Evening star., 1937-10-17

ington Circle. according to Christian
Hines, cock fights and other so-called
sports were held on holidays, prior
to the coming Of Congress to the Dis
trict in 1900, by the laborers employed
on the public and other buildings.
Upon one occasion" says Mr..
Hines, while these men were there
dispute arose between the laborers
and those men who came from
Georgetown, which resulted In a few
blows between them. Order was soon
restored, however, and they continued
their sports, but some Of the laborers,
who were not satisfied with what had
taken place, went, secretly. and un-
suspected by the Georgetown boys.
down to the branch and cut them
selves shellalahs. With these con.
cealed about their persons they re-
turned to where the amusement was
still being INDUCED in by the other
party, and, at a given signal, drew
their cudgel. and began to beat the
Georgetown boys in most unmerci-
full manner. The latter, being taken
by surprise. defended themselves for
some time as best they could, but hav-
ing no weapons to resist the other
party with, and the blows falling on
them thick and heavy, they were at
length forced to retreat in the direc-
ton of the lower bridge. The armed
party struck them whenever they had
chance. and when they arrived at
the lower bridge they ceased pursuing
and returned, the Georgetown boys
continuing on to their homes.
Some of the Georgetown party, it
appears. defended themselves bravely,
with such objects as they could lay
their hands on. Among them was our
old friend Leonard Cookendorfer, q
Georgetown blacksmith. who lived on
High street. nearly opposite to where
Forrest Hall now stands. He had a
powerful frame, and grip Of the hand
like wise. have several times felt
his grip in my younger days. He was
He, it appears, at the commencement
of the melee, seized a fence rail and
defended himself manfully, for, as
fast as thy would come up to him to
give him blow with their cudgels, he,
with his fence rail, would lay them
PROSTATE on the ground. and in this
manner he fought his way through to
Georgetown. This is the substance of
the account of the affair. as under
stood it from my brothers when they
returned in the evening.
This affair caused considerable ex-
citement in Georgetown, and that
night some of the men gathered up
their muskets and old fowling pieces,
and put them in order, determined to
go over, the next morning, and seek
satisfaction for the insult and injury
they had received from the laborers,
and it was with great difficulty that
the Mayor, Mr.. Corcoran, could pre-
vent them from carrying their designs
out.
THE place where the laborers cut
their bludgeons, as near as have been
able to ascertain, must have been near
the branch, between K and L and
Twenty-second and Twenty-third
streets-a little northwest of the Six
Buildings. The spot where the cock
pit was located is little south of the
circle, and I think it was also within
the limits of the old race ground.
have frequently passed by it in later
years, in going to and coming from
Georgetown"
THIS particular part of Washing
ton has its own peculiar historic
background, dating back even to the
days when President Washington was
going over the Federal Territory with
Maj. L'Enfant and pointing out de-
sirable places for the parks and the
public buildings. At this time the wa
ter in the creek was deep enough at K
street, and for some distance up the
stream, to float sloops and schooners
of considerable size, such as brought
to Georgetown and Washington wood,
building and paving stones and sand.
For this reason it was impossible to
ford the creek at this point and as