Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-27


paved at all, and after rain or thaw the mud
buildings were unfinished, the present wings
and dome of the Capitol not being in existence,
while the widely separated positions Of tho
public Offices caused one to realize at once the
meaning Of the words "clty Of magnificent
distances" South Washington, then appro-
priately called 1.-The island, " was separated from
the main portion Of the city by deep, dirty
canal, half filled with sewage and the Shiny
refuse of the gas works. The canal walls at
least In some places, were level with the ground
and at night people sometimes walked unawares
into the horrible pool, and we're either suffo-
Gated outright fished out in a shockingly
loathsome condition. On the southwestern side
OF this canal. not far from the Capitol grounds,
were some old lime kilns, and farther away
were brickyards. Across the Eastern branch
nearly opposite the navy yard, was a shad
fishery, where some fine shad we're caught in the
shad season, and with them were drawn out
many conger cells and other monsters" The
nets were drawn in by capstans worked by
hand.
WHEN THE EASTERN BRANCH WAS NAvIoABLK
The Eastern branch was in much better
condition than it is at present. but the shallow
places east and west Of the yard were even
then gradually filling up. The main water front
and the river itself were kept clear that large
war vessels seemed to have no difficulty in going
in or out, even under sail alone, although at the
arsenal there was dangerous shoal The city
ball was about hall its present depth and where
the pension Office now stands was, II / rightly
remember, an old Jail building. The only troops
In or near the city were twenty to forty Of the
ordnance corps at work he arsenal (now the
artillery barracks where some 500. 900 muskets,
many of them Of ancient pattern, were standing
in racks, and what marines might happen to be
stationed at the marine barracks and the navy
yard. Before war vessel was sent to sea q
number Of manifestation over IOO-wouid
be accumulated at the barracks. From these
a marine guard would be sent to any vessel
needing it, sometimes leaving only a corporate
guard Of old men and music boys at the bar
racks A permanent guard Of twenty or thirty
men, generally veterans, was kept at the navy
yard. Their quarters were in poor condition,
only two stories high and swarming with cock
reaches and bed bugs, though every effort was
made to keep down the pests by exacting the
utmost cleanliness on the part of the men.
RIVAL GANGS OF ToUGHs.
At that time Washington probably contained
more dangerous ruf6ans in proportion to its
population than any other city in the eastern
states except Baltimore, where the rival gangs
of plug uglies' and blood tubs fought
with firearms on the streets and in the market
houses At the risk Of offending many Of the
respectable class Of veteran fremen candor
compes me to say that in Washington at that
time, as well az in nearly all other cities. the
toughest citizens were generally found attached
to the volunteer fire companies This statement
may be denied, but know, from having been a
member of a fire company. that the firemen, or
even the hangers-on of fire company. who was
not ready to fight at any moment, and for the
least possible reason or no reason whatever was
considered "poor stick, p" and was generally
made to feel that his room was better than his
company"
THEIR WEAPONS.
Instead Of using fists, bricks and spanners, as
the fremen Of New York and Philadelphia did,
those OF Baltimore and Washington often re-
sorted to knives, pistols and even guns Bud
Eggleston heard very little about. though he
was sometimes mentioned; but everybody
heard Of and dreaded the city terror, "Chris'
Boleye. He was described as a very small, or
at least, very short man, but fearless, strong
active and so well connected that he always
escaped the punishment that other men would
have received. 1t was alleged that at one time a
policeman, who had been ordered to arrest him,
entered a house where Boleye was concealed
Chris" crouched in a barrel or hogshead in
which he had cut loop holes. When the police
man entered the room Boleye fired a large
horse pistol through one of these loop holes.
lodging its contents-a handful of copper nails
III the officers body, and then made his escape
to the outskirts Of the city. Here he was fur
nished with a horse by some Of his friends and
rode across the country to Baltimore where he
was concealed by other associates. The officer
died from his wounds-no wonder-but .Chris"
had sufficient influence, it is said, to have his
death ascribed to other causes. He remained
absent until the affair had blown over and then
returned to his former hauuts in Washington.
1t is reported that Boleye afterward became
quiet, respectable citizen, and died Of con-
sumption some years ago. Some persons saw
ia hat he HI
citizen, on his way homeward at night, would
sooner have met a lion just out of his cage than
Boleye and his associates, if they had any real
or fancied grudgc against him, or if he be-
longed to 1.-the other crowd"
THE UNFINISHED WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
East Washington, or Anacostia, across the
Eastern branch, was then village Of scattered
houses and market gardens, and the hills and
highlands around it were covered with woods
with cultivated fields here and there The
road to the Insane Asylum was not the excel
lent thoroughfare 1t now Is. The Washington
monument, which had been commenced several
years before, had been standing unfinished and
merely covered with o roof of boards for q long
time. 1t resembled huge chimney, and tho
echoes inside sounded like distant thunder. I
visited it one day with friend named Robin.
son, who was an excellent singer. Standing on
the gravel floor in the center of the monument
he sang the beautiful song. entitled washing
tons Grave" commencing Disturb not his
slumbers; let Washington Sleep" As his
magnificent voice echoed and re-echoed from
the sides of the great shaft / thought had
never heard any music that would equal it,
PRESIDENT BUoHANAN's ESCORT.
At the Inauguration of President Buchanan
the Presidents escort comprised two companies
of cavalry-the Presidents Mounted Guard of
Washington and the Port Tobacco Md.) cav
airy, each numbering about FORTY men. The
day was fine and the troops wore no oyercoats.
The cavalry, if 1 remember rightly. all wore
stiff blue caps, with yellow band and yellow
plume of horsehair, dark blue frock coats. with
collars and cuffs of orange yellow, and light
blue trousers, strapped down over their boots
They were armed with sabers and each man
carried pair of large single-barreled pistols in
the holsters at his saddle bow. These pistols
would carry round ball about fifty yards.
The troopers had good horses. The d. s.
marines wore the stiff, heavy ''tar bucket" caps
(of the same shape, but not SO high as those
the Alexandria Light Infantry now wear) with
blue and red balls, or pompons, in front, dark
blue swallow-tail coats, turned up, with red on
the skirts and trimmed with yellow, blue and
red shoulder scales, edged with brass,
white cross belts and light blue trousers
The Washington Light Infantry, two
companies, under Col. TAFT, popular
citizen, wore suits Of similar cut, but
the trimmings and facings were white instead
Of red and yellow. The Montgomery Guards,
an Irish company, wore trousers Of Q peculiar
and hIock MA