Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
DOWN At Underwater
Where Langley's "Buzzard"
Holds Full Sway.
HISTORIC SETTLEMENT
HOW THE NEWSPAPERMEN PASS
AWAY THE TIME.
Found It Case of "Dig OF Starve' at
First, but Finally Won
Out.
HISTORIC SETTLEMENT

Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
Underwater. Va. August 8.-For the
past month the eyes of American scientists
and all persons who are interested in the
development of science have been turned
toward this little place.
Prof. Langley of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton chose the broad area of water in the
Potomac of Whitewater to make the test of
he model for his flying machine and also
the test Of the machine should the model
do satisfactory work.
Whitewater is one Of the oldest towns in
the United States. The town itself-it is
scarcely entitled to that consideration in
name. for there are not dozen buildings
all told in the settlement-claims to have
been inhabited even before the first colonial
settlement at Jamestown.
The people Of jamestown, who are look
ing forward with mingled pleasure and
pride to the great exposition that will COM
memorate the founding of that town, will
likely take issue with the people of Wide
can find tombstones in the cemeteries in
this old county of Stafford that carry dates
which go back to the early part Of the sew
enteenth century.
Battles All Around.
During the civil war there were battles
all around Whitewater; that is. on land.
Fredericksburg. only thirteen miles away
by rail was the scene Of one Of the blood
lest engagements of that sanguinary and
internecine conflict.
Spottsylvania. Charlottesville. the Wild
erness and many other fierce fights were
fought within hearing distance of Wide
water. Only three miles south of this quaint
settlement Is Aqua creek, which was the
scene OF numerous conflicts between fed
hoo ed %
The surrounding country abounds with
historic interest. About seven miles dis
tant back in Stafford county, Is the old
Aqua church. one Of the few colonial
churches now In use as places OF worship.
Tho people hereabouts are proud Of the
history of their county and they are con-
stantly perpetuating the memory Of their
ancestors who hewed the forests and clear
ed the farms that are rich In products.
The Potomac river OF Whitewater Is &C
tually three miles wide, although there are
persons living here who. until a civil engt-
nerr connected with the Langley party
made observations with his instruments q
few days ago, would have staked their lives
miles in width
Excellent Place for Test.
There is a stretch of the river at this
width of what would appear to be eight OF
ten miles. A better place to test the ''buz-
card" the name applied to Professor Lang
ley's mysterious invention. would be hard
to f1nd
The house boat. ON which Is the super
structure from which the model and the
airship itself will be launched for tests is
painted a dark brown. and to the eye OF q
beetle II one can fetch his Imagination to
bear on such an object
The railroad station Is the principal rem
devious for everybody in Whitewater. 1t Is
k,,S1I oh
tains two rooms. One of these rooms Is
for persons waiting to take train on the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad the other Ii utilized by the agent
operator and general utility man.
When the Langley 'ark'-au kinds OF
names are applied to this big houseboat-
was towed from Washington here and an
there was an influx Of newspapermen to
Whitewater.
The people Of this place never saw so
many real newspapermen before. With the
advent OF the newspapermen came. quite
naturally, q desire for accommodations.
Newspapermen have to sleep and to eat.
despite any mistaken Impressions that may
be entertained to the contrary.
Afraid Of Malaria. :.
The hamlet, village. town. or whatever
name you may choose to call 1t, Of Wide
water faces the Potomac. The river ID
within 100 feet Of the railroad tracks. The
women folk. who love their homes and are
contented and happy when snow and frosts
obtain, are thoroughly imbued with the
thought that malaria turks In the atm0S-
phere Of Whitewater.
1t would be folly to try and persuade a
woman that she Is wrong Even the hus-
bands in Whitewater appreciate the useless
ness of such efforts: so they consent to
their spouses leaving the town for the sum-
mer. As rule, they go back into the
country few miles. where their husbands
may have their company In the evenings,
II the former are content to mount a horse
and ride over the rough roads that lead to
the interior of the county.
So 1t was that, when the newspapermen,
representing papers in all parts Of the
United States, swooped down on Widewa-
ter, they found themselves confronted with
condition rather than a theory" to bor-
row a term of a former President of the
United States. 1t was case Of dig OF
starve."
The newspapermen dug.
By persuasion. places were obtained to
sleep at night; but to get something to eat
was a harder problem to solve. One enter
prtsing newspaperman conceived the idea
Of telegraphing to hotel In Fredericksburg
for sandwiches and cold provender that
could be transported by train. This met a
hearty response on the part of his col
leagues; but q constant diet Of sandwiches
will in time weary the hardest constitu-
ton.
The Hotel McGregor.
A few yards away from the depot. pulled
up on the bank Of the river. is a small
house boat. used az a home by q man
named McGregor, who fishes the Potomac
for livelihood This little house boat has
two bunks-places for himself and cook
to sleep: room for d stove and few other
appurtenances that come handy In keeping
house."
The nswspapermen had heart to