The Washington times., 1903-09-20


of the quietest cities in the United
States. 1t must be remembered it has
one Of the best organized and most ef
fcient police forces in the country. The
District of Columbia has been an event
full one from the very day of its organ
ization. September IL, 1851. to the pres
ent time
No better idea can be had OF the de-
partment's present efficiency and the
different duties and experiences OF the
men who compose It than by a survey
of washington's ten police precincts.
All the territory bounded by Street
south. X Street north. Seventh Street
east, and the White House and Fifteen
and-a-haf Street west. is included with
in the First police precinct While it
has the smallest population and area or
any of the police subdivisions, within its
limits are concentrated the theaters.
principal business houses and saloons.
This precinct is at present under COM
mand of Lieut.. Tazewell B. Amiss, one
of the best-known officers on the force,
and a native OF Culpeper county, Va,
where he was born August 20. 1871.
He attended the District schools during
his early boyhood, but at the age of
twelve began to learn shoemaking with
his father, who was a manufacturer In
that line. This pursuit proved distaste-
full. and two years later he went West.
For time he worked on farm in
Saline county, Missouri. for A J. Fisher
I
Usage orange fences Cor Mr.. Jameson,
the holder of the patent rights for that
fence in the State.
Returned to Virginia.
1t was not until the latter part OF
1857 that Lieutenant Amiss returned to
his home in Virginia. where he remained
until he secured an interest in a drove
of horses with which he Travelled South
as far as Greensborough. Ala. There he
entered the employ Of Mr.. Thornburg,
the proprietor of the American Corn and
Cob Mill. Later he worked in Columbus,
Ca. but in the winter OF 1860 he went 10
Louisville. KY, in which city and the
neighboring town of New Albany, Ind,
he remained until the beginning Of the
civil war.
On March IL, 1861. he enlisted for
mounted service in the regular army and
was sent TO Carlisle. where he was rs
signed TO Company F. Fourth United
States Artillery. The battery was sent to
Evansville. Winchester. Cedar Noun
tain. Antietam. South Mountain. Chan
ceIlorsvine. and Gettysburg. and partici-
menis. in which the Army of Northern
Virginia took part. under Generals Pat
torson. Benks. Slocum and Thomas.
Toward the close Of the war he was
wounded and promoted to the grace Of /
corporal. lie received his discharge /
March II, 1864. at Stevenson. Ala.
His Later Life.
He returned to Washington after che |
war and was employed by the Washing |
ton and Georgetown Railroad Company /
until 1858, when he was appointed to the |
Capitol police, with which he remained /
about two years. On March g. 1870, he |
was appointed TO the Metropolitan /
police. In 1882 he distinguished himself
for his daring conduct in capturing a 4
gang Of burglars. among whom were 1
Wood and Fitzsimmons. He was made a /
sergeant afterward and promoted to a /
lieutenancy in the fall of 1886. In 1887 /
he and another policeman arrested two /
notorious thieves who were trying to 1
thunder the house of the Peruvian min
lister, for which he was complimented in
general orders.
Lieutenant Amiss married Miss Mary /
wheeler, of Fredericksburg. Va, In 1865. |
They have five children. The lieutenant /
was formerly a member of the Grand |
Army OF the Republic. but now devotes
his war time memories to his comrades
of the Union Veteran Legion. He is
also an active member of the Masonic
order.
AS a policeman Lieutenant Amiss has
been very successful. His station is
one of the busiest in the department.
and he has become well known TO a large
number OF Washington people. His
earlier successes gave him reputation
as a brave and faithful officer. and the
force he has under his
command enables him TO preserve order
even in the wickedest parts Of the Dis
trict.
The Second Precinct.
The Second police precinct runs from
X 10 r Street north and from First
Street east TO Fifteenth Street west,
and ranks second in population. II is
largely composed OF private residences
and foreign legations. Within this pre-
cinct are Iowa and Thomas Circles, and