The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-31

of his head as a shield, he charged
upon the women. His unexpected
coup dismayed the mauneers and they
fled to the corridors Of the workhouse
where they were quickly rounded up
by Charley without any arms and
compelled to re-enter their cells,
which ended the mntiny.
Mr.. Prather. who was the hero also
OF several captures of escaped pris-
oners, is now known as the wizard
of the District pumping station at the
foot of New Jersey avenue southeast.
After many years of valued service to
the District Government he is still
accomplishing great work in the in
vention and repair of appliances and
machinery used IN the local sewerage
system.
Held Many Notorious Men.
The demolition OF the old work
Louise also recalls to- me some of the
shady characters of the long ago
who were enforced guests down on
the farm" as the workhouse was
then termed. There was Crying
John" Harkins, gallant. veteran o.
the Union army. whose fondness for
strong drink made him q constant
charge on the District government.
He was a town character and gained
the sobriquet' of Crying John" by
weeping piteously while begging the
price of drink of cheap whiskey.
John won honorable mention as a
brave soldier while leading the wild
charge of his Pennsylvania regiment
through the bloody wheat field at
Gettysburg. But when he faced the
mythical form of old John Barleycorn
he became an arrant coward and
ANT ~ a rav-f0 N
old gray workhouse, charged always
with being an habitual drunkard.
Another odd character who occu-
pied much space in the annals of
the workhousee is "Turkey-faced'
Kelly, a rather desperate local char
acter, who gained unenviable dis
tinction by holding up and demanding
the price of a drink from a Vice
President of the United States ana
several Senators. These hold ups"
occurred along what was known as
the Washington bowery, Pennsyl-
vania avenue between Third and
Four and a Half streets. For these
offenses Judge Tom Miller gave
Kelly the limit Imprisonment under
the old vagrancy act.
Ellen Ale . Regular"
Moonlight Mary" Nighttime
Jenny" and Ellen Ale were three of
the conspicuous women FOUNDERS
who spent many terms in the old
building on Nineteenth street now be-
ing demolished. Ellen Ale was un
intimate friend of John Wilkes
Booth. the assassin of President Lin
coin, and gave Booth a large drink
of brandy the night of the shooting.
I recall also r really pathetic case
that occurred in the first term OF
President Cleveland. 1t was that OF a
man from Buffalo who came here
highly Endorsed for a diplomatic posi-
| ton. He sold out his business in
Buffalo and with the proceeds enter.
tanned the influential friends" who
had promised to land the job for him.
| The position never materialized. his
funds gave out and he becam q bow
cry bum" Eventually he was arrest
ed under the vagrancy law and spent
many months within the walls of the
old gray prison.
Many men who were rated high a
political leaders in their respective
| States came to Washington with high
| ambitions and expectations. They
were led to believe that their prestige
in their home towns would carry them
to success in Washington, the grave.
yard OF such ambitions. Many OF
these spent long terms in the work
house OF Nineteenth street and upon
their release left tho Capital in dis
appointment and disguset.
Many of the older Washingtonians
witnessing the dismantling OF the
ancient workhouse are visiting the
ruins and taking away with them
bricks and other relics OF the historic
building. They are aware that during
the Civil war period hundreds OF mer
paid the death penalty within the
brick walls of old jail and that, there
fore, every brick In the structure Is 9
cryptogram OF crime. and has beer
literally baptised in the blood OF war
time malefactors.