The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
AS A NEGRO SAW WASHINGTON
A FIND OF ODD "REMINISCENCES
OF THE CAPITAL.
Tho Navy Yard Riot Of 1888 and How An
drew jackson Quelled It-"Old Hick-
ory's' Characteristic Oath-The First
Contribution OF an ex.Slave TO History.

drew jackson QueHed At-"Ol0 Hick.
ory's" Characteristic Oath-The First
Contribution OF an ex-Slave TO History.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1O.-When Mary
Almaralia, a reputedly rich negress, died
here few weeks ago, papers were found
in her room directing one OF her white
foster sons, Louis Alexander, formerly of
New York, who now lives at 22o G street
northwest. this city, to open locked
wooden box, wherein would be found i'm
portant documents. Among the papers
concealed in this box were two quarto
volumes in manuscript, containing an old
negro's personal recollections of WASH
ington-the place and the people in the
period from 1873 to 1858.
The two dust covered worm eaten
volumes contain 500 pages and approx
mately 10000 words. The recollections,
set down with painstaking accuracy. pro-
vide an Illuminating contribution to the
political history Of the earlier half Of the
nineteenth century. They represent prob
ably the first attempt OF its kind ever made
by an American negro.
Michael Sinner the author OF these recol-
lections, an almost pure blooded negro,
was born slave in Prince Georges county,
Nd, in 1905. He was owned by the Pum-
phrey family Of Maryland, and was sold
by his master to a resident OF the District
OF Columbia in 1880. In1s3s he was emanci-
pated by his master, and soon afterward
obtained employment in the Washington
navy yard, where he continued to work
as a laborer until few years before his
death In 1880.
His narrative is illuminated with refer
ences to Madison, Monroe, John Quincy
Adams, Andrew jackson, Henry Clay,
Daniel Webster, Lewis Cass. Martin Van
Buren,, William Henry Harrison, Com
modores Perry and Hull, Gen. Taylor,
Franklin Pierce, President Tyler. Jeffer-
son Davis, Preston Brooks, Charles Sumner
James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln and
Gen. Grant.
An exceedingly interesting feature Of
the "recollections" is the description OF the
Washington riot which occurred in the
CAPITOL in the summer Of 1895, and es-
pecialy interesting is what the narrative
says Of the attitude manifested toward
rioters and strikers by Andrew jackson,
who was at that time President, and by
officers in the army and navy.
The trouble began through the theft
by the navy yard workmen OF some forged
pins. Commodore Hull, the yards COM
mandant. directed that no employees
should stay in the shops at dinner hour.
The ship carpenters who were working
on the frigate Columbia objected to the
order and struck, compelling the negro
workmen to strike also. A negro restaurant
keeper named Snow was said to have used
an insulting expression about the ship
carpenters, which 20 incensed the latter
that they raided Shows place and de-
stroyed the fixtures. The carpenters, be-
coming holder, then threatened to attack
Commodore Hull Continuing his story
from this point, Sinner wrote
And the next day Commodore Hull
received orders from the Navy Department
from the Honorable Secretary Of the Navy
Mr. woodberry, to fortify the yard in such
a position to protect all the Government
property therein and himself at the risk
OF all hazards. And the yard was then
well foHifed as any place ever cav. In
'oss thak no time it was placed in fighting
by Commodore Hull. I don't