davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-08-15

condition of the Potomac in the vicin,
| ity of Washington is found in a map
made in 1892 by Mr. Ellicott, a civil
| engineer. There are many traditions
! of the old channels around the city
| previous to this. but they cannot be
verified One tells Of the formation
| of a channel in the Spring of 1880,
! following an unusually severe Win
/ ter, when the waters came down in a
| great torrent, carrying with them a
| whole forest of trees which had been
| uprooted from the low grounds near
, Little Falls" The effects of this i'm
mense freshet of ice and wood was to
! plow q new channel through the low
| ground connecting what is now Ana
| lostan Island and the Virginia shore
| Another tradition of exceptional in
terest tells of Gen. BraddoCk landing
his forces upon a rock near the site
OF the old Naval Observatory in
Georgetown at the start of his mem
orable expedition against the Indians
in 1856.
/ Leaving tradition for facts, and
! getting back to Ellicott's map. we
find from that document that there
were then three channels in the Po-
tomac. They We're known as the
Washington or city channel, with q
L =
die or ''SWaSh' channel, with a con-
trolling depth of feet, and the
Georgetown channel. with a control
ling depth of s feet. The last men
toned was scarcely deep enough to
| float the trade of such an active port
so it is not surprising to find that in
1904 the citizens of Georgetown peti-
toned Congress for dam to be built
! between the island and the Virginia
shore" in the hope of improving navi-
cation, which had been "obstructed
| by a mud bank recently formed"
The petition was favorably acted
upon, but the dam did not do the work
| satisfactorily, and two years later a
form Of dredge, then designated by
the highly descriptive but rather non
technical name of "a mud machine"
was put to work. In 1925 a resolution
was passed authorizing the mayor of
| Georgetown to employ a suitable per-
son to stake out the channel with "a
mud machine and to keep it staked
out during the coming year"
x ** x
CONGRESS took a hand in the
~ engineering work on the river
| in 1888 by approving certain channel
operations. and, again, in 1S49, by
providing for a survey, but for a long
! time the task was carried on by funds
supplied by the interested parties, as
in 1869, when the corporation of
Georgetown" spent $4,000 for dredg-
ing the Georgetown bar to a depth
of IS feet and a width of 80 feet The
next year. 1870, Congress adopted the
original plan for Improvement and
| appropriated 10000 for the purpose.
| This appropriation is regarded as the
, first made by the National Govern
ment for the hetterment of the Po-
tomac around Washington.
! 1t should be remembered that at
that time there were flats along the
Washington water front extending to
the edge of the Virginia channel.
They embracGd what is now Potomac
Evening star., 1926-08-15

under certain conditions the note may
be lost a short distance from the
signal, only to become increasingly
distinct at greater distance. and
conditions of this sort may vary
around the same locality within short
intervals of time. 1t is for these rea-
sons that radio fog signals. which en-
able a navigator definitely to guide
his ship if it is provided with a radio
compass. are becoming increasingly
popular
:: X x
IN addition to the regular light sta
tiOnS, there are now on the Roto-
mac nine lighted buoys, known as gas
buoys. marking dangers and defining
channels. Devices of this sort have
come into use during the last 40 years.
and are regarded by many mariners as
among the most valuable Of the aids
to navigation. Those on the Potomac
burn acetylene gas, which is stored in
tanks fitted into compartments in the
body of the bouy, and piped to the Ian
rem at its top.
River gas buoyss are firmly moored
Evening star., 1926-08-15
Further Details of Story of Wirz,
Prison Head, Offered by Rambler
of
Services sandBu

|H HE body of Capt. Henry Wirz,
hanged in the yard Of Old
Capitol Prison, November ~,
1860. was buried at the
/ Arsenal, now Washington Bar
racks. 1t was removed to Mount OH
vet Cemetary, the last day OF Fepru-
ary. 1869 The body of John Wilkes
Booth brought to Washington from
the Garret Farm. near Bowling Green
Va, and exposed on the deck OF the
monitor Montauk at the navy yaro,
was also buried at the Arsenal, ana 1
have read that lit was buried under
| the stone floor of a cell in the Old
/ Penitentiary" Before the building OF
the District Jail on Reservation, NO.
13, between Nineteenth street east
and the Eastern Branch, the jail 1or
! District prisoners and United states
prisoners in the District was on the
! Arsenal rese rvation, and local chron-
! iclers speak Of that building as lne
| Old Peni;entiary The bodies of Mrs.
Surrat. Herold, Payne and Atzerodt,
hanged from a scaffold near the north
wall of the Arsenal grounds between
the Four-and-a- Half street gate and
James Creek Canal, were burled IN
the Arse nal but do not know
the spot. The body of Booth was
moved to Greenmount Cemetery, BAL
! timore, in 1869. and the body of Mrs.
| Surratt TO Mount Olivet Cemetery the
same year. l think the body of DAVID
! Herold was surrendered to his rela-
! tiveS and given Il grave IN congress
sional Cemetery about that time.
also be lieve that the remains or Pavne
and Atzerodt were not Claimed pv
| kin. ~
From one reference in the mater
soon to follow / assume that the
body of Wirz was buried under one
of the buildings of the Arsenal. The
burial of bodies beneath buildings
strikes me as strange and l cannot
explain it. There was no lack OF
snace for graves in the open spaces
of the Arsenal Louis Schade, coun-
sci for WirZ, made the request sew
eral times to President Johnson that
the remains of Wirz be delivered to
him. and I am sure that a like re-
| quest was made and repeated by
Father Francis Xavier Boyle of St
Peters Catholic Church. who spir.
itually prepared Wirz for death.
find the following in The Evening
Star February 25. 1863:
yesterday afternoon the remains
of Henry Wirz, who was exc cuted in
the Old Capitol Prison yard on
November 10. 1865. under a sen
tence of military commission for
murder and conspiring to murder
Union prisoners placed under his
charge at Andersonville, were remOv
ed from alongside the remains OF
| PAYNE in No. 2 Warehouse of the
Arsenal by Mr.. Augustus Burgdorf
undertaken in the presence of Mr.
Louis Schade, who procured the order
| for removal, and the remains were
at once taken to Mr.. BurgdOrf's estab
lishment, 453 Pennsylvania avenue
| Various mutations of the body are
described in this old report. but the
Rambler skips them) The remains
were placed in plain neat coffin and
Evening star., 1926-08-15

to put more exacting demands upon
the waterway. Instead of using it
only occasionally it was employed
continually as commercial thorough
fare. The size as we'll as the number
OF the boats upon 1t increased and
then a series of difficulties began. For,
though the Potomac was deep enough
for the largest ship on the bay In
some places. it naturally could only
accommodate those vessels whose
draft did not exceed the depth Of the
stream at the shallowest part of the
course. That dimension. known as
the controlling depth, was as small
as feet along the Washington water
front Obviously something had to be
done if the harbor facilities of the
National Capital were to keep abreast
of the expansion of the city.
1t requires an effort of. the imagi-
nation to conceive Of such conditions
today. but it Is true, nevertheless,
that Georgetown was an incorporated
town and a thriving shipping port be-
fore Washington had IA wharf worthy
of the name.
The oldest authentic record of the
Evening star., 1926-08-15

have the remains of Capt. Wirz de-
livered to me it was certainly your in
tention that l should get the whole
body and not a part of it. The coffin.
however, which was delivered to me at
the Arsenal contains only the frame.
the head, right hand and the spine be-
ing missing. If they had been retained
for the benefit and in the interest of
science, / would certainly have no OBJ
lection to it nor would the relations
of Capt. Wirz in whose benefit / act.
But the skull of Capt. WirZ or some
other part of his body had been eX
hibited at the Old Capitol Prison by q
discharged soldier for money. For that
reason and no other l respectfully
ask you to give an order that the
missing parts of the remains of Capt
WirZ, said to be at the Surgeon Cen
erals office, may be delivered to me for
interment along with the other parts,
ON Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
- i am. sir, your obidient servant,
LOUIS SCHADE.
No answer was received to this up
to yesterday afternoon and at
O'Clock in the afternoon a number OF
persons assembled at St Peters
Church and took carriages for Mount
OliVet Cemetery, where they arrived
just before 3 O'Clock. There were on
the ground about so persons, includ-
ing Rev. Father Boyle, Mr.. SChade,
Mr.. Tucker and several members of
st. Peters congregation, and the cof-
fin having been set on the bier at
the door of the receiving vault, Mrs.
Schade in behalf of the daughters of
the deceased placed on the coffin a
handsome wreath. Rev. Father
Boyle read the services of the church
and the remains were carried to the
grave in the southeast portion of the
grounds. where the services were
concluded. Rev. Father Boyle re-
marked that he had fulfilled a long
promised request in conducting the
services.
"A number of those present visited
the grave of Mrs. Surratt in another
part of the cemetery and found that
the lot voted to the family had been
neatly sodded, a cross of flowers
laid ON the grave and at the corners
of the lot marble blocks set with the
initials M. T.. s.
/ have no record that the missing
parts of Wirzs body were returned by
the Government, but they may have
been.
AT the time of the burial of Wirz
at Mount Olivet the inauguration of
Grant and COlfaX as President and
Vice President was five days in the
future and most WaShingtOnianS
were preparing for or talking about
the matter. The old account of the
induction To office of the Chief Mag
istrate and the Vice President and
the account of the parade you may
look up for yourself. Some Of YOU re-
member the neighing steed and the
shrill trump, the spirit stirring
drum. the ear-piercing fife. the royal
banner and all quality. pride and cir
cumstance," etc. That part of the
inauguration which best fits my pur-
pose. because l believe it will inter
est more persons, is the ball. 1t was
held in the Treasury. Halls in the
basement and the first and second
Evening star., 1926-08-15

with black and white perpendicular
stripes without numbers indicate mid
channels and may be passed close to
on either hand. The numbers and
letters placed on all buoys are made
| with standard stencils to insure uni
fornnity and the largest size practic-
able is used. so that they may show
as prominently as possible.
A few buoys built of iron or steel
plates and having their interiors di-
Vided into compartments 10 prevent
sinking when damaged. are in use on
the Potomac. When such buoys are
made with the portions which show
above the water line in cylindrical
form they are known as can buoys;
when their tops are cOnical they are
called nun buOyS. There are only
four nuns and three cans on the Po-
tomac, all in the lower part of the
river
The basic operation of building the
river road" that is, Of dredging
the channel and of keeping it re-
paired is performed by the office of
the district engineer. Maj. j. A.
O'Connor. Edwin y. Schmttt has di-
rect supervision of the improvements
and repairs on the local river.
Some idea of the work OF this de-
partment can be gained if it is re-
called that for. a long time the river
Just ran-there was no effort made by
man to direct its flow or control its
depth. There it was: there, as far
as the oldest inhabitant could remem-
ber, it had always been: and would,
for all practical purposes, always be.
If YOU wanted to use it for transpor-
tation purposes. well and good. 1t
would, no doubt, ''fill the bill" quite
satisfactorily.
But the time came when men began
Evening star., 1926-08-15
The Motor Shovel.

In unloading ore or coal from the
holds OF vessels on the Great Lakes
there is always Il certain amount OF
material in corners and between
matches that cannot be reached by
the unloading buckets. The superin-
tendent of one railway has designed
a motor driven scraper shovel that
moves such material much faster
than il can be moved by hand.
The machine carries a shovel that
can be raised and dumped automati-
cally. but whenever possible the ore
or coal is pushed underneath the
hatch opening, where the unloading
buckets haul il out % the ship. The
pOwerscraper shovel is said To do the
work of II 70 30 shOveIers. according
to the type of boat, and To save from
one to five hours time in the un-
loading process
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01
Kangaroo Courts
Still Active in
Nearly All Jails

Chicago, Oct. 1.-tP)-A relic of
the trials aboard pirate ships in the
days Of the Spanish Main persists
in almost every Jail in the country,
says Capt. George H. Weideling,
retiring warden Of the Cook County
(Chicago) Jail.
1t is the kangaroo court, or
ganized and conducted by the
prisoners for the punishment of
petty offenses among themselves.
The court" exists in every prison
and Jail he has visited, Capt. Weld
cling declares.
The paradoxical honor existing
among criminals lies at the base Of
the days of the jolly Roger, when
the penalty was often a walk down
the gangplank. Usually the SEN
tence now is a fine of ten or fifteen
cents, for such offenses as failing
to wash the neck, untidy cell, or
petty theft. Sometimes when the
crime is graver, the inmates take
the claw" into their own hands.
Sheriff Peter Hoffman was con-
victed of some unannOunced SEN
tence during his contempt confine-
ment at Wheaton Jail and fined $50
by the kangaroo court"
The court within the Jail is not,
as rule, makeshift affair, but
regularly organized by the prison
ers themselves, Capt. Weideling
says. Judges, bailiffs and lawyers
are elected among those apparent
~ best qualified. Sessions are
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01
Lost Her Fortune

a section of the state constitution
enabling the legislature to provide
for manufacture and sale of in
t0xicating liquors, such amendment
to be imperative so long as in con-
flict with the laws Of the United
States"
The Missouri vote will be on the
question Of repeating the state en-
forcement laws passed in 1923.
The Montana proposition is on
the question Of repealing all state
laws relating to liquor control, ex-
cept the law forbidding sale of
liquor to minors.
The Nevada referendum is in the
form Of a memorial to congress to
submit the Eighteenth Amendment
again to the states.
w. c. IL. u. Active
In these eight states. the w. G.
I. u. with 600, 900 Inembers, has
laid plans to concentrate 4 fight to
get 100 per cent dry vote"
In Illinois, George =. Brennan,
Democratic candidate for y. s.
Senator, who ha1 advocated modi-
fication Of the Eighteenth Amend
ment IN his campaign speeciies. ID
being actively opp0tod ~ the dfys.
IN New York, fh& dfJ1 ~ hack
ing +. w. Chrisfuian, indepe ndeni
and dry opponent q 6snatoF Wads.
worth.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01
Thumb Worth Twice !.
as Much as Big Toe

Experience and scientific observa.
ton are responsible for the fact that
in North Dakota a thumb Is worth
almost twice as much as any other
finger and more than twice as much
as big toe, at least SO far as the
Workmen's Compensation Bureau is
concerned.
The valuation Of big toe was
changed two years ago, according to
R. +. Wenzel, member of the board,
because it was belteyed its value had
been overestima4e4. Even 80 it is
worth over twieks as much as any
other toe: persons losing big toe
receiving. 26 weeks compensation to
10 weeks for the loss Of any other
toe.
Thumbs are worth go weeks, the
first finger 80 weeks, the second 80,
the third 81 and the little finger
only IS. Hand and foot injuries, the
records show. are the most numerous
for which the commission receives
claims.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01
PROHIBITION BEFORE VOTERS IN
ESTATES AT NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

Chicago, Oct. 1.-tP)-Voters in
eight states, at the November cleo
ton, will have an opportunity to
pass upon prohibition. The states
are California, Colorado, Illinois,
Missouri Montana, Nevada, New
York and Wisconsin.
In New York, Illinois and Wis
consin, the referendum is on the
question Of asking congress to
amend the Volstead Act.
Would Amend Volstead
New York and Illinois vote on the
same proposition: beverages which
are not in fact intoxicating as de.
termined in accordance with the
laws Of the respective states" In
Wisconsin, the proposition says
"beer for beverage purposes Of ar
alcoholic percentage Of 2.75." In
New York the Legislature passed a
bill to place the question on the bal.
lot. In Wisconsin the prop0sal was
adopted BY joint resolution Of thu
legislature. Ii Illinois, the referen.
dun was initiated by petition.
The question in California. il
whether To repeal the Wright act
the state enforcement law adopt.
|:d d the peopls y : referendum
DopsG1 O. redesal Law
| a ColQrade, ~ QUESTION Willie
|submttted = = ptopooal 70 amend
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01

HEIGHTS now
CHANGE DAILY
'Tailest Buildings in Most
Cities Are Eclipsed By
Higher Ones Yearly

New York, Oct. l.-LP-With the
skyscrapers of each year being lost
in the shadows Of the taller ones
erected in the next, the designer who
wishes to plan a distinctive building
no longer can rely upon superior
height alone.
Most Of the cities of the United
States are seeing their "tallest build
ings' eclipsed. one after the other, as
the result of construction trend
which has been gaining momentum
for several years.
In the past, especially in the early
part Of the century. the erection Of
4 building taller than any Of its
neighbors, or taller than any other
in the same town, was q guarantee
that it would stand out prominently,
for a considerable time.
Worlds Tallest" Change
In New York City, several build
ings, successfully acquiring the title
of "tallest." held it long enough to
gain national reputation. The Amer.
lean Surety Building, one Of the
first downtown skyscrapers, was fol-
lowed by the Flatiron Building. and
then by the Singer Building. The
title Of worlds tallest" was then
held it unchallenged until the plan
ming Of the eighty-one story Of the
new Book Tower in Detroit.
Book Tower Newest
Most Of the cities Of America today
are witnessing similar processes Of
"overtopping." In Cleveland, the new
Union Terminal Tower will rise I'll
feet, considerably higher than the
previously tallest buildings. except
the Woolworth Building. 80 .
The peak of the Brooklyn skyline
was for years ut % stories, the height
Of the Chamber Of Commerce Build
ing. Suddenly it went to g stories
with the Court Remsen Building, and
scarcely was this completed when
work was begun on q new 3O.story
structure, and another which is to 60
to IS stories, all within q few blocks
Of one another. In nearly every Sec
ton Of New York City, buildings
which previously stood out as isolated
skyscrapers, are today surrounded by
taller ones, like groves of trees.
Change Architecture
When this overlapping occurs, q
structure can still hold its rank as
one Of the leading buildings"
through distinctive features other
than height. Architects now plan to
insure permanent prestige for the
buildings they design by modern
floor plans and lighting effects, ex-
teriors made attractive by skillful
use of terra Gotta and other decora-
tive materials, efficient elevator IA
cilities, and generally convenient
equipment throughout.
Care is also being taken to avoid
the buildings ever assuming an ap-
pearance Of "oldness" by the use in
many cases, Of facing materials which
can be washed with soap and water.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01
Nation Tired Of
Jazz Is Idea of
Woman Director

"Why shouldn't . woman succeed
as the conductor Of an opera? She
has successfully entered the business
and professional world. she has gain
ed her place in the realm Of art, she
10 .. factor in industry and there is
no reason why she should not gain
m enviable place in . role that has
hitherto been preempted by man."
said Miss May Valentine in q recent
interview. Miss Valentine is the
business head of her operate organ
i9atiOn presenting the worlds best
loved light opera, "The Bohemian
Girl" which comes to the Bismarck
auditorium tomorrow night.
Miss Valentine il an Indiana girl,
but has . wide experience in the
musical world. She was directly as
ISOLATED with Reginald De Koven,
the composer Of "Robin Hood" and
was his asstant director for some
time. Miss Valentine selects every
member of her organisation, looks
after the details pertaining to the
costumes, trains her unusual chorus
directs the scenic department and
then. takes up the baton when the
company goes on tour and conducts
the orchestra and directs. the com.
pany from the pit.
"The fact that few other women
have attempted such task does moi
terrify me in the least" said Mis-,
Valentine. II have q very distinci
feeling that the country has been
fed UP on jazz and the revue TYNE
Of Offering and that II wants the
things that are founded In real ar.
tistry Ind that appeal to sometime
higher than the mere desire to be
amused.
SThe revival Of The Bohemian
Girl u undertaken at great expense
as IN artistic success"
Miss Valentine has established her
light end comic opera Organisation
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01
Insurance Man Tells
on Friend

HE, suffered considerably from
gas in stomach and collie attacks
and Of times was very yellow. Hi
doctors diagnosed his ailment ~ gall
bladder trouble and that an opera
tton was neeessary. Some one per.
shaded him 70 try Mayr's. Since tak.
Ing It one year ago he says he has
been able to cat anythine." Il u !
simple. harmless preparation that re,
moves the catarrhal mucus from the
Intestinal tract and alliys the III
III stomach, liver and jntestinal aii.
ments, including appendicitis. ON
dose will conviuce Or money refunded
At All Druggists. ADV.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01

an eloquent reputation for marks
manship.
Rev. Orion W. Carter came largely
Of his own accord. He held his first
services in furniture story. but soon
succeeded in building a tabernacle.
He Isn't Fighter
Everywhere co." reports Rev
Carter. Il am received most kindly
am not taking up my work in q
fighting attitude. Ny hope simply
is to unite the forces for good that
exist in Berger just as they exist
everywhere else. and aid in the
proper building Of city. see nc
adventure in it."
Herwig is received more kindly
perhaps. but certainly with respect
There has been steady thinning OF
the ranks of Borger's bo0tleggers
gamblers. and vice resort habitucs
since he became the towns police
force.
Whether he or Rev. Carter ulti-
mately will get the most credit for
.civilizing" the boom community
That remains to be seen.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-01

Amarillo, Tex. Oct 1.-Two we'll
known agencies of uplift are at work
in the boom city of Berger. in the
Texas Panhandle. and .BorKers
neighbors are watching curiousiy to
see which will accomplish the most.
There's the Bible. as exploited BY
the 23-year-old Rev. Orion W. Carter.
Then there are bullets, as advo-
Gated by Richard Herwig. Oklahoma
"two-gun man.
Quietly. confidently. the pair have
gone about the job of tanning a
rough town.
An Old Story
Until "A few months ago Berger was
lust a bald spot on the prairie. Then
its an old story-drillers struck
oil, and populace OF $4,000 flooded
in.
Berger was being hailed soon after
wards as the reincarnation OF all that
was bad in the towns of the old west
The importation Of Herwig was
brought abou. few leading bust
ness men. Herwig showed up with
his two six shooters, police dog, and