Evening star., 1915-10-01
Washingtonian, a Former
Newsboy, Tells Of Many Ex-
citing Experiences.
MUCH TO ATTRACT BOY
IN CAMPS OF SOLDIERS
Several Narrow Escapes From
Death as the Result of Thirst
for Adventure.
BY MAI. F. S. HoDGsoN.


children regard the approach of iinpor-
tant events is measured by the proba-
BILE effect that such events seem liable
to have upon the domain OF ehiio-
world.
Whatever alarm the average boy may
have felt on the eve of the civil war.
it was dispelled when he viewed the
regiments marching through the streets
OF Washington to camp on the hills
north of the city.
Thrilled with interest and excitement
at the '.pomp and circumstance Oh
war;" the boys of our city changed the
sports of peace to martial games. Soi-
,lier companies were organized, sham
battles were fought and time from schooi
spent in visiting camps where fieid ma
neuvers and band concerts were heio-
MANY new fields of juvenile industry
were presented which enabled every en-
terprising boy to line his pockets with
silver and 'shinplasters,' as small ae-
nominations of paper money were Called
Many of the larger boys did lucrative
business selling papers from the cItles
of the north, but the small boys were
content to sell Stars only. which sup
Piled sufficient funds for the important
objects in view-to attend the 'Canter-
hury'' mat!n Saturday afternoons ana
to occasionally visit Ford's Theater TO
20 in ecstasies over the plays OF foI,
rest, the Booths. and Maggie Mltcheii'
One Press Printed Stars.
We always reported at the Star bulid-
ing. which was located next the corhei
11th street and Pennsylvania avenue IN
time to get the first edition. one shlaii
nress was used to print the paper. ruI-
ming off one side al a time. After the com
pletion and distribution OF the hrsl eui-
lion a second third, fourth ana SOME
times fifth edition was puoiisheu. Inc
boys received their papers In puhoies
and did their own folding. There were
no coIored newsboys in those Gays anu
some of our most prominent cltlzens VI
today were wartime newsooys.
When the first regiments arrived IN
Washington / was attending schooi IN
two-story building located on the
corner of 14th and Q streets, where now
stands a more pretentous suuCtole
than our little red schoolhouse Oh
ante-bellum days The hrst troops,
were the District of Columbia voiun,
teers. who were uniformed. armed ana
equipped and on the soil OF virginia De-
fore the arrival of reinforcements from
the north. The District men kept the
tween this city and. Baltimore, did guard
duty along the river and were detailed
to protect all government property.
Told to Cheer Flag.
One of the first regiments to pass our
school was the famous 7th New
York Our teacher, Miss Slater, gave
permission for US to go to the sidewalk
and see the troops pass. with the IN IN
junction to be sure and cheer wheh tne
aap passed The splendid regiment
.ttired i'm gray uniforms made an i'm
pressive and inspiring sight. AS tne
coIors passed we gave three cheers. the
men in ranks responding. their strohe
voices drowning our chiidlsh shouts.
The arrival of the eth Regiment was
attended by an accident that cast
gloom over their camp. One OF the
men was standing before a small MIR
ror. combinG his hair. when MS gun;
leaning against an adjoining tree, iei
and was discharged. sending bullet
through the breast of the soldier, Kill
ing him instantly.
To instruct in voliey firing the men
were aligned before an obstacle ana
ordered to fire ball cartridge Colt
mans brick kiln, located near where
row stands the statue of Gen. Logan
was frequently used as a target. The
men did not always hit the kiln, and 1t
was a common thing to hear the hum
of bullets while soldiers were shooting
at targets.
One afternoon in the early days of
the war / saw regiment standing at
rest near the brick kiln. Some of the
men noticed "A buZzard sailing grace
fully overhead, and shouted, Look at
the eagle" They began to fire at the
buzzard. and soon the entire regiment
was firing. Finally a stray shot hit
the bird and it fell to the ground.
Every man ran to secure the trophy. all
shouting 'I hit him." One of the men
secured the blizzard just as an officer
rode up and exclaimed. "Ain't you fell
lows ashamed to kill an American
eagle"