The Republican., 1900-08-30
OLD WASHINGTON JA1Ls.
"Reminiscences of an Old Citizen
About the Capitol City's Early
GuardhOuses.

"'Twas a gala time In Washington, J"
remarked an old citizen short time
before his death, few years ago,
when the erection of the first Jail
was commenced. You remember the
building better as the intirmary inn
mediately north of the court house,
which was destroyed by fire in the
early part of 1861, but its appearance
had been much changed from the
original. The time was, | think, In
the summer of 1903, and l was a boy
about nine years old living near by,
and do not remember that there was
any speaking. l do, however, recol-
lect that the people made it time
for iolliication in the shape of bar
becue. South of the site there were
long tables laden with eatables and
plenty of drinkables.
''The building was of brick, plain
oblong of two stories, one end beng
set apart for the keepers family, the
other portions with grated windows,
being for the prisoners. The main en-
trance was midway on the south
front, just about where the park
watchman's house now stands. Addl-
tions, first of wings at the ends, and
an additional story were found neces-
sary. for under the duty of the mer-
shall of the district to keep and main
tain the United States prisoners he al
so had debtors, runaway slaves, and
in the early days the corporation prls-
oners to board, and, as the population
increased. so did the number of in
mates of the Jail. The Jail was under
the charge of the marshal, and that
officer placed one of his deputies in
immediate charge from time to time
as occasion required, other deputies
assisting him. 1 think tnat the first
deputy IN charge was one Keenan,, and
he was followed by Tippet, Burr and
Williams, the last named about 1880,
and about 1887, under the marshal
ship of Gen. Hunter, Mr.. Robert Ball,
father of the late Col. Bob Ball, be-
came the iailer or warden.
around this structure was high
wall inclosing a not extensive yard,
in which the prisoners were allowed
some exercise, and in this inclosure
was the whipping post at which the
lash was used. 1t was white man,
l believe, who afterward became
highly respectable citizen, who re-
ceived the last fiogging at this post.
1T was when Mr.. Bail was jailer
that tie Blue Jug prison was built
about 1889. This was three-storied
brick building, locate,. IN an inclosure
at the northeast corner of Judiciary
square, with the cell rooms on the
north side, separated from quite COM
Portable rooms on the opposite side
intended for the confinement of debt
ors and the lighter offenders. This
building was erected unuer Architect
Robert Mills by the Stanton Bros.
bricklayers, of Alexandria, each of
whom subsequently practiced at the
bar and became members of congress
Fred p from Tennessee, and Rich
ard from Kentucky. For thirty years
the Blue jug was the Jail for the dis
trict, till 1869, when the new stone
structure on the Eastern branch was
completed.
"On the vacation of the Hrst-named
building lin the center of Judiciary
square) there was an attempt made
to convert it into a hospital for the
insane. This unfortunate class had
been cared for in no specified manner
previous to this time. the more violent
being confined in Jail at the cost of
their friends, if not INDECENT, and if
so by the corporation, while some
were supported in Mount Hope, Balti-
more. AS stated, this effort failed
and the building was rlaced in charge
of the medical society of the district
and was for over twenty years the
Washington infirmary, and in the
early part of the war used as gov
ernment hospital, the victims of the
attack on the Fourth Massachusetts
regiment, on April 10, 1861, being the
first military patients In less than
a wear it took fire and burned"
BELTS AND STOMACH TROUBLE