Evening star., 1915-10-01

ment of Washington did not prove con-
ducive to the welfare of the ex-slave,
for in later years, after the war, when
i they exercised the right Of franchise.
inscriptions politicians and the white
mans gin were factors of demorahz-
ing influence to the freedman.
In '63 news came to our neignoor.
hood that a terrible accident had
happened at the Long bridge. Sew.
eral of US boys started for the scene OF
at 10th street. where the only bridge
having steps spanned the filthy stream
Then passed through the Smithsonian
grounds. surrounded with a pallng
vent the entrance of cows. which
roamed the streets at that period. Ar
irving at our destination. we found
freight train had plunged through the
south draw. It seems train rapialy
passed along Maryland avenue to the
bridge while the draw was open. winch
the engineer failed to see in time to
stop his train. The fireman jumped: but
the engineer paused to blow down
brakes" (hand brakes) and went TO
death under his engine.
Numerous Amusement Places.
There were numerous places of
amusement in Washington during the
civil war. Ford's Theater, on 10th
street; Growers, where now stands the
NATIONAL Canterbury Hall. Louisiana
avenue near sixth street; Winter Gar
den, Pennsylvania avenue. between
9Th and 10th streets: Metropolitan
Hall, near 18th and Pennsylvania ave
nue.; Wits Hall. 9TH near /; Seaton
7th street; the oxford, 9th and Louisi-
ana avenue. while the space at the in
tersection of Pennsylvania and Louisi-
ana avenues was occupied by frame
structure in which Rivers and Darius
gave nightly performances. Tony
Pastor was the most prominent singer
of wartime days.
Aspiring to be drummers. several of
US small boys formed a drum corps.
with tin pans for drums and chair
round for drumsticks. After learning
the art of drumming we would often
go to the camps when the drummer
boys were practicins and sometimes
receive permission to use regular
drummers, the war ended before we at
tanned the requisite age of enlistment.
We were informed, however, that we
could enlist by applying to a regiment
located beyond the toll gate on 7th street
road. After selling our Stars. late one
afternoon, three companions and my
self started to find the regiment re-
ferred to and try to enlist We not
lost our way and did not find 7th
street road until long after dark. Ar
riving at a toll gate the guard re-
fused to let us pass, telling us to "go
ment that we lived in Washington. We
walked back about a mile. where we
had seen hay-stack. resolving to
spend the night under the hay. While
there we heard the sound OF bells, Such
as were attached to horses pulling
large hay wagons. AS the wagon was
coming toward the city we decided to
steal up on the hay, burrow down deep
and pass the guard at the toll gate.
AS the team passed we climbed up be-
hind and dug down in the hay. Being
much fatigued. we at once fell asleep.
but to be quickly awakened by several
shots close by. followed by voice say
ing:
"old man, have you any spies in that
'Deed, massa. if der wus yer musser
hit um. der way yer 'volver shooted In
thur hay"
I'll try a few more Shots, said the
.Lay STILL" whispered the Oldest boy
present, bullets wont go through
hay"
No More Shots Fired.
No more shots were fred. the object
of the soldiers remark evidently being
to cause response from any one pos
sibly in the hay.
reception of our parents eliminating
any further idea of enlisting as drum
mers.
The summer of ga found the people
of Washington prepared to receive,
without alarm, the rumor that the
rebels were marching on to the District
of Columbia" So often had this rumor
people paid no attention to the cry OF
wolf" Even when assured that the
enemy was really within a few miles
Of their homes, there was no apparent
apprehension. The arrival of the 9th
Corps seemed in the logical trend OF
events and evoked no glad manifesto
ton. The arrival and departure OF
troops had long ceased to be a feature
of unusual interest. saw part of the
9Th Corps march up fth street and
swing into Pennsylvania avenue, with
the stride of veterans the men were.
The following day. with several play
mates, 1 went out 7th street and lay
under the trees to the west of Fort
Stevens We saw a stretch of field, the
movement of our troops and here and
there. smoke arising. Shots we heard
occasionally, but of a desultory char
acter.
News Of Lees Surrender.
The news of the surrender Of Lee not
only intoxicated the people of Wash
ington with joy, but was the cause of
intoXication In it's usual form. On re-
ceiving the news everybody abandoned
work and fiocked in the streets. Gov
ernment employees surged from the de-
partments, men and women gave ex-
pressions of happiness Men who. prob
ably, had never 'imbibed, drank to
excess the day Richmond fell. Those
who refused to drink, at first invita-
ton, We're ridiculed into acceptance.
and few that great day were sober.
President Lincoln suggested that all
houses be illuminated. consequently the
city at night was in blaze of illumi-
nation.
Preparations were made for torch
light procession and thousands march
ed down the Avenue swinging torches