The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-25
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dropped In TO make a swift touch. He
mad his pension papers along to prove
MS Identity, and being very thirsty he
explained that he really needed the
money. The man IN charge happened
to have only a quarter OF dollar about
him and needed that to ride home. He
therefore explained that he was like
wise temporarily embarrassed and could
not finance the liquor expedition.
ThereupOn the old soldier decided that
II no could not visit the saloon. he would
make the permit clerk a visit. He Sc
lected a comfortable chair and pro-
ceeded to fight over some Of his old
battles for the information of his host.
There was plenty Of work piled up. and
the Office man twisted about uneasiIv
In his chair as he endeavored to keep
his mind or what he was doing and dis
regard the old warriors "reminiscences.
BY the time the battle Of Gettysburg
was reached he could stand no more.
and producing the quarter entreated his
guest to take It and go out and get
drunken If possible.
Friends Invoke Aid.
Many OF TIE relatives Of the dead
come to the office and state their in
ability TO bury them. and request the
assistance Of the District. The wagon
is sent to the address given only to be
met with a statement that the bodies
viii not be given up as the family has
decided to hire an undertaken. Some
times a refusal is made for an adequate
reason, In which case. the driver has to
accomplish his work by force.
This happened IN a negro family.
When the wagon arrived at the house
the mother Of the dead child made no
objection. There were, however, eight !
cen other negro women living at the !
same place and the entire household /
was exceedingly drunk. including the |
mother. TWO of the women, in no way
related to the dead child. opposed the /
driver when he started out with the /
coffin. This was the signal for general /
attack upon him, and he found II nee /
essary to call in police assistance TO |
accomplish his duty.
Negroes Are Superstitious.
Among the negroes there is . great deal /
Of superstition connected with death.
They never allow the driver of the dead
wagon to enter the front door More
over, If he comes in one door he must 4
depart the same way. Not to do so.
they believe. would bring a hoodoo upon
the household. Sometimes their super
stitious fears are so great that when
a death occurs they lock the dead in
the house and depart until after the
body has been removed.
One old woman has a novel way of
exercising charms and spells incidental
to death. The driver noticed her pecu-
liar behavior on several occasions when
he was called 20 the house. She in
\ ariably caused him 70 delay until she /
could mix a basin full Of soapsuds. With
this In her hand, she would follow him
out Of the door and t. the wagon,
sprinkling the soapsuds along the way
he had traversed, much as flowers are
5trewn before the path Of some one that
IS 10 be highly honored Her queer ac-
tons were accompanied by constant
but she never explained
what IL all meant.
Contagious Disease Deaths.
There is n separate burytng ground for
those who have died Of contagious dis
eases. 1t is down along the river bank
where the ground Is low and swampy.
There Is no record kept OF these lonely
graves and there is no way Of securing
he privilege Of exhuming the bodies
The very spot where they are buried
Is being slowly filled in by the dirt and
rash that accumulates there.anG the
object desired Is that the
place become covered up ard lost to
light.
These poor pariahs are sent 10 their
asst resting-place in a special wagon |
provided b. the smallpox hospital They