The Grenada sentinel., 1897-10-02
CABIN JOHNS BRIDGE.
How the Famous Structure Got
It's Peculiar Name
Story Of a Mysterious Stranger who
Settled Westward of Georges
town, ID. e., More Than
Century Ago.
Especial Washington Letter.l

Did YOU ever hear of Cabin Johns
Bridge? 1t is a wonderful place, and
q wonderful bridge.
That is a singular name, isn't it?
The name has a history as well as the
bridge, and we may as well begin at
the beginning. and tell how the place re-
ceived its name.
More than 100 years ago. before
George Washington became president,
and long before the city Of Washing
ton was ever contemplated, there came
to the city of Georgetown stranger,
whose name the people never knew.
In those days Georgetown was pros
porous city. located west of Rock creek,
in what is now the District OF Column
l,a. Big sailing vessels from all parts
OF the world used to come up the Po-
tumac river and discharge their cargoes
o. the Georgetown wharves, and re-
ceive other cargoes there. George
town was at the head of navigation of
the Potomac. for just above it are the
Little falls and the Great falls, which
render the river unnavigable.
The sailing vessels were mostly de-
voted to carrying freight, but they also
carried limited numbers of passengers,
One morning vessel came from Liver
pool, after having been on the ocean
over three months. She had five pas
scngers, and one of them was mystery
to all on board; just as he afterwards
became mystery to the people Of
Georgetown and vicinity. He had
money, and bought the best horses he
could find for sale in Georgetown. He
also purchased saddle bags, and then
purchased two muskets, lot of am.
lnunition, and as much bread as his
saddle bags could hold. Then, mount
ing his horse, he drove off into the
woods to the westward of Georgetown
ahd disappeared in the forest. Nobody
knew where he was going, and he an.
swered no questions.
The country was full of Indians in
those days, and yet they were not hos.
tile. Two months passed away, and
the mysterious stranger rode into town.
purchased supply of bread, bacon,
eggs and ham, and again drove off into
the woods. One of the storekeepers
asked him his name, and he replied:
"My name is John" Then the store
keeper asked him where he lived, and
he answered: In my cabin, ten miles
west of here" lie would answer no
other inquiries, but bcstrode his horse
and entered the forest.
The man was about 40 years of age,
and he lived in the woods for near
" 80 years; but long before that time
the country had begun to develop, and
lie had many visitors from Georgetown
good business, for people will eat and
drink on such excursions. Unfortu-
nately. Of late years, it has become q
and points in Maryland. He had gone
out into the wilderness all alone, had
felIed trees and built cabin. He had
cemented the seams between the logs
with lime plaster made by himself. He
wYs q veritable Robinson Crusoe. lie
made lime by burning the rocks, and
j.. got his sand from the river banks.
lie had n snug and comfortable cabin,
ard lived there until his death. in the
early part Of this century. Nobody ever
knew any other name for him than
"John," for he would give no other
name.
People began to refer to his place as
"John's cabin;!" but one day he told
some callers. who stopped there while