The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-10-07

tNNaNHA NuaNuuhtu uY us people De-
cause OF famine and disease. Il the lit
ne group OF tumble-down houses at the
southern end OF the Long bridge which
masquerade under the name OF Jack
son City. says the Washington Post.
For nearly half a century the name has
been there. During that period an ever
changing population. mostly Of a vic
ious sort. has nodded the reputation
and varying fortunes OF the place. but
within the past year Il has been ever
on the downward course. until now Il
Is passing shadow. soon. perhaps. TO
be only q memory.
L d about slxiy-Gye years since An.
drew Jackson. the rugged president OF
the United States. accepted the lnvi-
iaiion OF some Vlrglnlans who had
great schemes In their heads for the de.
Felopinent Of the property at the prac-
ticAl head Of navigation OF the Po-
tomac river, Ne went across 10 the
virginia side, accompanied by an the
military display then available. and.
amid oraiory and music OF brass bands.
the name was given. To commemorate
the event a corner stone was laid some
where-where Is not known-for the
shifting sands Of the river shore soon
bid the mark from view. But the city
was named. and when the president
came back 10 his white house the Viz
ginians were satisfied.
For long time the corner stone was
the only thing 10 tell that the spo, was
city In embryo. lis hrst impetus
speedily familiarlzed Il with the meln
81 the monster vice. for Il came IN the
shape Of a race track, Jockeys Of a dis
reputable sort. touts, even worse. and
professional crooks followed the track.
and after one or two murders the track
was a thing Of memory. Then the city
languiahed and was forgotten. Ten
years ago, however. a spasm Of virtue
struck the police department OF Wash
ingion, and the poolrooms. which we're
then doing business openly In the
capital city. were driven out First
they located on 7th street. just above
the boundary. but legislation was ex-
tended go as 10 cover the district and
they were again compelled 20 move.
What place 90 convenient as Jackson
City, Across the Long bridge they
marched and soon the city was city
OF poolroomg. barring several saloons
which had started up.
From then on its run OF prosperity
was unbroken. The poolrooms dld
nourishlng business The policy shops
established headquarters there. and
people who could not ind money 10
buy food for wives and children found
the wherewiihal 10 buy policy slips aud
pool tickets. Saloons multiplied brawls
were OF daily occurrence and fatalities
were frequent A station was es,ab-
lishcd there and railroad trains. which
had formerly rushed through the
place. built a platform. established
swl.shes and sldings and stopped to
fake on and let on passenger
Then came the outlaw tracks. which
gave the place more notorioiy than
ever. Finally the District police had 10
take matters in their own hands From
their first decisive step dates the pass.
Ing OF Jackson City.
The blowing open OF a safe belong
Ing 10 tho Washington Ferry company
and the slealing Of several thousand
$1,000 ~ occasion Tho
|'''n'. - taken 20 Jackson city TO be /
booty 80 go Desmond, Dempsey and
|l'.'I'.- .ho had assisted the notorious
nin..' ,villlams IN the robbery were
'' ..,ored there. Williams himself made
'e- rla,e his hcad0uarters. and. fail
-. io secure the cooperation OF the
I',,.lnla authorities. the LEGAL detective
'.,r..,, undertook a bold step A patrol
.aron full OF detectives all heavily
.rmod. left police headquarters In
vashineion shortly after midnight
.hle the discussion OF the safe rob
.erv was al ita height Al this end
n the bridge the wagon stopped aud
ne officers got ont and walked across
yhA notorious Gamblers place was
.urrounded. Desmond was arrested but
Dempsey escaped. salohels. with evil
doncea Of the guilt Of the people ar
rested. were found IN the place. and
later. after williams had been arrested
he made a fun confession. duplicating
ihe rest
Following that came raid by Vir.
rlnla deputy sherlns on the saloons
Kept by Nelson and Foster. both noted
gamblers. during which one of the I
deputies was shot and Killed other Z
raids were made. Gambler was arrest. |
"a and confined Ia iail on several /
charges. only recently securing his re- /
lraEc His place was broken up aud /
closed. Nelson was driven out Foster
followed. Several Of the old buildings |
were destroyed by Gre. until now the /
only saloon IN the place IS kept by Joe /
Thomas. and except for huckyard /
hands on Saturday nlghi. his patrons /
are few and long time coming.
Candlc- has been released from JAIN /
IN Alexandria and inhablls the upper
part Of his place. The lights no longer
hura In the bar and gambling rooms
downstairs and the sounds Of revelry
which aouce came from within are
huahed. The platform erected by the
Is not used. even the slowesl
trains going through without stopping
The sun beats down on the one desert
Cd street. which "a thlckly covered With
dust IN dry weather and mud In wet.
Thomas saloon. Gamblers almost de-
serted house. one feed store. a stable
and an untenanied old brick house
.ompriso the city. The gamblers saw
'ooler and pleassater ilelds Cor their
work further up the Potomac river.
md they. TOO. deserted. saturday
'lghts the negro brlckmakers make
I.aaa. has a. a. tasnn ana nnIaf ..an. I