The Washington herald., 1909-07-11

70 many Old-Tlmers. There were two
ways OF reaching Big Rock from Foggy
Bottom. one out Twentieth street and
across Meridian HiI. the other Our
Twenty second street 20 P street. down
the steep declivity a the northeast corner
thereof. thence along a bit OF meadow
skirting the Washington side OF the creek
IL was always a problem which route
70 take, as Vinegar Hill and its denizens
were at perpetual war with Us, and Con
naught Row never overlooked a chance
for a sight with Foggy Bottom Fact IS.
we had no business swimming In the
creek, anyway. as ne did not permit
strangers 20 indulge IN the sport back
of the warehouse on g street or az
Easby's Wharf. But that made the
creek all the more attractive TO Us
'One night IN June about score OF Us
determined 20 risk battle and take n
the creek We did so. Those who re-
member the Big Rock viii understand
that We were in no danger while there
two determined boys could hold either Of
the two approaches. We had our swim,
and about 10 O'Clock set about our return.
taking the Twenty-second street route by
way Of the P street bridge. Bagby. how
ever. sent out scouts as We neared the
declivify mentioned. sure enough. there
was Connaught Row drawn up in battle
array 20 meet us.
1T was hopeless 20 Try 20 climb that
steep hin IN the face OF q vOlley OF stones.
but Bagby would not listen 20 suggestions
that we go back and try 20 cut our way
through Twentieth street We owed
COnnaught Row one. he said and here
was where we'd pay IT, so he directed al
Z ~-r- - a.
paper mill al the bend Of the creek. thence
across 10 Oak Hi Cemetery, skirting the
: inside wall thereof 20 the Metropolitan
car barn Che old horse cars on the
Georgetown end Of the P street bridge.
/ gathering ammunition as We went. Then.
( II we were lucky. We were 20 get on the
bridge without being discovered, and rush
I the enemy down the slope. upon the side
( of wlich they hoped 70 hguUatrely
Z slaughter Us.
NOW YOU VIII observe that this pro-
Z eramme embraced passing through
/ graveyard. There was no moon We were
I 70 60 single hle. ten PAGES apart. ana
there was 20 be no wlistllg or talking
Some OF Us were eighteen or nineteen
( years OF age. but the majority were from
] fourteen 70 sixteen, and while the last
I one would fghr Al the drop OF hat-anc
I drop the hat himself-this vas a test 10
Try many an otherwise stout heart and
( In saving right here / was scared posi-
I lively scared
4 There was a chorus OF laughter az this
/ declaration. for the relator was a man Of
proven courage. who wears a medal for
i bravery under FIRE IN the Boxer campaign
\ IN China, and his name Is proudly spoken
az times by Washington.sns- The eonfes-
sion was q value. however. as II inspired
the Boss 20 provide The wherewith 70
/ ofer another Hbation 20 the cherry tree
Well the story teller resumed not
many o. us care 20 stroll through a
/ graveyard al dead Of night. We were
creeping silently through one However.
We safely emerged therefroul, scaling rhe
wall near the end Of the car barn
really Go not remember how We got
through the car barn as there were
ufrht warchnen and a dog or two. but
we got By. and on the street. budding
together in the shade of the great ram
Bling car barn. extra conductors and
drivers QuizZing rs. and dogs barking
behind Us. the terror OF Holy Hin IN
GEORGETOWN restraining Us from retreat.
even II our leader would have PEP
mitted an attempt IN that direction
while or the far side Of the bridge We
could see some thirty or forty Of the
enemy awaiting our approach I'D the hill.
and knew they were handsomely Pro
lided with stones.
While we were huddled up. Bagby was
making his arrangements for the 6g1t-
he ordered & distribution OF the stone
IaumUnition. issued orders for an attack
, in Two lines. the first 20 ere a vOlley
when Eiven an order. having delivered
, which they were 20 drop 20 their knees
while the rear line delivered another
; We had formed two lines. and were pre-
pairing for rush across the bridge when
2 a movement Of the enemy was observed
They were descending the huL
In an instant Baghy gave the order
Il 70 rush the bridge. and We were well
across before a few stragglsrs-bold ones,
though-sppeared Al the crest OF the hiil
Z TO hold US, calling 10 their fellows 10
q come back But II vas too late. Two
Q weII-delivered voIleys drove these down
c The hlu. and We had COnnaught Row
where they had hoped 20 have Us
1T was a sad but glorious dsy-for Con-
naught Row and for FOggy Bottoro-one
: that VIII live n the recollections of all
Z cf Us until We die. Tor u was the last
s great stone fight between the sections
& The sIpshOd police methods Of the days
. fust after the war were giving away
20 other and better methods Maj Rich
! ards was effecting reforms under a new
lDisrrict government. Judge SHELLS Police
: Court had succeeded The Magistrates
: icor-ts wherein stone fights. bloody
: though they be. were but the ebullitions
: of youth and innocence. and new order
! was come.
And Foggy Bottom. under jim Bagoy.
: gained one of the few battles between
: FozEy Bottom and COunaught Row.
wherein the former came out with the
d. / horOrs"