Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17
AN EXCITING EPISODE
ONLY INTERNATIONAL Comfy
PREVENTS STRENUOUS ACTION.
Purpose of District is to Construct
Stone Wharves and Prevent
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Violation Of Law.

Stone Wharves and Prevent
Violation Of Law.
The cruises of the District wharf COM
mittee during the present year have been
enlivened by interesting Incidents and each
successive cruise has been more eventfui
than the preceding, The members Of the
committee are beginning to look forward
with pleasant anticipaftons to the voyages
along the river front. and to enjoy the
sensations incident thereto.
While the cruises of the committee during
the past few months have been full Of in
terest and incident, yet all past perform
ances are 'subordinated In point of event.
fitness to the voyage made late yesterday
afternoon, when the committee barely es-
capped being involved in.,international COM
plications.
The wharf committee consists of Harbor-
master Sutton, Daniel E. Garges, secretary
to the Engineer Commissioner, and w. J.
Douglass. engineer of bridges. Mr.. Doug
lass Is absent from the city in France and
late yesterday afternoon. Commodore SUIT
ton and Mr.. Garages invited DR.. William
Tindall, secretary to the board of Commits
sioners; Louis C. Wilson secretary to Com
missioner West, and representatives of the
local newspapers assigned to the District
building to accompany them on voyage
Of inspection of the wharves on the river
front under the control of the District.
The police boat Vigilant steamed away
from its moorings at the harbormaster's
wharf at $3.50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
with the party mentioned on board. The
mission was a peaceful one-the inspection
Of wharves under control of the District
and there was no presentiment In the minds
of the party of the situation to be encoun-
tered later in the cruise.
Scrutiny Of the wharves.
The members Of the committee and their
guests were seated on the afternoon deck
of the Vigilant enjoying the ride. smoking
cigars and casting a scrutinizing eye over
the wharves along the Shore The boat
steamed up the Washington channel right
merrily with the PROV! cutting the waves
and splashing the spray gently upon the
forward deck The officials viewed the re-
wharves by the lessees of the property
and noted the conditioner the timbers
and piles supporting the wharves. In many
cases tn piling was found to be old and
rotten and the appearance presented was
far from pleasing to the as well as
unsatisfactory from the standpoint of SUBJ
stantiality. I'M!
AS the boat, retracisig its course. was
rounding Giesboro' RotntNinto the George
town channel. one of the crew forward
approached the party on the after deck and
reported
There's swell inyssrs osing:"
What's he doing thefeT' asked DR.. Tin
dali. Why don't yonSpQt him out Of the
offing. He might damageSit."
Commodore Sutton explained that the
swell referred to was a nautical term
used by members of the crew when land
lubbers were aboard and the sailor vas
directed to ease the halyards. while the
land party recoveref its sapanimity
The Internatfohl incident.
Into the Georgetown channel and through
the draw of the Long bridge the Vigilant
swiftly steamed After inspecting the
wharves in Georgetown Commodore Sutton
directed the pilot to continue up the river.
When at point just off the stone quarry
above Heath's place the crew forward sig
nailed COmmodt re Sutton that curious
object was visible in the water ahead. The
Vigilant approached cautiously, and when
within short distance from the object the
party discovered it to be rowboat with
three small boys seated In it and two 9TH
ers hanging onto its sides.
The youths ranged from nine to fifteen
years and were protected from the heat OF
the summer sun only by the gentle breeZeS
from the Virginia shore or by the water OF
the Potomac. 1t was this lack or protec-
ton from the elements that caused those
or board the Vigiiant to pause Commo-
dore Sutton. among his other duties, is
charged with keeping the river free from
be theirs who fail to protect themselves from
the sun with bathing costumes In fact.
only yesterday morning he received com.
plant to the effect that persons without
sufficient protection for their bodies were
in the habit of bathing at point little
above Georgetown.
The boat hook was brought into service
and the rowboat was brought to the Vigil
lant's side, while the unatt1red youths were
ordered to get aboard. An ofncer OF the
Vigilant rowed to the shore and fetcneo
the Youngsters clothing from a large rock
Commodore Sutton proceeded to inquire
Of the boys as to their antecedents. Inc
replies to his questions caused the commo
fore to catch his breath, for ne realizeu
from the answers that he was up against,
a situation involving international comph-
cations. =,
.'Why did you come up here to go IN
swimmirg?" asked the commodore.
papa said we could" replied one or the
youngsters. sutton
This was the point where the commodoIe
ca,sht his breath, for the youth replied.
giving the name of a minister OF a CentraI
American government Further question:
ing brought forth the fact that the parry
of five boys consisted of one son and Two
nephews of foreign minister. the son OF
representative, and the son of prominent
citizen residing ON Connecteue avenue
northwest. ..-..E-
Result of Farley.
Mr. Sutton conferred with the party on
the after deck. Legal advice was ohereu
nv DR.. Tindan, Mr.. Garges and Mr.. Will
son, and it was to the effect that members
of the families of foreign ministers are I'M
mune from arrest by the District authori-
ties. Backed by this array of legal talent;
and remembering an experience ne hao
with a foreign Minister, when he was on
the District police force,, Commodore SUIT
ton decided to let all the boys go with
warning. si1
the river for bathing purposes unless they
were robed in proper raiment. and gave
them a heart-to-heaEt talk that readiiy won
hovs proujsed to offanxs NO more, and when
they were put ashore at Georgetown they
politely and gratefully thsaked the commo-
dore for his sic lsn tenGS under the
circumstances to permit athe FIVE lads to
depart unpublished. thencomnodore states
that only international comfy Will pre-
,,,ho orc found bathing m The Potomac near