Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10

the greatest aCtracC0n, ana the clang OF TIE
big triangle which they struck every time
new keg was tapped could be heard for some
distance away.
During the Civil War these grounds in part
, were included in the territory occupied by
Campbell Hospital. After the the build
ings were transferred to Gen. Howard and were
used for long time as the Freedmen's Hospital.
To the north of the old station were the
Metropolitan Railroad car barns, and a block to
the west ran Reedy Branch, in a southeriy
direction. 1t open stream, at least
until 1871 or 1872 when 1t was converted into
a sewer. It was quite stream and where
it crossed Florida avenue at Eighth street,
hand bridge was placed for the use OF Pc
deStrianS
AS child the writer loved to gather the
beautiful pebbles to be found in this branch,
and for many years the whatnot at his home
was decorated with the stones gathered there.
Some distance above Grant avenue (now
Barry place. were Quinlan'S and Dutrow'S
slaughter houses.
Cowtown-the real and only Cowtown-was
no paradise for policemen, and Lieut.. JohnSon'S
men were frequently called upon to quell dis
turbanceS there The late Sam EinStein, the
poundmaster never visited there without police
protection, and even then his visits met with
strenuous resistance from the population.
When the Boundary sewer was completed,
Reedy Branch was diverted into it. This sewer
was begun in 1879, and, when finished was the
largest cylindrical sewer in the world. At its
starting point at street, between Seventeenth
and Eighteenth streets northeast, it is % feet
in diameter inside measurement. 1t extends
along Florida avenue from its northeast start
ing point to about Eighth street northwest. It
was one of Washingtons greatest engineering
feats, and was constructed under the direction
of Mai. Hoxie.
T IKE old childhood friends-these
old landmarks are one by one passing away.
A new washington is taking the place Of the
old Washington. However, fond memories of
the past are sure to prove of the greatest COM
fort and pleasure to US during our closing days.
Perhaps 1t is only imagination, but 1t does
seem that the type Of young men whom we
have on the police force today do not compare
with such men as johnson Slattery, Slack
Dunnigan, Amiss Arnold and other old-timer6
Only two Of these men were six-footers the
others being around feet 8 inches, but
Just imagine one of them being handled as they
handle some Of our policemen at the present
day. OF course there are exceptions and 1t
would no doubt be showing bad Judgment for
q prisoner to attempt today to mix 1t up with
Acting Capt. Mike Ready Of No. 8, for the
captain, in his younger days, held some cham
pionships in the prize ring, and there are favor
able chances that he Stfll retains q dangerous
waIIop or two.
Lieut. johnson just seemed to enjoy scrap
At least, it is doubtful If he ever ran away
from or avoided one. A writer for The Star,
number of years ago. In speaking OF the proWeSS
Of this of1icer, said:
Eat the time that Lieut.. johnson was APP
pointed, which was away back in the days OF
1861 washington city was overTun with thou
sands of soldiers who came from all classes and
all sections of America and Europe, and when
certain of these blue-clothed soldiers would I'LL
up with the horrible whisky Of that period they
would become so crazed with the stuff that dis
order was rampant in the city and murders were
Of daily occurrence.
att was during this exciting period that the
venerable subject of this sketch was appointed
and was placed in charge Of what was then
known as the second police precinct, which
was located at a point above Florida avenue
and on Seventh street, just about where the
Brtehtwood terminal station is now, and from
his first entry into the police business until
he retired, after IS years of active duty, the
life Of Lieut.. johnson was mighty strenuous
one.
., ION his first days duty in the precinct, Lieut..
Johnson sauntered down to the corner OF
Seventh and T streets, and just as he arrived
at the northwest corner Of this intersection,
three soldiers who had been drinking, members
of the Scots Nine Hundred, which was famous
regiment during the Civil War and which was
composed entirely of natives of Scotland, came
around the corner OF T street, where the orug
store Is now located.
No sooner had they spied Lieut.. johnson than
they simultaneously blazed away at him with
their pistols, and for a while the bullets were
whistling like so many angry serpents about
the lieutenant's ears
shielding himself as best he could, the
lieutenant stood his ground, and when the
soldiers had exhausted their ammunition the
officer went across the street, and in very
businesSlike manner proceeded to knock the
three warriors into Inconsistencies with the
aid of his baton"