States. The
work of constructiu" it was commenced III
1,ns from plans prepared By one OF General
Iafavette's engineer staff officers, under the
ncr.opul supervision OF General Washington.
line structure was not completed until alter
-. war of 1872, aud even after that date
MANY improvements were made. After the
r,,nnletjou o! the fort il was regarded as
our of the strongest and most impregnahie
licenses in The world General Latay cite
visited the spot during bis second visit TO
his country. After IA tour OF Inspection
through the underground chambers and out
side rifle pits. he turned to the Dmanding
officer and remarked This is the Gibraltar
VI America.
The engineer planned many ingenious
WAYS ofpreveuling surprises by shore parties.
The high and $ioping decilvi;lcs from the
para,yets to the waters cd re are covered by
stone crested rifle pits and adroitly con-
ceairi small cannon for firing grape ana
canister. The Potomac fronting the south
end OF the fort presents the appearance OF
vast lake. The river turns at that point, and
the curving stream winds gracefully ABOUT
the high bu.r on which the fort stands.
The large. snooth bore barbette guns,
which were formerly mounted on the
south end. commanded at least five miles o!
the river below, and in odeu times it would
have been impossible for any Of the old
wooden line-uf-batl!e ships TO have even
reached the bend before they were riddled
with cannon Tails. Tie interior OF the cid
;oyL presents q very dilapidated appearance.
Il has not been garrisoned for several years.
The parade grounds and walls are over
grown with weeds and grass. and the frame
structures have lous since gone 10 decay.
In view Of The fact that the brick and
stone walls ~ The fort would soon crum.
bic into dust before the terrific fire OF
modern artillery, the government has de-
cided 10 dismantle the old structure, and
work has already been commenced. 1t Is
esiimatcd,that a least 10 900 900 bricks were
used in the construction OF Fort Washing
ton As last as these bricks are taken Out
oGthe walls and classmates they are broken
into fine pieces and piled on the shore Tor
use by the government III constructing other
deien>es at that very strategic point. The
latter will consist Of series OF formidable
,arthworks extending around the river
shore. Already several earth batteries have
been finished and mounted with guns.
serc!. joyce said there were enough bricks
in the entire fort and its connections to
build fair sized city. The cells of the old
guard house. at the postern, extend away
underground The air inside is cold and
cIaminv aud lou:. ioicle designs of sparkling
soda nd other minerals have formed from
the curved walls aud extend nearly to the
stone flooring. Ga the chimney Of the guard
housa ia a lar-. wooden sun dial. with
faded figures tina, has told the time of day
for over fifty years II Congress appropri-
at,s the amount asked for the old landmark
will IN few years be entirely obliterated
and replaced ~ modern detenses.
BURNING HIS CHILDREN ALIvE.-A dis
patch from Allen county, Ky, tells OF a
horrible murder Of two young children by
their crazy father, William Austin. Austin
WAS struck on the head about year ago
with a large rock, the in Jury affecting his
brain. Leaving the field Wednesday he
went home, took two of the children, who
them into The fire. He then stood coolly
by and saw them burned to death. The
frantic mother, unable to prevent the horri-
be deed, and recognizing her powerlessness
10 rescue the children, escaped with
a nursing infant by snatching IL from its
cradle aud fleeing to the woods.
TOPPING OFF.f'-The brick work of the
two new houses just erected for DR.. u. /:
hlips,ein on ST. Asaph, between King anu
Prince streets, was finished yesterday, ana
in the evening an old fashioned topping of
took place. ali the workingmen employed
Oh the buildings being entertained at hann-
some lunch which was most sumptuousiy
served. The houses are three stories high,
of medium size and Just the KIDD most de-
,rab)e ard most wanted ia the community.
They are being built under the supervision
of Mr.. :. 7. Stou,cnburg, who is the con-
tractor, Messr,. Padgett X Bro. dong the
brick work.
PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION "A meet
ing Of the druggists of this city was held TO-
,av AZ the store of Mr.. James Entwisle, on
King street, there being a full attend
apre, On motion Mr. Entwisle was elect
ed president and f. S. Leadbeater, secretary
AFTER winch committee was appointed 70
prepare business and report to an adjourn
ed meeting. The object of the association,
il is learned. is for the establishment OF uni
form prices for proprietary medicines, &C.
on which of late there has been great deal
Of cutting.
THE CANAL SToCK.-Before Judge Robert
W. Hughes, Of the U. $. Circuit Court
to-day the case of the U. 5. W. the Alex
andria Canal Company and the city O
Alexandria, to compel the latter 10 turn
over to the United States 1920 shares OF
the stock of the canal company, the resi-
due claimed by the Government, was arguee
hy J. NJ. Johnson, c. f. Stuart and e
kemper, for the city, and by H. II; Weiis
and t. S. District Attorney Waddlll, 10,
the United States, and the Judge reserved
his decision.
DINE MUsEUM-The programme pre-
sened at Sarep,a Hall last night was al