Evening star., 1913-04-06


cred several thousand relics from this
place. and as many of them were fine
specimens they were largely used by
Prof William Henry Holmes to illustra te
his book, The Stone Implements OF the
Potomac and Chesapeake TidewateI'
Province. this being the fifteenth annual
report Of the bureau Of ethnology. Doubt
less there are yet many rare specimens
of the stone work of this departed race
scattered over that section. Tradition
tells us that these forest-loving people
hid away in this section many stone jugs
of gold nuggets which had been picked
up from time to time along the Potomac
and the small tributaries
Cabin John bridge is the most interest
ing feature in this section it was built
Of stone without intermediate support
and is said to be the largest arch or
single span stone structure in the world
1t is $50 feet long. IA feet thick 90 feet
wide. with a span of 20 feet and stands
100 feet above the water IN Cabin John
run.
The bridge was mostly constructed be-
fore the civil war. while jefferson Davis
was Secretary OF War. When he became
president OF the Southern Confederacy
his name was erased from the tablet on
the bridge. but was restored a few wears
ago.
The purpose of the bridge vas to pro-
vide the means Of carrying the water
conduit across the ravine Of Cabin John
run. The government began the work
OF constructing the aqueduct in the wear
1888 and the water was turned into the
conduit in 1853. The capacity OF the
water main is 7e.OO.O0O gallons daily but
the increase in population of the city ha 5
been so great in recent years that an
Increase o. supply will soon be required.
Ground for the bridge was broken in
the early part of tie year 1857 and II
was completed in 1854. The cost of the
bridge including the parapet walls built
In 1923. was $254.OOO
There is an interesting story about
the origin of the name of the stream
CABIN John run. The incidents and
facts about the peculiar parsonage
from whom the name was derived were
learned from citizens OF the COM
mun1ty who got their informa ton from
their fathers. grandfathers and great
grandfathers.
Before the National Capital was To-
Gated on the Potomac, Georgetown was
simply village the highest point on
the river for seaeoing vessels. whence
imports of all kinds were distributed
north and west by wagon trains via
two main highways which for MANY
miles passed through dense forests. In
those days the present property along
Cabin John run was Secure hiding
John" built cabin by the creek or
run. lived like a hermit and subsisted
apparently on game fish, nuts and wild
plants
Large projecting stones served as
slde walls and few poles inclosed the
front while brush. bark and sod
formed the roof and completed this
crude home. He was always very busy
in the fall. and. squirrel-like stored
away many bushels of winter food
from the many large and prolific wal
nut. chestnut and hickorynut trees
along Cabin John run.
One theory handed down by old in
habitants is that this life of privation
and isolation was the aftermath of an
unsatisfactory love affair in distant
state. There appears to be some doubt
as to the exact time when this mysteri-
GUS stranger made his first appearance
and pitched his cabin in that rugged
region, but tradition seems to agree
upon the period prior to the revolu-
tionary war. or some $50 to 200 years
ago. Whence he came is likewise un-
known and has always been a subject
of speculati ton. To all who knew him
his name was simply John" and he
claimed for himself no further dis
tinction.
In course of time he was known as
John of the Cabin and his domic1le
was called the cabin Of John" but at
later date this was reduced to the
simpler form Cabin john" and. ap-
parently by general consent in the
community the creek took the name
of Cabin John run. 1t has been
known by that name to the present
time. Upon some Of the old deeds ana
other county records at the courthouse
TO
John creek" but in most Of the rec
ords it stands Cabin John run.
This strange man inhabited his hum
Bile hut for many years, summing ana
avoiding everybody, claiming no neigh :
bors except the rocks and trees. and
no associates or companions except his
gun and his fierce and feet-footed
dogs 1t is said that he passed the
greater part of his time hunting and
fishing this being his only known
surrounding fields and woods by day
and night. his chief pleasure being
trapping and running down the willy
raccoon. He made his own clothes, and
they were heavy and flowing garments
Of skins of wild animals caught or
killed in the neighborhood Because
of these garments he had quite the ap-
pearance of a woman when some dis
compa nionship. but was never known
to do an unktnd or harmful act during
all the years of his wild and lonely life.
At times curious persons ventured
into the vicinity Of the cabin and fire.
quently they would hear music on
some peculiar instrument, and some
times he would sing songs. mostly
sailors songs and quaint and touch