davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-04-18

are now living on rhiS reservation
that do not appear Ill the papers upon
which action has lately been taken in
regard to them, and l therefore think
it probable are not known or fully
understood:
'It appears from an investigation
that there are in the neighborhood OF
about 1870 houses on the reservation
occupied by colored people.
About. 20 of these constitute the
village; the others are scattered. The
houses are built Of frame, excepting
two of brick, one of which is good
sized church. Thomas Owens, one OF
the most prominent of these people,
states that about five years ago he took
a census, under the direction OF Lieut..
r. p. Strong, 4th Artillery, who was
then in command of Fort Myer, and
that there were about 500 souls, and
that now there are about thousand
men, women and children.
"It is stated that all the houses in
the village proper were built by the
Freedmen's Bureau, though in some
cases composed of all kinds OF odds
and ends of material. There Is a
schoolhouse at which a number OF
children are in attendance.
"These people have been living on
this property for over 20 years, and
their houses have been transferred Tor
various sums of money at different
times or by inheritance, and some
have improved their houses and
premises to a considerable extent.
"Manv of the people still have re.
ceipts showing that they purchased
the buildings from the "eedmen's
Bureau in 1868.
Ono 62,
"'Sept. 80, 1888.
Received of T. Owens, forty-four
dollars, no cents. for the following
Bureau r. F. & A. L. stores, building
Wv. GADSBY,
".For Bvt. Maj. L. NJ. Brown,
'Disbursing Officer
"Irnder these circumstances, think
that the occupants should in equity re-
ceive some remuneration from the
Government for their property, the
hossession of which, of course, car
ries no claim as a title to the land.
"I respectfully recommend that
.comnetent board be convened to assess
the value of the buildings and I'M
nrovements, and the amount that
should be paid to those in possession
by the Government.
"As it would take time, to settle this
matter and take the necessary action,
should this course. be pursued, / re-
spectfully recommend that an extern
sion be granted Of the period for re-
moval.
I'm compliance, however, with order
received, preparations ara now being
made to serve the notice to quit in
80 days.
Evening star., 1926-04-18

Very respectfully your obedient
servant.
Il. II. CARPENTER.
Major, 5th Cavalry, Commanding.
x X x x
to those critics of the usual speed
of travel of official papers through
governmental channels to learn that
it took only two days to bring the
matter of the eviction of the refugees
spoken of to the attention of the Sec
retary of War. For on December 9th
was issued the following:
"Adjutant Generals Office,
Washington. d. c., December 3, 1887.
'Sir: The Secretary of War directs
the suspension of any orders or in
structions containing notice of re.
moval. or directing the removal. of
persons on the military reservation on
which the Arlington National Gene
tary and the military post at Fort
Myer are located.
Very respectfully. your obedient
servant. Il. G. DRUM.
"Adjutant General
About five weeks later letter was
sent by one of the colored tenants,
John B. SyphaX, to Secretary of War
William c. Endicott. in which he says:
'AS the Army advanced during the
war, several thousand colored people
were quartered on this place by the
agents of the Government. Many
were employed by the United States.
a portion of their pay being withheld
for the support of the aged and in
firm. When buildings were erected,
Gen. o. Howard entered into a CON
tract with each tenant. demanding
payment in money for rent of land.
After the abolition of the Freedmen S
Bureau they were required to work
out rent at Fort Myer, which they
have continued to do until the present
time.
Agents representing the Govern
ment fully impressed upon the people
the idea that in some way they would
come to possess a valid claim to part
of Arlington.
When many of them were taken
with colony to Haiti. and returned
after the scheme was exposed and
their sufferings made known, they
were told, perhaps as an apology, that
they would remain here.
Many began to plant trees and
make other improvements such as
their scanty means would permit.
They paid in ready money for their
houses, churches, and other buildings.
which were all sold to them by the
Government through it's agent. About
nine years ago Q879) Lieut.. r. p.
Strong, then commanding at Fort
Myer. gave permission to erect a brick
church on the reservation, costing
nearly $4,000. I know not
what may be the purpose of the Gov
ernment, or the pleasure of the hon.
orablM Secretary In the premises, but
Evening star., 1926-04-18

islands," that he at least knew of
refugees in Haiti, for in 1866 he made
a secret and very important trip to
the West Indies with two men-of- war
However, since it has been reported
by Seward that upward of 100000 in
gold was taken down on that confiden-
tial expedition. in the hope that il
would be accepted by the Santo Domi.
means in payment for their harbor
of Samana, which had long been
coveted by the United States, it seems
most unlikely that Porter brought
bank any refugees.
AT any rate, though a letter from
John B. SyphaX to William C. Endi-
colt. Secretary of War, and dated
January IS, 1888. certainly indicates
an unfortunate scheme featuring
slaves. that was later exposed, the de
tails, so far as Cuba or Haiti are con.
cerned, are still rather misty.
Ellt there is no question so far as
the camp on the Potomac is CON-
cerned. And there is no brighter page
in the history Of the War Department
than as regards the kindly and gener-
Gus care meted out to these men,
women and little children for over a
decade.
In executive document No. $50 Of
the Fiftieth Congress, first session,
there is a most fascinating series Of
reports and letters that were submit
ted to the House of Representatives
by Hugh S. Thompson, Acting Secre.
ary of the Treasury. covering the ac-
tivities of the government in regard
to the freed men of the village at
Fort Myer and Arlington, Va.
Apparently the then superintendent
of the National Cemetery at Airing.
ton had complained Of sonle wood that
had disappeared. and of trees that had
been cut, supposedly by colored resi-
dents on the Fort Myer reservation.
This complaint included the recon-.
mendation that all civilians be re-
moved from the premises within 80
days. but apparently Lieut.. Gen. p. II
! Sheridan was less certain that SO
drastic a move was needed even to
save young trees, for his Endorsement
states that this is the first intima.
ton that l have had that it was pro-
= eed to remove any individuals from
the Fort Myer reservation, and, being
unaware of the reasons for such ac.
ton. 1 am not prepared to make any
recommendation.
X < X X
MAJ. l.. II. CARPENTER, COM
manding the >5th Cavalry. went
a little further in his attempt to aid
the encampment, for in a report on
the 7th of December, 1887, he says:
Sir: l have the honor to invite
the attention of the proper authorities
to the following facts in relation to
the status of the colored people who
Evening star., 1926-04-18

but find that in 1880 Ezra B. French
722 Thirteenth street. was the second
auditor, and that in 1881 Orange
F'erriss, Mcpherson House, 1923 I, and
in 1886. William A. Day. % Iowa cir
Gle. held the Office. | assume that he
had a position in the office OF the
second auditor of the Treasury. Soon
after reaching Washington he became
Organist at the Church of the Ascen-
sion, then became organist at the He
brew Temple. and two years after that
became organist of All Souls Church.
lie was organist at the temple for %
years and at All Souls for % years.
and was holding both positions at the
time of his death. The honorary de
gree of Doctor of Music was given him
by Columbian University of Washing
ton in 1882.
George Walter died Saturday March
II. 1911. and | hand you this from
The Star. March -. 1911: THE body
of Prof. George W Walter a resident
Evening star., 1926-04-18

if it be to take away this property
wholly for national use. 1 most re-
Spectfully ask that an appropriation
be recommended of not less than $3.50
apiece for each owner of a house, but
20 be apportioned according to merit
/. by the board of protection,
consisting of five of their number
x = x
IT should be noted that the kindly
report and the undoubted interest
of Maj. Carpenter and other officers
must have gained far more than the
perfunctory attention of the high Of
ficials of the War Department., since.
a month or so later, a board was ap-
pointed to examine and investigate
the circumstances of those freedmen
living on the reservation at Fort Myer.
An exhaustive report was rendered
to the quartermaSter general on March
27, 1883. which included n complete
survey of the premises known as
the Contraband Camp"
1t was shown that the reservation
i'll question. formerly known as the
Arlington estate, of some eleven hun
dred acres. was the property of the
wife of Gen. Robert E. Lee, nee
Custis.
After being taken over by the
United States. it was under the control
of the quartermaster's department
until 1865. Temporary houses were
built for the refugees quartered in the
Freedmen's village by Capt. Elias NJ.
Green. an officer in the quartermaster
department under the authority of
Gen. Anger in 1864.
About 200 acres of the estate. in.
Guiding the mansion and outbuildings.
was set apart in 1868, and in June,
two years later, that portion outside
its limits was transferred to the
Freedmens Bureau.
In July, 1872, the Secretary Of War
declared all that part lying outside
the walls of the Arlington National
Cemetery on the Arlington estate to
be part of the military reservation of
Fort Whipple, as the present Fort
Myer was then known.
Annual rental of the acreage in
those days was 81 for hill lands per
acre, So for bottom lands. and 81 to
Sc per year for the village holdings.
Some of the former Custis slaves
paid no rent at all. nor did many who
were too poor or too old to work. It
will thus be seen that the attitude of
the Government was generous in the
extreme, for there was no claim at
any time of any legal necessity to ex-
tend the assistance so amply provided.
However. following the tax sale in
1864 of.the Lee property. claim was
entered by the heirs of Mrs. Lee, and
taken finally to the Supreme Court,
and the claim sustained. The Gov.
ernment made an appropriation
through Congress on March 3, 1888, of
S150.000 for the property. which was
Continued on Fifth Page) A
Evening star., 1926-04-18

father and great great grandfather
were musicians. and | have a record
that his father was dean of music at
Columbia College, New York. for 25
years and that he received the degree
Doctor of Music from that college. or
university His mother was an excel.
lent singer, and the Walter home was
two doors from the Roosevelt home
the house in which Theodore Roose.
welt was born-No. 2S East Twentieth
street.
When II years old George was sent
to Cambridge. Mass. to study haI
mOry, theory and composition under
John x. Paine and he remained with
that teacher four years. He played
the organ in New York Churches, the
names of which | have not. and came
to Washington about 1880. 10 take u
place in the Government service. |
have been told hat he came to Wash
ington Ito acc4t the second auditor
ship of the United States Treasury,
Evening star., 1926-04-18

men and non-commissioned officers to
proceed on the ship.
Il am, very respectfully. your obedi-
cnt servant. NJ. G, MEIGS,
"Quartermaster General"
Unclosurel
"ConfidentiaN
"Quartermaster Generals Office.
Washington, D. c.. February 4, 1864.
Capt. Edward l.. IiartZ,
Assistant QuartermaSter. L. s.
Army
You will open the inclosed sealed
order when you reach the latitude OF
20 degrees north on your voyage in
the Maria L. Day. via the Windward
Passage toward Aspinwall. and until
you reach such latitude % degrees
north. will not make it known that
you have such orders.
"In case of sickness YOU will place
this package in such position as to be
seen and opened by the next officer in
rank and command on board the ship.
Evening star., 1926-04-18
II am, very respectfully, your obedi-

Il am, very respectfully, your obedi
ent servant, NJ. G. MEIGS,
"Quartermaster General"
That former slaves did go to Haiti.
whether willingly or In chains, is in
dicated by Le'ger in his account of
Haiti and her history. for in it he
mentions the efforts of President
Fabre Geffrard of Haiti to induce the
emancipated slaves TO emigrate to
that country.
Agents were sent up TO New York to
stimulate such colonization, but their
success was doubtful, since the pro
Spective emigrant viewed the cxpedi-
ton with diStruSt almost as much as
was the case on the part of those
who were supposed to welcome them
on the shores of Haiti
:: :: # <
THERE is also the possibility. in
view of Admiral Porter's sym
pathy for the escaped negroes already
referred to in his account of the sea
Evening star., 1926-04-18

from the island that desire to return
and their effects will be brought with
them.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
You will please proceed to carry
out this order into execution and re-
port to me the name of a suitable Of
ficer of your department to whom the
special instructions mentioned by the
President may be given.
Your obedient servant
EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
Secretary OF War"
"Quartermaster Generals Office,
Washington, D. c., February, 4, 1864.
Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton
Secretary Of War:
Sir: I have the honor to acknovl-
edge your letter of yesterday direct
ing me to carry into execution the
Presidents order to send a transport
to the Island of Vache, on the coast
of San Domingo, to bring to Wash
ington City, with their effects, such
Evening star., 1926-04-18

Respectfully. your obedient serv-
ant, m. c. MEIGS,
'QuartermaSter General"
(Sub-inclosure)
"Quartermaster Generals Office,
Washington. ID. c.. February 4, 1864.
Capt. Edward l.. HartZ,
Assistant Quartermaster. l.. S.
Army
Captain: You will proceed in the
Z. $. transport ship, Maria l.. Day,
to the Island OF La Vache. on the
southwest coast of Saint Domingo, put
yourself in communication with the
colored colonists on that island. and
taking on board such, and such only,
as desire to return to the United
States, will bring them and their
property to the port Of Washington,
d. G.
Upon arriving in Washington, you
will anchor in the stream and report
in person for further orders.
Enclosed you have a copy of the
order of the President of the United
States of the 1st of February, and
of the Secretary of War, of the 3rd
of February, under which these in
structions are given.
Evening star., 1926-04-18
Story of Old "Contraband Camp
Involves Piracy and Navy Action
Village of Thousand Civil War Refugees Was Result of
Attempt Meet New Conditions of That Time

I'll EW persons who read these
- lines have ever heard of the
/ "Contraband Camp" that was
A once established on the old
20 ~, 4l,a
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31
Dresses for Misses
Dresses for Women
Dresses for Matrons

You will be wise to choose several spring frock
tomorrow, for now selections at their height
now We are showing diversified assortment tina
gives ample choice TO every individual taste Her
frocks suitable Tor every springtime occasion:
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

Spring days put one in
the mood to embroider again.
And we know you will want
a pair of these pillow eases.
They are made of splendid
quality tubing and stamped
in spring designs that are
easy to embroider and beau
tiful when finished. Choice
Of plain or hemstitched.
(Fair's Second Floor
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
DOUGLAS SPORTS

SPORTS that should
prove appealing Douglas
the against the Ell Paso Colts
giving Douglas splendid
They the
community Friday boy of school and
attended, admission the gates
will be played Sunday afternoon The
guiding putting clean brand
solid undivided
support. win the this
attraction in this city
their of class of field
today Douglas boys
up against competition they faced in
splendid events Almost
other in their lives has felt that
the speed
setting splendid records in
turned premier
along that promises
work o by this city.
Tucson, best
field of events with
interesting This city is
entertaining visit
the baseball Let's boost them all
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
PROTECT THE FORESTS

of forest fires and
stubs ashes
The fires causing
their time
fighting ruined grain
of
instance
the southwest
this old resident
prairie last great
prairie the forests
valleys
planted
residing will them
carelessy toss
your
that is
spread.
extnguished handy the
embers
that the starting
conagaton the property
the
them from fire. would protect own homes
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
HEAVY TRAVEL
THIS SUMMER
IN ARIZONA

. PHOENIX, Apriy 16.-The greatest
summer vacation season in Arizona's
history is forecast by the Arizona IN
dustriaI congress in letters sent today
to chambers of commerce in the state
asking their aid in compiling a new
ARIZONA Vacation Directory" Of sum-
rner resorts of the state.
Practically all organizations and
agencies in the state will join in the
"Sea Arizona" movement this sum-
mer, and with many of them, and
number of newspapers, already launch
ing their campaigns, an unusually
heavy volume of Arizona summer
travel in Arizona is predicted High
way construction Of the past year,
such as the Hassayampa trail between
Phoenix and Prescott, the Clifton
Springerville highway, the Fossil
creek highway, connecting the Pres
colt and Pine-Payson routes to the
north, Improvement of the Rice
Springerville and Pleasant Valley
roads, and completion of the last links
in givinE improved highways from
Nogales and Tombstone through to
Clifton, will open up many new sec
tions to motor travel and give decided
impetus to the general movement, and
this angle of the campaign is being
featured by the Automobile Club of
Arizona.
For the third annual edition of the
ARIZONA Vacation Directory the In
dustrial congress urges that chambers
of commerce in summer resort areas
send in at once revised lists of all
summer resorts operating in their re-
spectiYe sections, and especially the
names of new resorts established dur
ing the past year. Letters have also
been sent all resorts listed thus far,
asking for revised information con-
cerning accommodations and rates
Last years vacation directory li7:i1
more than 50 sum- er resorts thro Iga-
out the state, and the list this year is
expected to be considerably longer.
Besides being used by organizations
ard firms that receive requests for in
formation regarding Arizona resorts,
several thousands copies of the direc-
tory are distributed to the public gem
orally
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17

criticize publ-for apathy
iona
they
responsible
system
And
be
who
all
And individual capaizes his publicity
to in
collect while
interest public sym
pahy, o from
Colonel Mitchels unlike
is of brilliant and
brave officer following a misguided
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
WITH EDITORS
COLONEL MITCHELL AND THE PUBLIC
(Fort Worth star-Telegram)

Star-Telegram)
Of
his sensational against the air
he a
crusader sacrificing his all his
and gallant officer his
bounds.
in created
would caused
something would have with each
other the the city him
Monday
national preparedness much admission Thus he
the but this itself difference
public celebrities public
the public either
with nations defense
attacks individual gallant be
o distinguished
point will demand improvement
necessary
the criminal
country quarrel
Colonel Mitchell
achievements,
msdrected
the
the called national
difference
SERVICE everything
dismiss all
n striking O. Of
icers equally
Monday he made several short talks citizens He
OF
weaknesses discovered at the outbreak the
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
OUR HONORED GUEST

planning distinguished
Colonel
will testimonial
their of his efforts
the Tenth cavalry who
continually
cavalry city patriotic
o
would bring the
celebration.
will still continue his
will of the organization.
Colonel Rhea highest the
distinguished
bravery soldier agreeable
distinction, herihng
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
Novelists, Metaphor.

The late Henry Holt, the New York
published, was learned man and a
great reader. He said one day in an
interview:
II can't read our new school of nov
elists-the school that attacks every
thing American These young mems
thoughts are too illogical and con-
fused for me- They're worse than the
old Red Hoss editor.
"The editor of the Red Horse Ga
zette was always writing sentences
such as Chickens, like two-edged
swords, ofttimes come home to roost
"Once praising up the domestic fire
side, the old editor got off this gem:
=" The good wife stands, a faithful
watchdog, to welcome the homecoming
master with honest bark.
"In the personal columH the old
editor printed one day:
"Our COW has been milked in the
pasture for three mornings running
before we got around to it. We know
who the miscreant is, and if he does
it again we shall print the name, let
the chips, fall where they. may
after he was dead the beginnings
of last editorial were found on the
old editors desk.
" "'We feel he wrote, that our race
is almost fought and, like tired run
ner, we shall soon swim the harbor
bar, and, casting aside the harness,
lie down upon that bourne whose nav
barks furiously, "All hope abandon, We
who enter here"
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
The Day In Washington

President Coolidge recovered
from his illness.
Preparation of new British
liquor treaty was announced by
the state department.
Secretary Wilbur asked congress
for $19,177,5OO for naval base con-
struction and Improvement.
The drys opened their fight
against modification of prohibition
with an array of witnesses at the
senate hearing.
Assistant Secretary Andrews
promised practical extinction of
liquor supply sources with the aid
of an additional $3,OOO,000s
The house agriculture commit
tee instructed Chairman Haugen
to draft a farm relief bill; Mime
sofa republicans demanded farm
legislation before adjournment.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17

appreciation of and effort
which will but
ladies
toi
oil Military
with headquarters
in duties yet feels
personal a
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
M'CLUSKEY OFFICIAL ENVOY
TO MEET UTAH GOVERNOR
(By Dispatch A. P, Wire

PHOENIX, April It'll. S. McClus-
key, secretary to Governor Hunt, was
appointed Wednesday by the governor
as Arizona envoy to meet Governor
George A. Dern of Utah at Lees Ferry
April 20. He will extend greetings to
the northern visitor and welcome him
to the state. Governor Dern is MAX
ing survey of the Colorado river at
those points where it touches Utah,
and will proceed by boat from Green
River to Lees Ferry, the only point
at which he can leave the canyon
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
East work.

Wilson Miner said in an interview
in Palm Beach:
FLORIDA is a land of golden oppor-
tunities, but the man who comes here
penniless and expects to turn into a
millionaire overnight is as bad as the
chap at the party.
"a chap went to party 1t broke
up at dawn. The chap then made his
way out, balanced against lamp
post and. hailed a taxicab.
"The/ taxicab drew up beside him.
He climbed in at one door and rolled
right out of the other.
picking himself up, he took wad
of bills from his pocket and said to
the chauffeur:
"'WelI bo, how much-hic-do 1
owe. your" A.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-17
Sixteen Years Ago

A farewell reception and dance
was rendered Manager Thomas W.
Law in the dining room of the
Gadsden hotel last evening by the
Don't Worry club. Manager Law
is returning to his old position at
the KING Edward hotel in Los
Angeles
A. Loomis, who has spent the
winter at the home of his daugh-
ter Mrs. H. c. Stillman, has re-
turned to his home in Watson
vile, Calf
Mrs. E. r. Pirtle and Mrs At
kinson WENT to Fort Huachuca
yesterday to witness the field day
maneuvers.
Milburn Hobson, of the Orpheum,
returned last night from a month
visit at his home in Kansas.