Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04

sharp report like the crack of A.
caliber Colt rang out through the west
corridor of the first floor in the State, war
and Navy Department building the other
day, bringing messengers with a jump to
their feet and causing the clerks to eau
tiously stick their noses out of the swinging
doors to investigate. Ever since crank
shot up two of the War Department en-
ployes. about year ago, and incidentally
endangered the lives of a number of other
people, any suggestion of the discharge of
a frearm carries with it a more or less
panicky feeling in this particular depart
ment The noise was traced to the ord
nance bureau. where one of the officers on
duty there had been examining what is
known n friction primer. This is a
little brass tube about as big as lead pen
Gil inserted in the vent of a gun to explode
the charge, just as is more commonly done
with percussion cap. The officer wished
to learn whether the primer would go off
If bent suddenly to the proper angle The
bending causes friction which ignites the
illuminate of mercury and other compounds
with which the brass tube is charged. The
primer worked perfectly-in fact. there is
some doubt as to whether its sensitiveness
did not surprise the officer. for the result of
his experiment was the nerve-shaking ex-
plosiop which startled the employees
X x
Major Sylvester's timely advice to
housekeepers in the matter of suggestions
as to what they should do to protect their
property from the operations of crooks
during the inaugural period, as published
in The Star week ago. caused one water
inspector some annoyance. 1t was the in
tention of the chief of police to guard
the housekeepers against bogus inspectors
of all kinds. At times when the city is
crowded with guests the bogus inspectors
have a splendid opportunity to work. 1t
is then an easy matter to find house
practically unguarded.
One day this week an inspector called at
a house in the eastern section of the city
and said he wanted to make an inspection.
But not in here" said the elderly wo-
man who appeared at the door in response
to the ringing of the bell. Il read Major
Sylvester's advice and don't intend to let
any of you men in my house. His advice
was good and I'm going to profit by it,
But, madam" the inspector said, here's
my badge and"
Never mind about the badge" inter-
rupted the woman of the house ITS
an easy matter for ybOdy to buy
badge"
And here are my credentials the in
spector insisted.
Il came from Charles county, where
they don't have such things as inspectors,
was the explanation of the occupant of
the premises. I'll let you come in to look
through the hrSt fOOr Dut L ii DE With YOU
while you are making the inspection
This satisfied the inspector and he went
away after seeing that water was not De-
ing wasted in the kitchen
TT is strange how many people there are
in the world who are anxious to wear
badge and carry a baton" remarked
member of the police force to Star re-
porter: land the inaugural demand Tor
specials brought most of them to the front.
While only three or four hundred specials
were wanted, there were more than a
thousand men who were willing to carry
the club and wear the badge in conspicu-
Gus places.
And they came from all sections said
the official There We're politicians from
the neighboring states, mechanics from
this city and people from distant states
who wanted to make their expenses They
called early and late, and told all kinds
of stories why they should be favored.
One man called at headquarters at
o'clock one morning. and thought that the
time of his calling might help induce the
police to think that he was of the never
sleep variety but he was looked upon
more as a suspicious person, and was given
encouragement.
another man who thought he could han
die a club and honor the shield" sad
the member of Maj. Sylvesters staff, was
a tall man from the mountain district of
Kentucky who had heard that good men
were in demand here. He had done some
little work In the moonshine districts, and
thought he could do similar work on the
streets of the city. He claimed he had
some knowledge of thieves. and was Ger
tain he would make a model polirarna n.
He was not familiar with the streets and
different localities in the city. however,
and was sorry he would have to make an
effort in another direction to earn money
enough for expenses"
X * * X X
One of the intolerable nuisances to street
car travel in Washington, according to
citizen who has to take long rides on the
cars to and from his place of business every
day but Sunday, is what he terms 1.-The
human jay birds" These are men and boys
who occupy space the cars and whistle,
whistle, whistle, sometimes apparently I'M
consciously and at other times with malice
aforethought.
''They whistle in your face; they whistle
in your ears, in the air and galore, until
you heartily wish they were in the wi!ds
of Manchuria, said the citizen. '"They
whistle Annie Rooney Aud Lang Syne'
Mr.. Bailey Old Hundred and any old