Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17

myself had q small boat scow-faShioned, fas-
tened to . tree between Eleventh and Twelfth
streets With this we padded across the creek
and joined others who were catching drift
wood. We had the advantage OF them, as we
could 60 into the middle Of the creek and there
select some of the best wood and bring it to
shore. We then cut it up ready to cart away,
which required two three days. We then
crossed the T1ber with our cart at the little
old bridge at Seventh street. and went down to
where the wood lay, for the purpose Of carting
It away; but, just were about putting
on the first load, we heard it thunder in q
northeasterly direction, and saw the heavy
black clouds whirling along at an awful rate.
We had scarcely time to get our horse and
cart up TO old Jacks house, which was not
where we were, before the rain came pouring
down, as it were, in torrents accompanied with
thunder and lightning such as I had never
seen before then.
cit was really awful I thought I should
never see home again, though it was not more
than three squares from us on the other side
Of the creek. I had often read and heard Of
the last day, or day Of judgment and almost
was convinced It had come. The rain was con-
ttnuous and accompanied by heavy thunder
and binding flashes OF lightning until evening.
we remaining under shelter of the cabin Of old
u Il
never forget poor old Jack and his cabin. He
now lies buried on the south bank Of the Tiber,
think, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets. have often passed by his grave.
GPTNOWARD evening, when the clouds began
to clear away, we started on our return
home, intending to cross the bridge ct Seventh
street. but when we came within sight of 1t, we
found the water tumbling over the bridge like
cataract, carrying with it cows, hogs, wood,
with occasionally few articles Of household
furniture. Finding we could not cross the
bridge, we turned southwark and passed along
the canal as It was called, until we came TO
F1aut's lanyard Cully half mile out of our
way, and crossed over q little foot bridge
which spanned the canal We then turned back
again toward the Capitol, along the old road
which passed by where Breckinridges Church
afterward stood.
I'VE finally arrived at the foot of Capitol
Ill., and stopped at the house of Mr.. Phillips,
one of the employees of the House OF Repre-
Sentatives, between Pennsylvania and Maryland
avenues. From this we started to go home by
way Of Pennsylvania avenue, but when we ar
rived at the Avenue we found it all under
water from near the Capitol gate to, or above,
Sixth street. The water on the south side
of the Avenue covered all the land between
the Avenue and Tiber Greek. At each end of
the water, in the street, stood cluster of
people looking on with wonder ana awe at
the tremendous food
There were then no houses on the south
side of the Avenue between the Capitol and
Sixth street, all Of the ground being public
land q part OF the Mall. The creek at that
time ran considerably more to the right before
entering tidewater than it does now.
THE old course Of the stream has since been
filled up, and the present one cut, so rs to
shorten it and give 1t a course nearer straight
before entering tidewater. At this time there
were still q considerable number Of trees around
and about the Capitol and creek, intermixed
with grape vines clumps of thorn bushes, ETC.,
extending from the Capitol almost to the Sew
enteenth Street Bridge. In short, it was a
complete little wilderness"
IT was not unusual for the visitor to Wash
ington in the early days to write up his
impressions or "recoIlections" when he re-
turned home. Sir Augustus Foster was one of
these. From 1904 to 1906 he served as secre-
tary to the British Minister. Anthony Merry
and upon quitting the city said some nice
things about 1t, as well as some things that
were not SD nice.
One Of the things he said-n we take It
seriouSly--would lead us 10 believe that In
addition 70 having here Center Market, we