Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-01
A Tragedy Recalled.

Before the rise of Rugby from the soil
of the market garden in N street late one
night when the snow lay deep and frozen
over all the city the sky was suddenly IL
Illuminated by a conflagration in the imme-
date neighborhood. We had only the old
time hand engines. and when a fire broke
out 1t was apt to sweep everything before
the arrival Of the apparatus. There were
two little cabins side by side on the south
side Of N street next to or near 18th street.
The one nearest to the corner Of 18th was
in flames. The Illumination soon assembled
all the neighborhood and the cry went up,
There's an old man in there; see him at
the window
TT was true He was plainly to be seen
standing between the blazing curtains and
holding a lighted candle in his hand, appa-
rently unconcerned or confused. Soon the
firemen arrived and with axes dashed down
the door, seized the occupant and rushed
him out of the only door into the yard.
His hair, beard and clothing were bla zing.
The firemen tried with their coats and by
guish the flames. He finally stood erect
and to the horror and establishment of
the crowd wheeled about in his tracks and
made a rush for his doorway, which was
now like the mouth of a furnace, and dis
appeared within. One of the firemen fol-
lowed and in some way dragged him out.
They laid him out on a snow couch at a
safe distance from the hut which now be-
gan to collapse and crumble.
Among others gathered around the rsoor
fellow, and never shall forget the sight
l then beheld. Every bit of clothing, every
hair of his head, beard and eyebrows were
burned He lived only few minutes. He
was a laborer. While drinking he had fired
the hut accidentally. This tragedy was
enacted directly In the rear of the resi-
dences Of my friends. the Gouverneurs. and
their neighbor, Capt. w. "A. nlno, OF the III
THE section Of the city In which this &C.
lScurred, for several squares to the north.
south, east and west. became historic
ground in the near approaching civil war.
Even then the war cloud was threatening.
Houses were in demand and l rented my
furnished residence nearby, and went with
my family to reside with that OF Henry
Nourse. At N and 18th streets, the highest
point in the city, wars his spacious and ele-
giant residence with rooms enough for ten
families the size OF ours. Among the board
ers there was Colonel Barker. commander
| of the Presidents Mounted Guard, whose
camp was Immediately under the windows
OF our apartments 10 the north and ada
cent to that of the 18th Highlanders, Colo
Barker. beinkia guest of the house. en-
tered and depasted "a dozen times day.
followed by ogderlies and others in uni
| form. and the rattls OF saners ana nnghng
spurs and chatter OF horses hoofs were In
our ears day and night.
Execution i6f Deserter.
"One day at dinner Colonel Barker told
us at the table, that his men had caught a
deserter from his troop and had brought him
back to camp. Ri He had been tried and
condemned by drumhead court-martial and
! was to be hanged that afternoon. Prep
arations were almost ripe for the execution
and the colonel politely invited all present
| to visit his camp and witness the exhibit
ton of military justice. Some did go. but
l did not 49,.
when the gallant 10th Highlanders lost
| their brave and beloved commander, Col.
Cameron, and came back to Washington to
rest and recruit peiore again p1uns1ng into
battle they struck their camp on the
| ground next above the Postmaster GEN
erals. which then belonged to the Morri-
sons and Eliab Kfngman of the Baltimore
Sun, and is now Iowa CIRCLE,