Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-08-13

OIlG Gnu VI WIllCIl was IlCOCu ny AOA
the jailer, and for years it housed
prisoners under commitment for
trial or under sentence, runaway
slaves and the INDECENT insane
and those confined there at the
instance of their families. For
years Cartwright Tippett occupied
the position of jailer, being sue
ceeded by Thomas Williams, who
filled the Office until about 1847,
when Robert Ball, ST., was APP
pointed, he being assisted by his
son, Robert Ball. jr., then mere
lad, but who was some 20 years
later placed in full charge.
The topography of the land in
the vicinity of the Courthouse.
except in the western part. is said
to have been comparatively level.
Through the northern part Of the
ground, around 1900, a stream,
fed by springs near Sixth and L
streets, entered the reservation
and passed out near Fourth and
E streets, flowing southeastward-
ly to the Tiber near c street."
The Old City Hall
BY far the most historic build
ing-past or present-erected in
Judiciary Square is the present
United State Courthouse. or the
City Hall, as the older Washing
tonian still enjoys calling the
building, though it has not been
used by the city except in minor
instances since the District Of
Columbia sold out its interest to
the Federal Government in
March, 1873. But naturally the
work conducted therein is largely
of a local character.
Though the cornerstone of the
hall was put in place on Tues
day, August %, 1920. yet 1t was
many years before it was COM
pleted, and then only a section
or two at a time. Indeed, SeSs-
ford tells us, 10 years later: THE
City Hall that has stood so long
in a rough state is now nearly
completed on the south front &C
cording to its original design and
has a grand appearance; an ex-
tension of the two wings Is much
wanted for city and United States
purposes"
Again, in 1850, Sessford records:
1.-The entrance of the east and
west fronts, agreeable to the plan.
would afford ample room for city
uses; to the west and on the east,
rooms could be made for the
Criminal Court or other offices.
separating the court end from the
city Offices, and I am informed
that $4,000 would be sufficient
for the west wing, and the east
wing, from the nature OF the
ground, would require somewhat
more. The rotunda portion need
not be touched for some time"
In more recent years. however.
it took many thousands OF dol
lars more to restore the building.
Civil War Wounded
Due to the first Bull Run dis
aster, nearly all of the wounded
were brought to the E street hos
pital, or City Infirmary Hospital,
in Reservation 8, and here they
found comfort in their suffering.
AS to the burning of the in
Urinary, November 4, 1861, it is
believed to have originated in a
defective flue from the furnace.
| All of the sick and wounded,
able to rise. wrapped bed clothing
around themselves and escaped
from the building, but the shrieks
of those unable to do SO were ter
rible. The citizens present, the
officers of the institution and the
Metropolitan police were all active
in resculng the weaker patients.
who had to be taken bodily and
brought through the smoke and
flames to a place of safety. Some
were carried to the City Hall, some
to the schoolhouse on Judiciary
Square, dong in use as hospital
some to the former quarters of
Griffin's Battery, some to old
Trinity Church. on Fifth street,
and many to private residences
in the neighborhood. 1t is be-
lieved by the officers of the in
stitution that all the patients were
rescued with the exception of one.
an aged woman named Mrs. Hus-
sey, who had been sent to the
infirmary by the commissioner OF
public buildings. She could not
be found and it was supposed she
had persisted in the flames.