Evening star., 1902-01-09

In 1910. Then, In November, 1910. Capt
John Symington, who left the arsenal seven
years before as lieutenant of the 1st Ar
tiilery, returned to the command where he
remained till November, 1S44 being then
a captain in the ordfahce corps. This was
on the eve of the Mexican war, and conse-
quently busy times swere ahead. The dis
carded fflnts from the oid-style arms had
accumulated in great-quantities and were
sold with other cophsmned property; but
the lucifer match, introduced a few years
before, was driving the flint and tinder box
out of use, and there was no sale for them,
the whole pile, said TO weigh a few tons,
being sold for song.
The percussion cap having come into use
and the process of making them being SLOW
two of the employees AIR. George Wright
and a Mr.. st. John, set about constructing
a machine for making them. Ere much
headway had been made the latter left the
city and abandoned the machine. 1t was,
however perfected by Mr.. Wright and ex-
cited wonder. From strips Of copper fed to
it the caps were cut shaped. charged with
illuminate, vanished and dropped out ready
for shipping and use. BY this machine the
service Of the government was supplied
with caps, and a quantity was sent to Euro
pean nations.
Capt. MOrdecai Returns
Capt. Mordecai, after an absence of eleven
years, returned to the command In October,
1914, and remained ten years In this period
the Mexican war took place, and the arsenal
for several years was the scene of great
activity, the number of employees being aug
mented and new branches of industry be-
ing added, with buildings for their accom-
modation and in a little time as many
hundreds of persons were on the rolls as
there had been dozens before. The making
$50 boys were employed in preparing cart
ridges-'baH and buck The harness shop,
too, became an important part of the es-
tablishment in connection with cavalry
$1,n ~f lsrr1H% hot
teries.
In the latter the arsenal hands gained
quite a reputation throughout the service,
the simple fact that a battery had come
from the Washington arsenal being regard
ed a warrant that it was thoroughly
equipped. In fact, all the work of the place
bore high reputation, for as rule when
men were competent discharges were rare,
and there are instances in which entire
lives, from apprenticeship to old age have
been spent in the arsenal shops.
1t was told of Maj. Mordecai that two old
men waited on him once to ask an increase
his answer was: mo, not a cent more.
Others are liable to discharge whenever the
work slacks. You are part Of the estab-
lshment that only death can remove" 1t
is needless to say that the major became
most popular both within and without the
arsenal. The force Of ordnance men here
at the time was somewhat larger than ever
before and twelve of the men were detailed
under Lieut.. p v. Hugner (who died here
in 1893, retired brigadier generaD to the
siege gun battery, under Capt. (afterward
generaD Huger, which did such effective
work in the attack on Vera Cruz. OF these
twelve, Messrs. Stark B. Taylor of H street
and Joseph McCauley, corner of 9th and M
streets southwest are living.
Major Bell, who had in 1926, as lieutenant,
and from 1888 to 1910, as captain, COM
manded the arsenal, relieved Major Nor
decai in October. 1854, and remained to
June. 1853. 1t was In his term that the
military reservation Of old times was
enlarged by the purchase Of the ground
south of P street. For several years the
commanding officers had urged the acquisi-
tion of more ground, and the recommended
tion had been indorseds by the chief Of
ordnance and the Secretary Of War. BY
the act of March 2 1857 an appropriation
of about $4,000 was made to purchase not
exceeding 752, ,751 squAresfeet of ground ad-
jacent to and for the lIsefof the arsenal, at
not exceeding 10 cefrts per foot This land
was south Of street and extended from
the Potomac to James creek, and was near
ly all owned by the late William B. Todd.
There were on it then the residence of Mr..
James Johnson, a butcher; a comfortable
two-story brick house at the southeast cor
ner of AZ and streets; the frame resi-
dence Of Mr.. Bfumagin, one of the employees
Of the arsenal, about a square below, and
the slaughter house of the former near the
river, southwest of Mr.. Brumagin's. Most
Of this land eutsdenthe holdings of the
above named had been for some years and
was then used for agricultural purposes by
Mr., John springman, who raised good crops
Of corn there. ~ - fs.- go
The purchase Of the. .faad was completed.
and for some years high board fence
marked the northern boundary, thus inclos-
ing sixty-nine acres for military purposes.
The penitentiary building was unmolested
and was continued in use till after the war.
With the taking in. of this land magniti-
cent drill ground was secured, as also a
thousand-yard rifle range in the eastern
portion of the grounds.