The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-13
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

Major Conger day or so ago had the
pleasure of giving Mr. WI Tine-fang
tangible and visible evidence of the fact
that. as stated In the American Minister'S
memorable telegram from the besieged city
OF Pekin. all the foreign Representatives
had not been massacred. Mr.. Conger
called upon NJ. WI. and the visit was
returned. While there was no talk upon
the present situation In China, the two
diplomats had much to say to each other
concerning the events OF the last sum-
mer in which both were so much interest
ed, while so widely separated.
The guns taken from the gunboat Ma
Mia, which was sunk during the battle
Of Manila Bay. have been put in position
on the east front OF the State War and
Navy Department building One has
been placed inside the parking near
the passage way leading to the south
wing. and one has been installed in
similar way near the passage Lead
ing into the north wing. They are
u: the basement level. and have the
appearance of thanking the main en-
trance on the east front. A coat OF grey
paint. which will keep them from rust
Ing. makes them harmonic with the stone
OF the building. The supports are bronze
decorated with big bronze shields at each
side. 1t was a fun days work to get tho
big guns into the position they occupy
They weigh several tons. and had to be
lifted over the stone coping OF the park
ing. Big derricks with block and tackle
had to be imDroyised to get them over
the coping, and a roadway of beams and
boards was made over which they were
rolled to the place where they are
mounted.
While the indignation of the righteous
is being stirred by reports OF eockfight-
ing in the Philippines right under the
nose of the United States Government Of
ficials. there is a little sport of a similar
sort going on In the environs OK Wash
ington. A good-sized cooking main. for
which all the preparations had been
made, and in which about 800 men were
interested. was discovered last week near
the city, by the agents of the Humane
Society. and stopped just In time to keep
blood from being shed. The great battle
of game cocks had been prepared to take
place at road house. and information
having been sent to the Humane Society,
an agent was despatched to look into tho
matter. He found number of men trim
ming the birds and getting ready for the
fight. Fully 500 spectators were present.
The assistance of a constable was OBJ
tained. and after long and wordy al
into a fist fight, the main was called Off
The chief trouble arose because the men
who had bet on the outcome of the fights
did not want their wagers declared or
The negroes in the vicinity OF the road
house have taken kindly to the sport OF
cockhghting. and raise game ROSTERS for
the contests The mains have been held
almost every Sunday, II Is said, since
spring began, but no information OF them
reached the Humane Society until last
week.
Pedestrians on Fourteenth Street. few
afternoons ago. witnessed rather I'M
usual spectacle. A flight of stariings. tiny
futtering specks of animation. made the
air around the belfry of the Riggs Fire
Insurance Company building black almost
as cloud. The flock must have contain
Cd a Thousand birds. and was so thick
that it almost concealed the tower from
view. The birds circled quite close to the
ground at times, and then rose high into
the air. always, however, revolving
around the belfry as centre. While an
crowd of spectators were
persed by the ringing of the fire bell Its
reyeFberations scattered them to the four
winds. and they fitted away through the
gathering grey twilight. As the last stroke
Of the bell died away they began TO come
back, In few moments the flock was
gathered together again, and continued
until dark Its Greetings around the tower.
A concrete mixer on wheels got the
best of three mischievious boys Satur-
day night. and ran away with them. The
scene Of the escapade was Jackson Place
at the side of Lafayette Park, and mid
night the hour. The workmen who had
been laying the concrete sidewalk, after
finishing their days work, rolled their
70 oil IN he nd
checked their Wheels with bits of brick.
This precaution was necessary. because
the roadway there siants considerably.
The concrete mixer is a large drum or
barrel on wheels, into which the concrete
md rock are put. and then rolled about
% make the materials run together prop
srly. The machine is made largely Of
ron. and is quite heavy and un.nanage-
tble, because it has only two wheels.
When the hour of midnight approached
hree little colored boys. not one over
sixteen years old, lounged up the street
md stopped to count the proceeds of their
lays sale of newspapers in the light OF
he lanterns hung on the mixers. 1t did
Tot take them long to get into mischief,
md within ten seconds the bricks had
,een taken from under the wheels, and :
he first mixer in line was being slowly
'ushed into the middle of the street. IL
vent eaSiy, DIS II was tufheu uo"H mn,
n fact. too easily. Every foot 1t moved
gained momentum. and the combined
trength of the barefooted boys could not
old it back. 1t dragged them straining
or a foothoid, faster and faster, and.
nding the pace too hot. first one and
hen another let go. The third hung on,
nd the machine reached the bottom
/ the hill. and was about to enter Penn
y!vania Avenue, 1t ran into the curb.
here is where II was found early yes
erday morning by one of the State, War
nd Navy Building watchmen, as he
tarted home from his nights work. The
lng handle of the machine extended far
ut into the street, and was a menace to
raffic. The Waterman endeavored to pull
he mixer up the street, and place it
here it belonged. but 1t was too heavy
or him, and he left the job to the police,
-ho were notified.
OBITUARY.