davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1914-07-19
lzzz4lNITH 9 S(5HE RAMBLERE

borhood Of 18th and L streets southeast,
but the streets adjacent to the stone
wreck are of the nature of roads. over
which q very slender traffic passes. A
single track Of the Washington Traction
Company branches off from Pennsylvania
avenue, runs south along 18th street to
K. and along K to a point east. where 1t
swings back into Pennsylvania avenue
close to the Washington end Of the East
ern Branch bridge.
: Standing at the ruined building and
looking southwark. the foreground Is oc-
cupied by the railroad tracks. Before
the revolution in Washington's steam
road terminal facilities these were the
tracks over which all trains on the Bal
ttmore and Potomac between Washing
ton and the east passed.
All passengers from the east going into
the old Pennsylvania station at 9Th and
B streets and all passengers out of that
station for the east passed the place of
which the Rambler Is now telling. To-
day only freight trains go by. The mid
die ground Of the picture is taken up by
the Eastern branch, green, miry and evil
smelling now. but revealing progress in
the work which Is to transform IT into a
beauty spot. The background of the
picture is filled in by the green, tree-cov-
cred Anacostia ridge. quilted in many
places by deep and picturesque ravines.
and becoming more and more closely
dotted with homes.
While lettering in this lonely place the
Evening star., 1914-07-19

This chance acquaintance gave a little
bit of Eastern branch history which Is
worth preserving. He said
You know that brick house which
stands by the railroad crossing and the
south causeway OF the old Anacostia
bridge? Well. I guess that's one of the
old houses of that part of the country.
Long before the war used to go there
to chicken fights and man fights. 1t was
a tavern, and l remember the man who
kept it. His name was Duvall George. as
1 recall 1t. 1t was a very lively place
then. The soldiers took possession OF 1t
at the outbreak Of the war and held It
until peace had been restored"
The Rambler has previously written
that the site OF this wrecked warehouse
must be very near what was the Wash
ington side of the ferry which Aquila
Wheeler, and later Basil Talbert and
Capt. Nayler. operated from the Wheeler
lands to those of Matthew Wigfeld. op-
posite. long before. and few years aft
er the opening Of the toll bridge. which
was built in 1896 from the end OF Ken
lucky avenue to what Is now the foot of
the Naylor road. This section of the city
is also historically interesting because it
was the site of the encampment whence
the raw American army under Gen. VIM
der marched in the forenoon of August
"a. 1914. to encounter and to be beaten
by British troops in the fields about one
Evening star., 1914-07-19

out until the inquest, were that in a
nearby building stars of red and white
for use in shells were being made. A
new formula was used. Pans containing
these freshly made stars were set out
in the sun to dry, quite close to the open
windows of the room in which musket
cartridges were being made, of course, by
hand. These cartridges were not the me-
tallic-cased kind now used for rifles but
were in the nature of the paper cartridges
used for shotgunS.
Thousands of these cartridges. into
which the powder had been poured and
into which the balls were being put, were
standing on benches before and around
the working girls. The stars began to
explode or ''fzzle' and many flew through
the windows into the cartridge room. The
live cartridges, thousands of them open,
for they had not been ''crimped,'' or
sealed. were ignited. It was the work of
seconds. There was no escape for the
girls in the room.
The building in which that and other
Evening star., 1914-07-19

band from F1ndley Hospital. There were
several divisions of the Sons of Temper
ance under Marshal E. c. Graham. The
Good Samaritans were in column. Then
came a number of the clergy and then
the hearses and ambulances. President
Lincoln and Secretary Stanton followed
In a carriage. Next came the officers Of
the arsenal and relatives and friends of
the deceased.
The man employees Of the arsenal came
next under the following assistant mar
shals: Joseph King Of the blacksmith
department, Peter Eagan Of the ma
chinists' department g. z. Collision of
the carpenters department. E. B. Hick-
man of the saddlers' department, John
M. Holbrook of the armorers' depart
ment Joseph Barry of the painters de-
partment, and Sergt. Campbell of the
laborers' department.
The woman employees of the arsenal
followed in ambulances, each drawn by
six white horses furnished by an ex-
press company. There were $50 hacks In
the column. a large number of citizens on
horseback and long column of mourn
ers on foot.
The cortege moved up AZ street to the
Avenue, and then turned east. and as 1t
moved slowly through the city church
bells and the bells on the fire engine
houses tolled.
Arriving at Congressional cemetery,
fourteen caskets were lowered into one
Evening star., 1914-07-19

review. The remains of seventeen of the
dead We're exposed to the jury.
The list of witnesses was long and the
testimony voluminous. hTe first witness
was Thomas B. Brown. who lived on
AZ street between NJ and n streets. lie
said that he had been employ ed in the
arsenal since 1S41. The girls, he said.
were employed in choking cartridges-
that is, in putting in the balls. He did
not know how the fire had originated.
He had put the stars" In window
or in the window between 8 and 9 o'clock
in the morning. They were red-and- white
stars. composed of chlorate Of potash,
nitrate of stronchia and copul, but no
sulphur. The stars we're made for
shells, but would not explode on concus-
sion. He had made them in another
building. but had brought them there to
dry. He had frequently dried them in
the sun before There were several hum
dred stars in each pan.
Maj. James G. Benham, commandant
Of the arsenal, testified to methods of
Evening star., 1914-07-19

places you may depend on the local sup
ply with restrictions. Avoid this par
ticular stream and that particular
stream. Water from them may be used
only after filtration. Tests and analyses
of the water from this other particular
supply and that other one show that ii
is not contaminated in the places here in
dicated, and with proper precautions may
be used without fear"
But, even SO. it is probable that we
may have considerable sickness among
the men. as well as many wounded to
care for. Are there any hospitals that
supply Of field hospitals We take along:
Yes: here is a hospital at this point.
a new and quite modern one, with
beds for so many patients. Here is an
other: there another. and so on. with q
total capacity in this particular zone OF
SO many. Here are the names of local
physicians and a statement Of their
qualifications: there a report on avail
able trained Mexican nurses; here re-
port on available drug supplies In the
zone"
These purely imaginary conversations
show how the War College has been
working these many months past unoer
Gen. Lggett. Such questions have peen
ouehness not only as to Mexico. but as to
other countries with which there Is even
the most remote possibility of being en-
gagged in either an offensive or delen-
Stve campaign.
Down at Texas City Gen. Liggett Is
preparing his own brigade to do the
things that the War College planned it
should do when needed. Other brigade
commanders are doing the same. Gen.
1Lggett is but one of several brigadiers.
But, because of what he has been doing
CouA vi 1ar i'm raSf
attaches to him, for in the event of hos
tflities he is certain to figure largely in
tho operations.
He is one of the youngest general om-
GERS of the army. with a brilliant rec
ord behind him and. according to his
associates in the army. q possible still
more brilliant record in front. Any ex-
pedition into Mexico from the north, or,
reinforcing Funston. from the east coast.
Is very likely to see him doing things
of importance.
According to the law of compensation,
GEN Liggett has coming to him a
chance to do big things in a way to
win him fame. Not that he has not
been doing big things; for he has. but
show in the limelight. In the words of
the 1898 saying. He amt no hero; he's
only a regular" There are many like
him in the army; rev nave been able
to win to the top as he has without in
fIuence, without spectacular acts when
the public eyes happened to be turned
his way.
Last year, when he had command of
the veterans camp at Gettysburg. he
had his first opportunity to direct ma
tional attention to himself And then
he persisted in giving all credit for
the wonderful success Of that gather
ing to the officers serving under him.
Some day some singer Is to sing
a song to ''the regular army officer"
or some sculptor is to carve him In
Evening star., 1914-07-19

work was carried on was a one-story,
long. rectangular. brick structure, which
stood at the lower end of the arsenal
grounds close to the river. There was no
terrific shock of explosion because the
powder was not closely confined. But
there was almost an instantaneous COM
bustion and the unfortunate workers were
incinerated.
The Stars first extra gave the follow
ing names of injured: Sallie McElfresh.
seriously burned about head and body;
Annie Bates Bache), burned mortally:
Catharine Goldsmith. burned seriously
about face, hands and arms: II. B. Moul-
ton. clerk, burnt about hands and face
severely; Julia Mahoney. badly hurt by
jumping through a window: Ada Web
ster, severely burned and conveyed to
her home by friends
Secretary Stanton and Gen. Halleck
were on the ground soon after the trag-
edy. and Company F, 9TH Regiment, Capt.
Collins. and Company d. 18th Regiment.
Capt. Tyler. Veteran Reserve Corps, were
put on guard to hold back the crowds.
Evening star., 1914-07-19

ing an army. So he had no chance in
Cuba In April, 1899 when the war was
Army of Occupation. but he promptly
annexed some typhoid germs and accom-
plished nothing else.
In August of that year they sent him
to the Philippines as major Of the 3lst
Volunteer Infantry. and in the insurrsc-
ton he had abundance of opportuaits
to fight. to lead, to organize and to com
mand. And he made good. But popular
interest in the Philippines was wanins.
and again what Lggett did was all in the
days work
In 1901 the 3th. Liggetts old regiment.
caught W with him in the Philippines.
and he rejoined as captain. Then. for
space. he served with distin ction as adJu-
tant general of the first district Of Luzon.
coming home finally in 1902 as major of
the 21st Infantry.
The wear following he was detailed as
adjutant general Of the Department OF
the Lakes at Chicago. After four years
of this he went to the 18th Infantry at
Fort Leavenworth for two years. And
then. for the first time in his career. he
struck a period CT swift promotion.
1t began In 1909 when he was sent to
the War College at Washington. an
honor reserved for especially qualified
officers. In May of that year he was
made lieutenant colonel Two years and
nine months only he remained in that
grade, and then he became a colonel.
He remained a colonel only eleven
months. when he became a brigadier
general Contrast that with the
eighteen years he was a lieutenant.
The regular army man goes slow
often in his youth. but when he strikes
his gait an aeroplane can't catch him.
And all these promotions were won on
merit. The War College had proved
Gen. Liggett's worth to the war Office
rule the army. he had demonstrated
his capacity.
So. when the latest furry over Mex
leo was at its height, he was sent to
command one of the large units of the
army on the border According to re-
ports from there. he is continuing
his method of hard work. He has
marched that 4th Brigade of his all
over the adjacent Texas landscape.
One day it is the advance guard of an
imaginary landing force that has reach
ed the shore at Texas City and is fight
ing it's way inland Another day ii is
a defending army. And always 1t IL
intrenching.
Intrenchments seem to be a fad of his
just now. He has made his brigade
body of burrowers. and the vicinity OF
Texas City. in consequence. looks as
though 1t had been treated by gi-
gantic but absent-minded plow. Sol
diers say the 4th Brigade can hide
itself in the bowels of the earth faster
than any brigade ever organized.
Maybe the general has in mind the
sunbaked plains of northern Mexico.
where cover is scarce. Who knowsy
But II an invasion of Mexico whether
1t be war or intervention, comes. the an
swer will be written in history by the
4th Brigade ASIiMUN BROWN
Evening star., 1914-07-19

Many Of the injured were cared for In the
arsenal hospital and Dr. Porter, surgeon
in charge. assisted by DR.. Charles Allen
Of the seventh ward, were mentioned IN
the public accounts.
June 1s it was announced that Sallie
McElfresh had died in the hospital and
that Rebecca Hull had died at her home.
at 5th and K streets north. Additional
names Of injured were Miss Carr OF
Northern Liberties, Mrs. Scott of G street
south, Maggie Eckloff, Emma Knott and
Minnie Mitchell. .
At o'clock on the afternoon of the ex-
plosion Coroner Woodward held an In
quest at the arsenal. close to the scene OF
the great accident. The remains were
covered by canvas. and the accounts writ
ten at the time are too narrowing for
Evening star., 1914-07-19

tunity that has come to few armies in
the history of the world to prepare.
Europe, alarmists have told US. Is an
armed camp. Annually for several weeks
and the other nations maneuver as in
actual warfare.
But here is an army that for the bet
ter part of three years has been almost
continuously practicing for war. 1t has
had more training In practical field work
during the last three years than any
European army. save those that have
been operating in the Balkan states.
Almost every high ranking officer who
would be placed in larger command In
the event of war has had an opportunity
to exercise that command on the Texas
border. Maneuvering divisions there has
become as common as maneuvering bat
talions in the old days before the Span
ish-American war.
Possibly it will be recalled that imme-
ed at Vera Cruz April q last, Brig. Gen.
Hunter Liggett. who had been acting as
president Of the War College in WASH
ington. suddenly was hurried to Texas
City and placed in command Of the 4th
Brigade. one of the three brigades in the
I'd Division. commanded by Maj. Gen. J.
Franklin Bell.
There was a reason
This War College of Uncle Sans In
some respects is run on the plan OF
Dothoboy's Hall. 1t teaches officers how
to do things in war. and then makes
them go and DO them. or at least &C
through the motions of doing them In
mimic campaigns.
In the comprehensive educational sys-
TEN of the army there is a close relation
ship between the theoretical and the
practical The War College Is both theo-
retical and practical.
With the exceptions of Mai. Gen. Leon
ard Wood. formerly chief of staff. and
Mai. Gen. w. W. Wotherspoon. present
chief Of staff, and formerly president OF
the War College. no officer has been
more intimately connected with the up
Lggett. In 1909 he went there as d
student officer. A year later he became
director. in which position he acted fol
two years A year ago he was made
president Of the college and served al
such until sent to the Texas border.
One Of the chief functions of the Wal
College is to obtain data on which future
wars are to be planned and fought
Since nothing has occupied the mind OF
American military men to such an exten,
as Mexico during the time that Gen
Liggett has been connected with the
War College. 1t Is fair to suppose that
In those years a vast amount OF ma
terial about Mexico-its fighting resurces
the personnel OF its military men, It's
topography and its possible battle
grounds-has been assembled in the Wal
College under the direction of Gen. Lig-
gett.
Without betraying any military secrets
for this country has few military
secrets. and its preparations for wars
are quite familiar to every military at.
Evening star., 1914-07-19

tache of a foreign embassy or legation
on duty in Washington-it can be stated
der is physically fit and prepared for
warlike operations. SO Is the War Col
lege prepared in the matter Of informa-
ton for any campaign that may be tniti-
ated.
The realm of probabilities has long
ago been explored by the War Col
lege with regard not only to Mexico,
but also to any other country with
which this country may come in con-
hict.
1t is not to be assumed that the army
or the War College is clamoring for
war. or ia urging war. The very re-
verse is true. Read what Maj Gen. J.
Franklin Bell. commanding at Texas
City, brilliant soldier. possessor of the
medal Of honor. colonel of the famous
Suicide Club" otherwise the 36th U.
S. Volunteer Infantry during the Phil
ippine insurrection, told the citizens of
Galveston at a banquet In that city
May %:
Il heartily and sincerely hope that
the President may succeed in prevent
ing warfare and in bringing about q
condition of affairs such as will gain
the confidence of the Mexican people
to such extent that they will permit
US to aid her in establishing a gov
ernment that will be in fact, as in
the people"
That expresses the a,ny view
Nevertheless. 1t is the BUSINESS Of the
War College to get ready for any pos
when at the head of the War College,
did prepare for eventualities in Mex
leo. and now he Is preparing his bri-
gade at Texas City physically for them
also.
Naturally the first question to be an
swered In preparing to go into Mexico
Is: What opposition. human and geo
graphical. are we to meet?"
The answer is ready and on file at the
War College. From the personnel OF pos
sible military commanders who might be
sent against an American army. down
to the last resources in men, arms and
ammunition as closely as they can be
calculated. all this has been studied.
brought down to date and occupies 1ts
own particular inches in the archives OF
the college.
In fact. were the President to give the
word tomorrow and give his formal ap-
proval to any one Of the alternative plans
prepared-adjusted to varying possible
circumstancesthe Transmission OF a few
brief orders. already written. would be
all that would be required to SET IN
motion the vast machinery tnae awaits
that word.
III an invasion along the line OF any
railroad is required. is 1t not to be pre-
sumed that the enemy. resisting the az, d,
vance. would destroy bridges ana uack
Is question that must have peeh asked
long ago at the War College.
Certainly says the college. Here
are the plans and specifications Tor
duplicate bridges. calculated down o, 20 inc
such and such a place most expeditiously.
A supply of rails to replace damaged
Evening star., 1914-07-19
Camp Of Gen. Winder's Army.

THE Rambler has made more than one
visit to the flre-blackened and roof
less gray ruin which stands on ground a
little higher than and close beside the
railroad tracks which skirt the Eastern
branch, on the Washington side, between
the Navy Yard and Pennsylvania Avenue
bridges. This ruin is not far. measured
in yards. from busy and closely built-up
streets. but it seems to be a long way
from the madding crowd.
On a map of the city the location Of
the ruin would appear as in the neigh
Evening star., 1914-07-19

marble. Either could do no better than
take Gen. Liggett as his model.
Strong athletic. active, he is a most
modest hammered man. quiet and IN
assuming. but with that air of com
mand-the habit of command it has
been called-inseparable from the born
his friends who dabbles in astrology.
recently. Wasn't he born under the
sign of the ram; born to command"
A man wholly wrapped up in his pro
fession. he is one singularly careless OF
self. officers on duty at the War College
have joked about his manner OF using
the carriage and pair of horses that are
assigned to the use of the college presi,
dent. II 1t were summer the general
would not use the carriage on the plea
horses, and risk sunstroke himself in
walking over the long and broiling hot
parade ground to his offices; II 1t were
winter. he would show up half frozen at
horses he would say. curtly. when
some one asked him why he had not used
the closed carriage.
And the ancient negro driver "or-
SHIPPED.
At eighteen wears old. in 1875, Gen. Lig
gett. a native of Berks county, Pa. was
appointed to West Point by Representa-
tive Heister Clymer of his district. -FOUR
years later the young man was grad,
uated and was sent. as a "snave-tail.
or new subaltern. to join the 5th Infantry
in Montana. Right through to the Span
ish-American war Lgsett served with
this regiment.
1t was a famous old band OF indian
fighters the 9Th Two years before Lag
gett Joined. Gen. Miles had converted 1t
into mounted infantry at Fort keogh.
equipping 1t with mules cayuses. any
thing that could be gathered up. ana TAX
en- 1t in a swift dash against the great
Nez Perce. Joseph. and licked the willy
Indian leader at Snake creek. after Two
other great generals had failed to round
up Joseph and his band.
Indian warfare in the west from 1873
down was bloody. long-continued. ardu-
Gus, dreadful. but 1t did not attract
much national attention. 1t became
everyday work. Newspaper correspond
ents were few. The brief. dry reports
that reached Washington were not ex-
plotted. Nevertheless. deeds of high
heroism were done. great sacrifices made,
brilliant campaigns fought and Won.
Heroes there were in numbers. but the
world did not hear Of them. Petty skfr-
mishes in Cuba and the Philippines IN
the after years. affairs that in reality
were of much less moment than the In
dian battles. became famous. while the
border warfare remained OUTSIDE the Ken
OF the average citizen.
Up and down the west. from Montana
to Arizona, lighting Sioux, ApAcnes, all
the breed of red lighting men. Lggett
campaigned with the 9th. and when the
Spanish-American war broke out the cap
tain's bars on his shoulder straps were
only q year old.
The war office made him a major Of
volunteers early in the war. but kept him
as an assistant adjutant general at nome.
engaged In the very important work of
organizing the volunteer army-improris-
Evening star., 1914-07-19

grave, that over which tho monument
stands, and some of the caskets of the
identified were laid away in other graves
in that cemetery.
Bridget Dunn. whose home was on East
Capitol street between 1st and I'd streets;
Catherine Horan, who lived on Sd street
near Massachusetts avenue; Johanna
Connor and Catherine Hull were buried
at Mount Olivet.
No such public demonstration of SYM
pathy and sorrow had been known in
Washington.
Evening star., 1914-07-19
WHAT GEN. HUNTER LNGETT is DOING WITH ElIS TROOI

In Event of Hav-
ing to Invade Mexico,
Uncle Sam Will Have
a Trained Army Ready
for Instant Service.
What Gen. Liggett
Did at the War Col
lege in Preparation.
Evening star., 1914-07-19

MPROvISED ar
mics! That is q
phrase much IN use
by American stu
dents Of military
affairs. It applies
to every armed
force that this
country has put
into the field in
time of war.
And improvised
armies, in the very
Evening star., 1914-07-19

be taken along. Requisition on such and
such depots will move to you what you
will have to take It has been prepared
for you."
"And water?'
I'm many parts of Mexico water is al
ways a problem. Villa. In his march to
Torreon. had to carry water trains with
him. In such and such marches you will
have to transport your own supply for
so many days. We have arranged for
you to do 1t in this way. In these other
Evening star., 1914-07-19
" resurrecting the

" resurrecting the
facts concerning
the monument to
Lin oln which
stands in front OF
the city hall the
Rambler fou n d
that the decision
to award the
work to Lot Flan-
merry. the sculptor,
had been influence
ed to a great de-