The morning times., 1895-11-17

is now being prosecuted nlongthe shores OF
North and South Carolina. The flats, at
least those along the Eastern Branch, would
have been benefited; in fact, r-created,
10y Killings from the bed of the improved
branch, which waste be- the new waterway.
While the flats have no resident popula-
ton to speak of, with the exception of the
liZzards and frogs and robins, / yet they
have what might be called an Immigrant
population at certain sea sonS of the year.
what this population is, is noted from time
to time in the police reports; tlf. tramp and
the .'vaG." find shelter there at odd times
aud in odd places. and they in turnare found
by the police In their seclusion, Whether in
old shanties near the marsh line, swa rining
in battered hunks or huddlcd Sroufd n fire
with the blue vault above as their family
roof.
This class, or rather that contingent OF
1t which periodically establishes tempo
rary Residence on the Potomac flats, is not
vicious. IL is composed chiefly of gentle
men 81 the road who either lac ksihe energy
or nerve, or both, to commit q rcSpccia bic
startling crime. They have never studied
murder as fine art or burglary n a pro
fession, and are satisfied IL every now and
then they can hold up gent" for q dime
or a quarter TO get "A bit of something to
eat
During the past season when the mercury
in the thermometers was dancing around the
century point these knights OF the road
found the flats the most convenient, com
Portable aud safest place in the Deighbor
hood of the National Capital to congregate.
Conscious of having committed no crime
except that OF wanton idleness, they fear
lessly face the minions of the law, having
no fear of punishment further than a tenn
porary residence at Che farm, which il at
certain seasons of the year more often
courted than avoided.
RIVER FRONT GRIMES.
The crimes committed along, the river
frouUare seldom, If ever, traced TO the trans
lieut. residents OF the flats. The character,
habits and wants OF these wayfarers are
too wen known TO the officers OF the law
for them ever to be disturbed when the
law wanted to lay hand. on Il criuIina. feek-
ing in blood or heavily laden with plumber.
There is no intention, however, OF in
sinuaiIng that the residents of the flats
are a moral, honest and uprigh people, for
they are not, and would as soon commit "a
petty crime as hold up gent for a sinner"
The great crimes which have been COM
mitted i'll river sections of Southwest and
Southeast Washington have generally been
traced and finally fastened on some of
the many desperate characters who live,
or rather have an existence, in that quar-
ter OF the city known as "Bloodfed."
BloodiIeld earned its name and was bap-
TIED in the blood of many of its population
on Fourth of July night about fifteen
years ago. The fight on that night was
strictly private affair, and 10 the dead
and wounded numbers over q dozen. The
contending factions were members of the
Pioneer and Twilight Social Societies,
either party numbering about fifty. These
societies had spent the day picnicking across
the bridge, and it was during the latter
part of the day that a dispute arse be-
tween the acknowledged leaders "a the
two societies, brought about by an T!S's7
nifty offered one of the Twilight ladles,hy
member of the Pioneers. a.
The affair was 10 all appeara noes SIT
tied then and there, but 1T was not. The
members of the Twilights were mad to the
core. One of the members had been in
suited, and they secretly swore vengeance.
The TwilightS were sulen for the rest of
the day and left the picnic grounds early.
For few hours there was peace and quiet,
but it was only the calm before the storm.
At night when the Pioneers returned to
the headquarters in Southwest Wa shington
they found the Twilights, men, women,
and children, awaiting them,
HOW THE BATTLE STARTED.
The leaders of the Twilights were two
powerful negroes named HsrdiHg. They
were DiotueEsi anu udu come 10. tlle CltS
from North Carolina shortly al ter tlie war.
They were armed with short swords, like
cutlasses. Their followers were armed as
best they could be on short notice, with
sticks, and clubs and knives ana rocks.
The Harding brothers were known TO be
desperate characters, and were feared by
every person in that section of the city.
Consequently they thought there would be
no trouble in compelling public apology
from the leader of the Pioneers for the in
suit TO the member of the Twilights.
But they were sadly mistaken. Jack
Ware, the leader of the Pioneers. positively
refused and declined 10 enter into any FUR
Their discussion of the matter, a nd incident
ally added that he and his followers would
wade In blood before they would be bumil-
lated by the 'niggcrs'' from the cast.
This remark precipitated the fight, which
for the length of time IL lasted was one OF
the bloodiest that ever occurred within the
District.
Ii was not long before the Twilighis were
on the run, aud it was not until they were
in sight OF their homes did they make a n
other stand against the enemy. Here,
though they were REINFORCED by their
friends. aud The enemy and tile tide OF bat
lie We're turned. and another running fight
was commenced.
Finally both the Hardings. were do wn,