The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-21
'SOUATTERS" IN AWE
Serving of Notices Causes
CONSERVATION in Homes.
MANY ARE POvERTY.STRICKEN
Woman OF Seventy, Living on Dis
puted Land for Thirty Years, Tells
PitifuI Tale of Neutrality-suspicious.
OF Civil War Not Resigned to Ac-
tiOn-"Ssnatter" Is Patriotic.

CONSERVATION was created among the
poyerty-stricken "squattersr who have
located upon the land lying south Of K
street and west of Twenty-eighth street
northwest by a summons. received yes
terday. to appear before the District Su-
preme Court in defense Of their claims
10 the land.
The summons was the result Of Attor-
ney General Wickersham's application &c
the court for a writ of ejectment 10 de-
termine whether the United States is en-
titled to the land or whether the present
occupants have lawful right of posses
sion.
Il don't know what I shall do If my
old home is taken from me, said Mrs
Mary E. Hughes. seventy years old. one
OF the 'squatters we have been liv,
ing here for nearly thirty years. and
have been very comfortable. After Mr.
Hughes died we eked out an existence
by raising poultry and keeping a small
vegetable garden. I cannot believe tbs
government will do anything that vii
impose a hardship upon US. But If the
government says so, l guess we will have
| to 60"
Mrs. Hughes has two sons and daugh-
ter, who live with her in the little cot.
tage on the disputed land. When she
moved into their present home the prop
erty Was practically swamp. which has
since been converted into habitable land
Mrs. Hughes. old and withered. was bus
/ lily chopping wood with which TO cook
the evenings meal when seen yesterday
"Squatter" Is Patriotic.
John Shore, another of the 'squatters. 81
is not so resigned. From the wall Of his
/ comfortable dwelling he took an old bat
tle-stained flag. and. shaking out its
folds. said:
My boy. through many death strug'
giles and on long. dreary marches have
followed this flag in defense Of the ma
ton that would now take my home from
me. Through the long years that have
passed since North and South were al
war l have lived in peace on these bot
toms. going TO sleep at night with the
river noises sounding in my ears. The
whistle Of the river tug has supplanted
cannot believe that Uncle Sam vii
turn old John Shore out Of the home
where he has lived in happiness so many
years"
Shore served under Gen. Mcclellan IN
his Peninsular campaign, and later under
Fighting Joe" Hooker.
7 don't care where 1 sleeps. just so!
de mosquitoes don't bother me none,
said Andrew Lewis a negro, who is mum
bered among the "squauers" "Many's
the time I slept out in de field under d.
bushes. and I guess if de Lord wills It
can do it again. oh course. my ole
woman an de kids can't do that There:
| just de trouble-what dose seven picki
ninnies are gwine to do. II the worS
comes. I expects I'll have 10 eat it GU
down at Occoquan; but I don't know
what dem kids is gwine TO do"
| Marshal May act.
| The squatters are given twenty day
/ in which to appear before court. but i
is doubtful whether they will make tn
! trip without the persuasive efforts o
me marshal All were given thei
/ homes by the company whose right Z
the land is now being questioned 10y IN,
government. Proceedings were institute,
| by request OF the War Department
which has been seeking for a number o
years to acquire possession 81 the prop
erty.