Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03

From time to time" said an old resi-
dent Il have noticed references to duels
fought in this section years ago, but the
newspapers do not seem to know that one
was fought between two colored men, l be-
lieve slaves. about 1886. These were Jack
Magruder and John Bell, who had married
sisters and were each hired out by their
masters to residents of Capitol Hill. In
the course of time each became a father
and as every crow thinks his own coat
the blacklist. each father thought his child
the smartest. and they often had words as
to viii h was the finest baby. Finally they
were about to fight. This occurred at a
store. and the suggestion was made that as
an insult had been given the aggrieved
party should demand satisfaction on the
field of honor and not resort to brute force
when they could fight like gentlemen. The
suggestion was adopted. Each chose a
friend, and the arrangements being made
the insult was wiped out with little blood.
The time set was pm, place the Leecn
pond. on the Tiber. above X street, weapons
guns. distance thirty PAGES 1t had been
whispered among the boys that the event
would occur and number We're. there, |
with others. Both showed up and eX-
changed fierce glances before being placed
in position Then the weapons were hand
ed them. and at the word, so promptly had
they pulled the triggers, there was but one
report. and each was puzzled to see that
his opponent was standing unhurt, for they
were good shots and each claimed to have
taken deliberate aim. and were dissatisfied
The guns. which were loaded at first with
a harmless substance. were passed to the
seconds for recharging. and in one a few
shot were dropped. Then at the word both
fired and shot taking effect in the right
wrist of one it stopped further shooting:
each of the principals feeling elated that
before witnesses they had not shown the
white feather. but had acted as gentlemen
They retired from the field amid the plaud-
its of the spectators, the question as to
who owned the smartest baby still unde-
termined."
when the Cubans are given full control
of the island. if that time ever comes" re-
marked army officer who has served
some time there, there Is danger that they
will swamp the island by high salaries
Under the Spanish rule high salaries were
the regular vogue. the governor general
receiving more than double what is paid
the President, the sum being $4,000 year
besides his expenses. OF course, the governor
generals in turn stole and pillaged, received
brides and in many ways became rich but
the regular allowance was the large sum
mentioned. The Cubans have become used
t. these high salaries. They marvel to see
how our army officers get along upon the
snail allowances which they receive. 1t
l. no doubt the intention of the Cubans to
take care Of themselves when they get in
the saddle. and the taxpayers will suffer
Yea, more, the posterity Of Cuba will suffer,
as the reckless expenditure will no doubt
involve the island in heavy debt. 1t is
this that some of the Cubans fear. OF
course. those who are able to keep on top
in politics and secure their share OF the
loot are anxious for Independence, but the
property owners, and those who want to
engage in business desire to have the United
States remain in control. that their prop
erty will be safe
=
OF the House of Representatives.. tells an
Interesting experience of his son, cor
pCra! in Battery o, 1st Artillery, and the
Galveston flood. My son." said Mr.
Householder, was stationed at Fort San
Jacinto when the storm broke and we at
first feared that he was among the twenty
eight soldiers drowned at the time. We
did not hear from him for three or four
days, and then we got card saying he
was all right but had lost everything he
possessed. He had kept his clothing, let
tiers and money in his locker and it had
beer swept away. A short time after the
disaster l received letter from a Mr.
Webb of Lamarque, Texas, saying that a
locker had been found there bearing nv
name and containing articles that evidently
belonged to my son. | ordered the locker
ser here to me. We found everything in
tact, although the clothing had been dam
aged by the water. The locker had been
carried over 10 miles by water and left that
far inland from Galveston. My son had
close shave. and nearly lost his own life
He had a number of close shaves while
serving in the Philippines as a sergeant of
the I'D Infantry. He was in half a
dozen battles in the Philippines but his ex-
perience at Galveston will linger with him
longer he says, than any he ever had in
the army"
The records of the sanitary department
OF the District government, of which Capt
John A. Frank is the head, show vast
amount of humanitarian work performed.
OF which the public hears but little
Through the kindness of Maj. Sylvester,