The Washington herald., 1918-10-06

sent 70 lne psyCnOpdlLlC Ndfo NhtEt
their mental condition is inquired into
before they are committed to ST.
Elizabeth Government Hospital for
the Insane on the picturesque heights
overlooking Washington from the
southeast. The alienist who looks
after this class is DR.. d. Percy Hick-
ling, who has had long experience
with the queer people who came here
on visionary missions.
On the weed-covered commons jast
in front Of the Washington Asylum
Hospital IS another landmark that
may soon be wiped out by the east
ward march of improvements. To o.d-
timers this landmark was known as
''the six buildings" More recently It
was given the name of the ''deten-
tion camp or smallpox quarantine
station" 1t comprises a frame row
Of six two-story buildings and was
established by Former Health Officer
Woodward about the time Of the be-
ginning OF the Spanish War
Prior to its establishment those sus-
pected Of being afflicted With con-
tagious disease were ouarantined
within their own homes. These build
ings were surrounded by a high wire
fence said to be catproof. Tho are
situated at Eighteenth and d streets
southeast and are now used as dwell
inEs.
While used as a quarantine station
the high fence and guards were en-
Eloyed TO prevent the suspects from
getting away from the place. Sooh
after this station was established IJr.
). Ramsey hewitt, now coroner Of the
District Of Columbia, but who at that
time was police surgeon, won great
commendation from the press, public
and officials because of his self-sacri-
hcing bravery in isolating himself in
the oyercrowded smallpox hospital IN
order TO study the loathsorne disease
at close range and prevent its spread
The city was ther in the midst OF the
worst smallpox epidemic in its expert.
| ence. and II is said the result Of Dr
Nevitts gallant work was Of the
| greatest Importance, as by means OF
the treatment he recommended after.
ward the community was saved from
such widespread visitations.
Held Grewsome Reputation.
The locality in the foreground OF the
( quarantine station has a most grew
| some reputation. In the early DAYS
| of the camp" IL was the haunt OF
| resurrectionists, better known a,
body snatchers," who piled their un.
| canny profession in defiance Of law
| The ancient Harmony or Methods
| graveyard was located Just in front OF
! the six buildings. while a little farther
| to the south is Congressional Gene.
! terry. Eastward towards the Anacos-
tia River is potter's field. where the
body snatchers reaped their grestest
harvests. They regarded the remain,
| OF the unclaimed dead OF Washington
as their legitimate booty and supplied
the local medical colleges and some ir
| other cities with cadavers for disSect'
! ing purposes.
This vicinity bears the reputation
| OF being haunted by the ghosts NJ
| those who were buried in the severs
cemeteries Whereabouts. and superstl'
tious white and colored folks TO thi'
day give the locality wide berth II
| their wanderings at night.
On one occasion while smallpox uss
epidemic in the District there was q
funny incident enacted in front Of the
quarantine station. The guards were
stationed In iron watch boxes 70 pre-
vent the inmates from wandering
away. On one occasion in point
about 5 o'clock in the morning snc
as dark as Erebus. a guard who wa
given to superstutious belief wa.
suddenly startled by an apparition
Approaching his watch box silentl.
was a white figure with fappinI
robes.
Halt there" the terrified guar
cried out.
There was No resnons1 as the SUD
posed ghost came nearer and nearer
Halt, tell you or I'll shoot t,
kill"
Then it was that the apparitior
found its voice:
Don't shoot mister" came fl
pleading tones. It's only me"
The guard, reassured that he wa
not confronted by q visitor from tn
mystic realms Of spiritland, wen
forward to interrogate the figure il
white. Just then two men, bare
headed and coatless, came runninl
from the place where the suppose,
ghost had made its escape. Th'
figure in white proved to be a col
ored youth who wanted TO retur
to his mother in South Washington
and had taken occasion while tn
attendants were doing 20 escape
clad only in a large bed sheet
Now. in the immediate vicinity o
the old detention camp a large fore
Of carpenters are engaged in erect
ing many temporary buildings for tn
housing Of the largely increased fore
OF men in the Washington Nav!
Yard who are constructing big gun
with which Uncle Sam will bias
his triumphant way TO Berlin.