Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08

l.
heart" talk with McGregor. with the result
that he agreed to feed them at so much a
head. The table consisted Of a board
placed across two barrels. The bill of fare
had as its principal attraction fish. But
such fish! Taken from the river fresh ev-
cry day; fried to crisp.
McGregor's chef proved himself to be a
friend in time Of need. He made good
coffee. and an occasional dish of rice, with
men to take on a new lease of life and give
thanks that they were living. Many de-
Hghtful bits of repartee might be heard at
the table of the Hotel McGregor when ev-
cry one was feeling In good fettle and the
pangs of hunger had been satisfied.
'Dick' Moncure runs the little store, the
only store. in Whitewater. He is also post
master. Moncure, by the way. knows
haps any other person in Virginia, and
that is saying great deal. He is a good
fellow and he enjoys prosperous business
The Moncure Chateau.
A two-story house. up a steep embank-
ment from the depot is Moncure's home
But Moncures wife is not at home this
summer. She is foe of malaria. the same
as all the rest Of the women folk of Wide
water. When the first really warm day Of
summer put in an appearance Mrs. Mon
cure hied herself to the country.
nephew of Moncure's is spending his
vacation at Whitewater. He was sleeping
nights at the Moncure chateau and getting
his meals himself Postmaster Moncure
shared the prandial meal with his nephew.
A happy thought struck the nephew.
Newspapermen are good fellows, he said
to himself. They must eat and sleep the
same as other beasts.
This young fellow, Jack Barrett by
name. solved the whole problem and there
by endeared himself for all time to come
to the hearts of the men who had been
banished from their offices to Whitewater.
The Moncure home was turned into a tenn
pOrary hotel.
IF you can double up in bed and stand
two beds in a room l can take care of
you said Barrett to a bunch of the news
papermen who were gathered about the
depot discussing their lot and incidentally
keeping weather eye on the Langley
ark out In the river.
And There Was Rejoicing.
The smiles that enlightened the features
Of the newspapermen would have been a fit
subject for painting by Raphael The
news was broken to Fisherman McGregor
at the evening meal Of fish and coffee that
night. ss.s3x.
1t was explained to him that no fault
could be found with his treatment OF them:
that he had certainly demonstrated his
ability as life saver. It was suggested by
one thankful soul that an effort should be
made at once to have McGregor transferred
to the Jurisdiction OF the Treasury Depart
ment. as ali Hfe-sav1ng stations are.
Peaceful slumber and quiet pervaded the
Moncure mansion that night. There was
an aching void at the McGregor table the
next morning. Two soap boxes that had
been fmprovised for chairs were ruthlessly
cast aside. The Newspaper men sat down
to spread OF corn cake, eggs, egg bread,
not biscuits. tea, Coffee buttermiik and othe>
toothsome delicacies for the first time in
days.
The Man From Richmond.
When the newspaper bunch struck Wide
water the agent of the railroad found that
he would be unable to send out by wire tho
productions of so many men. The Western
Union Telegraph Company was notified, and
one Of the best men In the service was sent
UP from Richmond. White. by name and by
nature. has won the hearts of all here by his
cheerful manner and the good nature and
rapidity with which he sends out the STUFF
for the boys.
A charming view 1t is from the Moncure
chateau. The wide expanse Of water, the
Maryland cliffs in the distance the con-
slant traffic back and forth of steam and
sailing craft, all are restful to the eye.
With the aid of field glasses one may keep
close tab on what Is going on about the
Langley houseboat. And that Is all. What
goes on inside is known only to the dozen
IL
who, until Mr.. Truxtun Beale came down
this week, were transported in a tug every
night to the Mount Vernon Ducking Club,
where the evenings were spent in ease and
luxury.
GIN the Evening by tho Moonlight"
On the wide veranda Of the Moncure man
sion the newspaper men gather in the even
ing and the few persons who make up the
summer population of Whitewater congre-
gate nearby, often mingle with them, to
hear the songs that are sung and the stories
that are told.
1t is usually midnight before the last look
through the glasses Is made at the house.
boat and the newspapermen seek their
beds. Early in the morning they are up
and in their sail boats off to the lark" to
see II anything has been done while they
slept.
A hundred yards or SO to the north Of the
applied to this haven Of newspapermen. is
a fine residence, surrounded by a pretty
grove and lawn, the front Of which looks
directly out upon the ark
This was once the homo of Gen. F1tz-
Hugh Lee. 1t was also the temporary
home of Gen. Robert e. Lee, soon after the
civil war; The place is now in the possess
sion of Mr.. Alfred Pyke who came here
He purchased the old Lee home and with
his family lives there In luxury and COM
fort.
Where Cleveland Visited.
Adjoining the old Lee homo is Clifton"
the ancestral home Of the Walters. In the
river, only q short distance from Clifton
is the duck blind where former President
Cleveland spent many hours at his favorite
sport while he was occupant Of the White
House. He came here often as the guest
Of Col. Withers Waller, the proprietor OF
the Clifton" estate. His nights here were
spent in a large chamber overlooking the
Potomac.
Whitewater has received more sratuitous
advertising since the Langley lark" was
anchored or here than at any time In her
existence. The Norfolk steamers. which
follow the channel Of the river toward the
Maryland shore, and pass within q few
hundred yards Of the ark" reach here
on the downward trip about 0 o'clock every
evening.
The searchlight is played upon the big
houseboat and the passengers gather ON
the decks to catch glimpse Of 1t.
The conductors and others Of the crews
Of the passenger trains that 20 through
here every day are Piled with questions
about the air ship and the "arIx'' and they
point out the queer object in the river to
the passengers.
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