Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-04-24
The Town Pump.

Lonely neglected and useless, Ia formerly
busy iron handle That loudly creaked with
every movement, now hanging Idle, the
drip stone that bears tbs marks OF the
cooling dropa Of water tbati il the olden time
gleked the thirst of the former residents. and
the wood worl, gradually rafting away, Its
occupation gone"-such is the picture OF the
only pump left on Kiog street, batween
Fairfax ard Royal, and ct the corner CT the
renowned Sharp Shiu Alley"; one Of the
four that boasted OF being plncee in TIE cer-
ire instead Of the corner Of the block, the
other three having been on the same block,
and opposite 10 tho three respective fronts
of the market house.
Owing to the convenience OF the river, for
tho water WAS pure and sweet before the
contamination Of more modern days, no
pumps were placed east of Lee, or Water
street IS il was then called and the river
was very convenient in case of fires as 1t
furnished au inexhRuslib!e supply o. water,
which tbs pumps often failed to do.
Fifty years ego My, what long time
tha. is, when ono takes q retrospect Of ones
lie. The town pump wss "the King" Life,
pleasure and the pursuit of happiness de-
nended upon the uniform looking snd
uniform giving of the flowing water from
these popular resorts. There were generally
two on each block, being placed at opposite
corners and it wss seldom. particularly
during hot weather. that they were not
eagerly sought after and petronizsd both
day and night.
Especially vas it the case about the noon
hour (for Sye were drea0fuily old fashioned
In those days) when the servants would go
for pitcher or bucket of cool water for the
dinner table; snd around one of those pumps
what place 1t vas for gossip. and many
private family affair has been discussed, ven-
t;ated and circulated. Ia my memory now,
| | can see the "old mamnies" with their pet
babies, taken for display and admiration, as
! we'll 9s az excuse for remaining as long as
nossibie. in their checkered aingham dresses,
spotiess whits aprons, ard white or part
coored turbans 10 which rcd waa the pre-
dominating color, and the younger servants,
Jolly and pleaeant, and full Of jest and laugh
| ter; end when the bucket was filled, up it
| went to the top OF the head, and there per-
! iso,iy balanced it remained. leaving the
hands aud arms st will, to carry the child
If they felt SO disposed, and which they fre-
quently did without spilling drop.
"Goiug to toe pump in those days was
Tho "summum bonum" of chld's existence
"a reward held out 10 the good; depriva-
ton was g punishment to the bad. Besides
the 'pigh pumps" as they were veSnaculary
called, were those in the suburbs, and as the
water WAS better and purer they were much
sought after.
Amongst the better known was the "Gate
pump" on Franklin, near south Washing
ton street, and as it was near the gaze that
led to the old Larmour mansion, hence the
name
Tho Bridge pump" ou south Pitt street,
J -, -nri0OQ that
led across gully in its immediate vicinity.
Now lie gully is filed up, the bridge is
gone, hut pump yet remains In the old 10
caiitv. But the puup Of all the pumps. and
the one mast frequented, was the old "Dlag-
opaln opposite the present local depot. In
fact there were two, one for the ordinary
consumers and the neighborhood and the
other. with the spout considerably raised, to
supply the water CARTS" as they were call
ed-a large hoeshead laid on !ts side, carried
On fremewCrkwth shafts and supported
on two wheels. A square hole cut In the
top admitted the water and big brass spig-
got at the rear end regulated the filing of
the buckets ct one cent for each bucket. a
string of bells on an iron frame fastened to
the harness gave notice of the approach OF
these vehicles. These carts made their
rounds OF Saturday nights ss late as ten
n
Sunday supply, but ordinarily shutdown saw
them safely housed. The familiar cry of
.Wart !n was frequently heard In those days
when the tardy servant failed to hear the
sound of the bells that we're on the horse,
hut the cry of the driver in his stentcrian
tones seldom failed to arouse one to senee
OF duty.
The pumps not only supplied the water
that IVES necessary TOR drinSiGg and cook-
Jug purposes, but. away from the river, we're
the dependence for the extinguishment OF
i-es. for after the introduction of the sue
ton fire engine, each pump was provided
with the half of water tight hogshead
placed beneath ;ae drip spout, ard which
was kept filed with water and which
proved to be rot ony ,nvenient for water
ing horses, but exceedingly useful TO the
fremen. Those were the days of hand en-
gines and volunteer iremen.
Thera was only one tragedy connected
with the reign of the pumps, that remem-
ber, aud that happened at the one situated
at I' ,he south sest corner of Duke and Wash
iugton streets. think it was In lo4S, when
one Saturday night negro boy went for
bucket of water, and in the morning a
bucket banging on the spout of the pump,
and q hole in the pavement Immediately
over the we'll very suspiciously suggested
where he had disappeared, AID although it
was Sunday, work was Immediately COM
,nenced, the pump removed, the water
taken out, and finally, the body was recov-
cred. Alexsndrians were sabbatarians in
those dsys and there was quite difference
of opinion whether the work of searching
for the body should proceed, and il am not
mistaken, the Mayor had to iEsue au order
for work TO be done, even ii it waa the Sat
bsth.
the bellies and beaux was to Yeatess garden, in
the southern part of the city, to drink of the
cool and sparkling water from the pump, cut of
the iron dipper that always hung conveniently by
lits rusty chain; after that stroll IN the we-kept
r garden What was seid 7 leave to the imaglna-