Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-03
COXEY,S ARMY.

Health Officer Hammett has made q
report to the District of Columbia Com
missioners, condemning the lot on
which Coxey's army is encamped as
place likely to breed disease. He says
that with so large body of men as
sembled in such an enclosure, with the
probability Of increased aggregation,
fear may be entertained Of an outbreak
of typhus fever or malarial or catarrhal
diseases; also, that isolation would be
impossible in case of contagious dis
eases. He recommends that the army
should be moved to q place provided
with shelter, and suggests the Ivy City
race grounds as suitable place.
Several members of Coxey's army
walked through the White House
grounds yesterday. Two of them ex-
pressed a desire to enter the building,
( but they were induced to abandon their
plan by a couple of detectives in citl-
zen's dress. There was no disturbance
of any kind, and the President held his
usual afternoon reception without incl-
dent.
Quiet reigned in and about the Capt.
tol building Yesterday in marked con-
trast with the scenes aud sounds OF dis
order Tuesday. There were no city
policemen in the building nor in the
open spaces without Two squads Of
the regular Capitol police force were
on duty as on Monday. Sergeant-at-
arms Snow felt that the apprehended
danger was over. Struggling Coxev-
ties wandered aimessly about the cor
lidors. Some of them carried rough
canes torn from trees. There was no
effort to restrain their free access 10 the
buildings or galleries.
Affairs at the camp OF the army were
in a very qniescent state yesterday.
There have been no disorders or de
monstrations of any kind requiring The
presence of the large force of regular
and special policemen who are station
ed at and in the vicinity of the camp
The Commonwealers have, apparently,
settled themselves down 10 Temporal
nv period. at least, of comparative in
activity after their long and laborious
march to the nations capital. Many
are putting in their time sleeping, max
ing up for what they lost in their tramp.
Others are reading, with much interest,
the accounts ofthe demonstration which
ended so disastrously for the army
Tuesday.
The camp grounds have been dump
ing place for refuse, and trash Is scat
tered indiscriminately about the
grounds. Some attempt is being made to
improve the appearance Of the place.
and many OF the members of the army
are engaged in piiing up bricks anG
otherwise putting things in ship5hape.
The sun shone with intense power on
the camp and made exposure thereto
exceedingly uncomfortable. For the
purpose of shielding the men from the
sun of day ard the dew of night, rude
canvas coverings have been stretched
from the fence inward They will
prove very inadequate, however, to
keep out the rain.
General Coxey was visitor at the
camp during the day, but left shortly
after noon, and "Oklahoma Sam" was
given charge. Marshal Browne was an
early visitor and took breakfast with
his associates in the army. He remain
ed but brief time, however, and de-
parted carly to attend his trial in the
police court,
Mr.. Coxey persists in his determine
ton to remain in Washington. "Whcn
Congress sees all of the unemployed
men of the country in Washington it
cannot refuse to legislate for them" he
said. "Probahly we will do it on Dec
Grafton Day. because that will symbo
lie the union of the blue and gray"
The four hundred men passed the
night on the straw under the canvass
awning aud the large new tent III their
pestilential camping ground, and break
tasted this morning on bread and fried
fish with coffee. After breakfast some
charitably inclined person distributed
cigars among them. Quite number
of people paid the admission price of
quarter this morning to see the show.
Four more OF the commonwealers have
been sent to the hospital suffering with
maleria. There are no sanitary arrange
ments whatever. The health officers
of the District insist that healthier
camping ground shall be selected, and
Coxey is reluctantly making some ef-
forts in this direction. If the change
is much longer delayed fever will GER
tainly break out among the men.
Scarcely man among them seems TO
have any ambition or any hope or any
purpose in view except to get fed with
out the necessity of working for his
meals. Only one Coxeyite was seen in
the vicinity of the White House TO day
and he asked and obtained permission
to 90 inside. He wore the white cotton
commonweal badge.