The times., 1901-05-13
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

Major Conger day or so ago had the
pleasure of giving Mr.. wu Ting 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 Mr.. Wu. and the visit was
returned. While there was no talk upon
the present situation In China. the two
diplomats had much to say 10 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
on the basement level, and have the
appearance of fanking the main en-
trance on the east front. A coat OF grey
paint. which will keep them from rust
ing. makes them harnsouize with the stone
or the building. The supports are bronze
decorated with big bronze shields at each
side 1t was full days work to get the
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 imDrOvised 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 cockfight-
ing in the Philippines right under the
nose of the United States Government Of
hcials. there is little sport of a similar
sort going on in the environs Of 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 70 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 the
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 oh
tained, and after long and wOrdy al-
tercatiOn. which threatened to develop
into a fist fight, the main was called off
The chief trouble arose because the men
VINO had bet on the outcome OF the fights
did not want their wagers declared of
The negroes in the vicinity of the road
house have taken kindly TO the sport Of
cockhght1ng, and raise game rOOSters 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 a rather IN
usual spectacle. A fight of stariiugs. tiny
specks of animation. made the
iir around the belfry Of the Riggs Fire
Insurance Company building black almost
Is a cloud The flock must have contain
"a a thousand birds. and was so thick
hat it almost concealed the tower from
'iew. The birds cireled quite close to the
sTound at times. and then rose high into
he air always. however, revolving
round the belfry as a centre. While an
crowd of spectators were
them, they were suddenly dis
'ersed by the ringing of the fire bei. It's
eyerberations scattered them to the four
Winds. and they fitted away through the
altering grey twilight AS the last stroke
u the bell died away they began to come
'ack, In a feW moments the flock was
gathered together again. and continued
intIi dark its eirciings around the tower
A concrete mixer on wheels got the
'est of three mischievious boys Satur-
ay night, and ran away with them. The
Gene Of the escapade was Jackson Place
{ the side of Lafayette Park. and mid
light the hour. The workmeu who had
een laying the concrete sidewalk, after
nishing their days work, rolled their
oncrete mixers close to the curb. and
hooked their wheels with bits of brick
he roadway there slants considerably.
he concrete mixer is a large drum or
arrel on wheels. into which the concrete
nd rock are put. and then rolled about
; make the materials run together prop
rly. The machine is made largely OF
on, and is quite heavy and unmanage-
Die, because il has only two wheels.
When the hour of midnight approached
lree little eoIored boys. not one over
xteen years old, lounged up the street
nd stopped TO count the proceeds of their
ty's sale of newspapers in the light OF
e lanterns hung on the mixers. 1t did
u take them long to get into mischief,
nd within ten seconds the bricks had
zen taken from under the wheels, and
c first mixer in line was being slowly
lshed into the middle Of the street. IL
ent easily, as II was turned down hill;
fact, too easily. Every foot IL moved
gained momentum. and the combined
rength OF the barefoOted boys could not
i'd it back. it dragged them straining
r a foOthOld, faster and faster and,
idinS the pace too hot. first one and
en- another let go. The third hung on,
III as the machine reached the bottom
the hill, and was about TO enter Penn
lVania Avenue, it ran into the curb.
lCTe Is where II was found early yes
rday morning by one OF the State War
ID Navy Building watchmen, as he
trted home from his night work The
g handle of the machine extended far
I into the street, and was a menace to
tftic. The watchman endeavored to pull
2 mixer up the street. and place il
lere it belonged, but it was too heavy
r him. and he left the job to the police,
10 were notified.