Evening Star Newspaper, March 26, 1887, Page 2

2 THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON CITY AND DISTRICT. ee 4 ROCK CREEK PHILANTHROPIST, A Strange Insect Discovered by a Wash- ington Entomologist. BOW THE HYDROPSYCHE SETS ITS TRAPS PoR THE LARVAR OP THE BLACK FLY.—A LITTLE CREATURE ‘THAT AVERTS 4 GREAT FLAGUE FROM THE NATIONAL carrraL. At the meeting of the Biologieal Society, Mr. L. ©. Howard described what he called “a Rock Creek Philanthropist.” “In the Banat of Temeswar,” Re said, “bordering upon the Danube, and particu- larty near the town Columbacz, in the spring of the year there come down from the eaves in the moun- tains swarms upon swarms of biting midges which fall on the domestic animals and frequently de- ‘troy them by scores. In the North Woods region of the United States and Canada there ts another biting midge, familiar to all travelers and sports- men by the name of the ‘black-fy,’ which is congeneric with the fly of the Columbacz. This ‘Insect is the terror of the wild animals, and the Bunter who visits those regions at certain ‘umes of the year needs some marked protec- on against it. Im the valley of the Mis- Sissippi there exists another congeneric insect, whieh, oe name of the ‘buffalo Lert bers s Scourge among the domestic ani- mals of that region’ as to ‘crouse the paternal Apterest of the government, and an extended 1n- Yestigation into its habits and life history is now: ‘being carried on by Prof. Riley and his agents and assivtante. All these insects belong to the genus Simutium, and ai whether ‘Columbacz fly,’ ‘lack fy.’ or ‘buffalo gnat,’ live, during the early portions of their lives, is smail aquatic lar- Ye, feeding upon minute crustacea and other mi- aquatic animal life. BLACK FLIES CAPTURED IN THE DISTRICT. “A few specimens of a species of this dreaded genus have been occasionally captured in the Dis. Uriet of Columbia. Simulium cenustum say was caught here by Baron Osten-Sacken years ago and Fecorded in his catalogue. I's occurrence is very Fare, and the bite of the gnat in our woods is ! something unknown. It may therefore be of terest to ‘and it will probably be a surprise to most individuais to know, that in Rock creek and ouher streams in the District the probably Jarve of a simulfum occur in summer in such ‘countless numbers that if all or nearly all attained maturity the woods bordering that beautiful stream would no longer be the favorite exploring ground for the amateur botanist an entomoloz!st, Would no longer afford a romantic promenade for youth and maiden, and the dwellings of the scientific colony on their borders would scarcely, be, habitable at certain seasons of the year. is reason to suppose that these larvae ‘Were known to Osten-Sacken twenty Years ago, when he resided In W: ON _as an attache of ‘the Bussian ‘and they were rediscovered lon, of Brooklyn, and my- plants and the rocks in the portions of the creek above the YINDING THE HYDROPSYCHR. “at the same time, however, it was my good the dwelling places of a philan- which prevents the increase of ‘this: and destroys the black-fy larve in such Bumbers that the adults are seldom noted This ‘Deneficent creature is a slender, carniverous, ‘The species has. not been determined and may be the adult insect has not been Diaek fy Teadily trom one patat to another, travel from one point to another, spinning» web through the water. ‘Letting go from the stem of an aquatic plant or from the surface of a rock, they float with the cur- rent a short still holding to a silken ‘Wwread attached to their first location. CAUGHT IN THE TRAP. “tis while floating in this way that they are ‘caught in the traps of the hydropsyche, and enor- mous numbers so perish. The appetite of the seems never satisfied; every aquatic insect Which is washed by the current into the net trap is devoured. It has no seruples against can- and an individual which leaves its own Tunnel has a very precarious chance of escaplug trom its nelghbors. It is probable that the condi- ‘ons favorable to the black fly are all in this vi- cinity favorable to the hydropsyche, so that al- ‘though: bie plague exists around us in em- Dryait will probably always be averted by this | ‘Deneficial insect.” KNEE BREECHES AND TROWSERS. A Tendency Towards a Revival of the Briefer Nether Garment. ‘WHAT 4 HIGH SCHOOL PROFESSOR AS NOTICED—THE CAUBE OF EVOLUTION FROM TRUNK HOE TO ‘TROWSERS—ARGUMENTS USKD IN FAVOR OF KNEE ‘BREECHES. “I have noticed,” said the High School professor toe Stax reporter, “a tendency among boys to wear Knickerbockers to a more advanced age than was the custom a few years ago. We have many Doys here attired that way, and two or three even im the third year—boys fifteen or sixteen years ‘oid. They look well, and the garment is amost sensible one for active boys, engaged in athletic sports. Knee breeches have the approval of sen- sible, practical mothers. An effort is being made im Chicago tw introduce knee breechesto the wogld again a8 part of a man’s onlimary attire. Ath- letes, as a rule, wear such garments, and they ‘seem to be coming into some favor for full dress. Iti becomes the fashion to wear knee breecues for dress, asthey are already worn by many per- sons engiged 1m athletic sports, it seems to me ‘thas it will not de long before they will be in ‘Vogue for every-day purposes. “It is diMteuit to conceive,” continued the pro- fessor, “what were the considerations that led to ‘the general adoption of trowsers in place of knee breeches about the beginning of tis century. Of ‘course the whims of fashton are inexpite: cam seldom be accounted for on the ground of utility or convenience. We seem to be indebted for the modern pantaloons to the revolution in France, and to the deformed knee of the prince Fegent in England. To hide adefect in his knee regent had his breeches made to ex- ‘below the knee. and, as he set the fashion, all ‘the swells Of the day at once had their breeches extended. In France, other changes ‘wrought by the ferment of the revolution was the extension of the tight breeches down abou: the middie of the calf, where they were met by half top boota It was only a step from this potat to ‘he trowsers of full length. RVOLUTION OF THE TROWSERS. “Trowsers” he went on to say “have been pro- § duced by gradual steps of evolution from the hose | or tight garments worn in the midille ages under armor. The term hose was appifed tothe garment ‘which was all in one piece from the foot to the hip. Later, in the day of the Tudors, what was known appeared which, I suppose, was the the modern trowsers. "The cov- ering of the iower limb was then divided into two BAMA, te upper called the howe und the lower as the stocking. The trunk hose came down only a little way on the tuigh and was uffed and slashed. ‘Towards the end of the 16th century there was a change lo nomenclature, the trunk hose betug called breecues, and the term hose becoming sYynouymous with stockings, The Dalloon breeches, x0 named from thelr grotesque then came into ‘The breeches : and Were extended down to the knees, where they were tied with sashes. Under Charis I the bal Jooas collapsed and it became the fashion to wear loose breeches to the knee. No cl was made in the cut under the Roundhead ruie, though there was less ornament, and sober colors took ‘the place of richiy-aued fabrics. ‘The dress Tevival under Charles Ii brought into vogue Dreeehes of expanded width, with Uzht. nicely at. Ung stockings. With Willtdza III the érs of tight knee breeches began, and suca breeches have never gone entirely out of vogue, as they are still used im the military service ‘in ‘some countries, form a part of the regulation court costume, and. a8 you know, are approved as the dress for ath- leven, There ‘were Yurious minor changes in the ‘eighteentu century. Sometimes it was the fashion buckle the breeches above the kuee, and then again the breeches would extend below the knee wad there button or buckle over the stocking. It 49 singular that Ube great social movement in Franee should have left men tree in political action, Dus much restricted in the use of their NEE BREECUES IN WASHINGTON. “The reluctance a man feels in wearing any- thing ta public that will make him appear odd of course is an obstacle in the way of the restoration Of the knee breeches Lo general use. Such amove- iment would have to be started by a few men of cour- age and 1 An this city, however, one ‘could waik the streets in such attire without attrac ‘ng much notice. There are scores of bicycle riders here who have the knee breeches, as most convenient for bicycle riding, and many wear them, all day long, at their offices and places of business. | have become So much uccustomed to the ‘sight that little or no notice fs taken of a man in seh rig. There are many things to be said in favor of knee breeches, from an economic as weil a8 an esthetic potnt of view. ‘Trowsers are frayed the heel and bazged at the knee by protracted service, and have wo be laid aside by the man who 10 appear weil dressed. long before they can y. worn out. to such injuries; in fact, they the cloth will hold to- generation of wwen are pot sightly enough Tor exposure, unwillingness of mea doubtiu! of their lower limbs to don Unis short garinent might retard for a while any movement towards the restoration of the knee breeches, but could not, I think, ultimately defeat At. Spindie-shanked gentlemen Could have recourse ‘To the Editor of Tux Evexme Stax: ‘With reference to Miss Bradley's crusade indecent nudeness in the tobacco trade, allow me to suggest that if all members of Christian ole, and | vogue, or and were slashed wore under James 1 | WHITE HOUSE CHILDREN, Beys and Girls whe Have Remped in the Oid Mansion, PRESIDENTS OF RECENT YEARS WHO WERE BLESSED ‘WITH CHILDREN—JUVENILE LORDS AND LADIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND WHAT HAS BECOME OF THEM—COL. W. H. CROOK'S RECOLLECTIONS. “I have been employed at the White House since 1864,” sald Col. W. H. Crook to a star reporter the other , “and this ts the first time that I have known the White House to be without children, that is children of the President. When I came here Mr. Lincoln was President, and I remember his children very well. Robert was then a young man, and only visited the White House occasion- ally. He was a captain of volunteers on General Grant's staff. Tad, the younger son, was his father’s idol, and he was perfect up in the boy. T'believe the Tithe Tellow had fore induenc@ with bis father than his whole adituistration. As Tremeiber him” best, he was a toy of about nine or ten years of age, unusually bright, and of a very Inquiring disposition, He had a heart like a woinan' andewas stways dotng some good deed. I accompanied the President on his memorubie visit to the front at Petersburg. ‘Tad went with is father, who treated hima asa companion, and the boy ‘had a fine tme. He eet ‘that was to be seen, and I guess be saw for he was very ob- servant. The military was flat 2 in those” days," and. Tad Was ‘much tater: ested In sollers. His trip to. Petersburg. was therefore v« interesting to him. To be a soldier was the height of his ambition. He had a regular army lieutenant’s uniform, with epaulettes and everything, and he would often dress up in it and strut about in high feather, He was fond of vate theatricals and had a room inthe ite House fitted up as @ miniature theater. He used to take about as much pleasure in driving a pair of a5 fa anyching eke, la fae’ death almost’ broke is “heart. He" died while tn Europe with his mother. Tiis older brother, Robert, I remember as a genial, manly fellow, without any snobbish ways. Everybody is familiar with his course. After the war he studied law and then practiced in Chicago until he was appointed Secretary of War Dy President Garfield, He was the only mewber of the Gar- field cabinet who remained through the Arthur administration. Atits close he returned CS and resumed the practice of his profession the old tirm. His business, they say, 18 Worth at least $20,000 a year to him. PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S CHILDREN. “During President Johnson's administration the White House was always full of children,although Dut one was his own child, Andrew Johnson, Jr. Mr. Johnson b: however, three other children. His elder son, Itobert, acted for a good while as his father’s private secretary. His two daughters Were Mrs! Patterson and Mra. Stover, the lavier a Widow. Both had children,und these, with andrew Johnson, jr., were known as the White House chil- dren. ere were Andrew Johnson, jr., a boy about eleven or twelve years of age; "Patter- son, about nine; Andrew Patterson, seven; Lillie Stover, tweive; Sarah Stover, nine, and Andrew Stover, about seven, They had a circle of young’ friends, and many a good time the tale ‘ones had in the big roomsof the White House.” “What has become of them all?” asked THE STAR man, “Let me see,” said Col. Crook. “Robert Johnson died after his father returned to Tennessee. An- drew, jr., died ufter his father, while still young. He never engaged actively in any business. An- drew Patterson is now engaged in a manu. facturing business in Tennessee. Belle Patterson married, and is now living in New York city. Lillie Stover married, and 1s living in Tennessee. Sarah Stover ts dead, aud Andrew Stover fs an in- valld, living in Tennessee. Mrs. Stover 18 but Mrs. Patterson, the other daughter of the President, lives in Tennessee. Her husband is en- gaged in farming, 1 believe, on quite an extensive male.” * THE GRANT CHILDREN. “The Grant children come next,” continued Col. Crook. “There were Fred, Ulysses, commonly calied ‘Buck,’ Nellie and Jesse. Their history 18 familiar to everybody. Fred was @ graduate of ‘est Point, and Was appolated on Gen. Sheridan's tail with the rank of Lieutenant colonel. He mar Hied an heiress, Miss Honore, of Chicago, and re- signed trom tne ariay. Everything ‘went well wich him apparently until he got_ mixed up, the rest of the family, in the disastrous Ward busi- ness, which for atime at least ruined tuem all, When everything looked biackest for Fred Grant President Arthur offered him a position of quar- termaster in the army with the of captain. ‘The office 1s for life, and 1s greatly sought for, as it pays a very good salary. It was promptly declined, however, because, as he wold the President, le wanted to devote the rest of his life to the payinent of his debts, While in the army he would be well cared for personally, but he would never have an opportunity of getting ‘ahead enough to wipe out old scores. He is now engaged in looking after his mother's interests, and I think, in Writing a life of General Grant. "The pther children 1 kne\ auch better than did Fred Grant. Ulysses Was a ing boy, as sensitive a8 a girl, He never put on any airs.” With Jesse he attended school at Emerson institute, on 14th street. Every morning an orderly would drive thei to school in a “Uttle four-seated wagon, drawn by @ pretty pair of Shetland pontes, and would call for them again in the afternoon, At school ‘Buck’ Grant, { understand, was a good scholar and was quite popular. _He'was quiet and reserved, and, as I very sensitive. A cross Word Was more of a punishment to him thana severe chastisement to most boys. Jesse wassome- What imperious, and was not so well liked in con- sequence. His position was a little too much for hin, ind I guess he never quite recovered. ‘Buck,’ (never knew why he was so called), went to col- lege, and then studied law. For a time he acted as his father’s private secretary, and he made a very good one, treating everybody courteously and attending to’ business intelligently. He subse- quentiy practiced law in New York until he got sted in Wail street, and finally becaine swamped in the Ward-Hish business, Having married the daughter of ex-Senator Chal- fee, he 13 supposed to have — inherited | through her considerable means. I lost track of Jesse to some extent, and only know that after nis marriage, which was regarded ax good one fnan- cial got into trouble with the rest of them. Both Of tue younger boys, I believe, are now en- gaged in looking after family matters, which are Of Sufficient importance to occupy theif undivided attention. "There ts no use telling you about Nel- lie Grant. Everybody knows her nistory. She was One of the loveliest characters {t was ever my fortune to meet. Asa young lady at the Waite ‘House she had a gay Ume, and was a favorite with everybody. Miss Barnes,'the daughter of the for- mer surgeon general, Was her bosom companton, and was one of her bridesmaids at her with the Englishman Sartofis. Those two giris had a good tie together. Neilie was the idol of her father, as everybody knows.” ‘THE HAYES CHILDREN. “The Hayes children come next. Burchard Hayes was tbe oldest, He did not live at the White House, and only visited there occasionally, S01 didn’t see very much of him. Webb Hayes came next, and then Rutherford B. Hayes, were ull Uiree good, suare, everyday ho houesense about’ them, Yy | bit stuck up because their father was President. | Rutherford was away at school a Ue while his father occupied | Isaw 2 good deal of Webb Hayes, who attended | to much ‘of bis oa oP Dusiness, and I | must say he was a Square, honest fellow, j with many admirable qualities. Fanny | Scott | Hayes were the litte | the famtiy. Fanny was a sweet little | school girl, With many of her mother's attractive | Qualities, Scoit Was a harum scarum little fellow, over with animal spirits. His heart | ht place, and I have no | will make ane map. Aithough he was a | rascal he had a good many lovable ways, | one could heip admiring bis manliness, has become of them ati?’ ‘Burchard Hi: ; icing law in Toledo, Webb 1s, I ayes jin the manuract Dusitiess in Colmstias, | kutherford B. Hayes ts in the | Fremont. Pannte is school Scott goes vo school tear Fremont” ‘THE GARFINLD BOYS. ‘The Garileld boys were “holy terrors,” to slangily, but everybody liked them. things lively about the White House and mighty tune. ‘Thechildren were Harry, Nelly, Abraham, and Irving. Harry and Jiu were near Of an age, and they owned the place, President was just like a boy himself, when be latd Bs | aside business and joined in their with | feat pleasur. Tae boys were kinds of tricks and pranks and many were cal jokes jiayed on those about the house. ‘TI dren. The older boys went to college at Dart. mouth and are now with their mother, I think, in Cleveland, ag are the younger children.” White House children, There were Nellie Grant, Nellie Gafeld and Nelle Arthur. ‘The latter was & pleagant-(aced little school girl while she lived atthe White House. Alan Arthur Was @ student: | at Princeton, but came to Wi quite fre- quently. ‘He'was rather reserved {n manner, but Was quite a good fellow when: oe knew him well. He bi and ees Trepreeriee 9 has settled down, however, nto a steady. | heard bim say’ before his father | Bow, I have had a good time, had | was’gotng, but now I mean to | grin and stick to all my wild oats’ 1 near as I can learn he is | York, and I have no doubt | man of business. ‘That ends the list, as | memory goes.” 0s. Mors Vincit. Written for Taz Evexine Stan ‘Memesy’s harp strings all squtver, ‘Throbbing with » human woe. ‘Spectral forms, and mystic voices, ‘Uneouth, mocking, sad and low. ‘Throbbing, throbbing ; mighty anguish! ‘Heart be still, for you are dead. ‘Dead, and busied, aud forgotten— Stranger steps above my head. ‘Madness, medness—surely madness! Did I feel a falling tear? ‘True heart, true heart, Fam. oaraecnee ‘We shall dwell up in the starlight— Kissed by balmy. sweet lipped atr— ‘Hear love's thick, low tone of music ‘That shall fost forever there. ‘Cruel, cruel, thus to mock me ‘With the dream of earthly bliss— ‘Dead, and buried, and forgotton— ‘Tain this—and only this! = > THE BUILDING SEASON. Prospects for the Year as Viewed by Builders and Architects. NO LABOR TROUBLES EXPRCTED—WHAT THE FRESI- DENT OF THR FEDERATION OF LABOR SAY8—TALES WITH ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS—PREPARING FOR A BUSY YEAR. Architects and builders are busy just now mak- ing plans or figuring on estimates for new build- ings. Already work has been begun on many Structures, As. rule the builders and architects look forward to a busy season. Though work has een delayed by unfavorable weather, the season 1s now fairly opened. There is no expectation on the Part either of employers or of the workingmen’s organization of any labor troubles such as embar- rassed building operations last year. Mr. Thos. S. Denham, president of the Federation ot Labor, and also chairman of the executive committee of Knights of Labor, said to & Sram reporter, when asked as to the prospects: “Men who have money to invest in can rest assured that there will be no strikes this year. We will abide by the result of the arbitration last year. We did not get quite what we wanted then. We asked for eight hours, but the business men, who were asked to arbitrate the differences between men and bosses, decided upon nine hours, and we abide by that de- chston.” 1) the bosses will employ ouly uaion wen ‘here will be no trouble, for if there are any differ- ences the menare will to submit to arbitration. So faras the men are concerned, this will be & season and there Will be’no strike.” MINOR QUESTIONS TO BE SETTLED. ‘There are one or two questions that will proba- bly arise for settlement between the bosses and the men. The stonecutters have already been no- tified by their employers that after April Ist the em ‘will expect them to work nine hours a day. The stonecutters are now employed by the hour and work eight hours a day under the terms fixed by arbitration last. year: There ts a differ. on, eight hours. was tote te. rule SIWis D, Ours was to mw or énly during the winter months, Wha® ever the result is, there will be no addition to the cost of Lele en ‘the same rate of wages per hour will prevail. Bricklayers are talking about making a move to secure for themselves fall pay for Saturday, on which day they work only eight hours, and lose pay for an hour. Mr. Denham, when asked about these matters, said that the workingmen antici ‘no trouble. As to the stonecutters, he said he did not think they would be supported by the Knights of Labor 1n an attempt to enforce the eight-hour rule. To have one craft working eight hours, he sald, was a serious inconvenience to other crafts at work on ‘the building, as it often caused delays, ‘THE RULING RATES OF WAGES, ‘The nine-hour rule will prevail during the sea- son, and the scale of wages remain the same as last year. The Union rates of various crafts are as follows: Carpenters, $3 per Gay; painters, $3 Gay; plasterers $256 per Gay, tinners Bho per das; stonecutters 40 eents per hours brick ers, $4.50 a day, or 50 cents an hour, and plumb- ers, $3.50 per day. AT THE BUILDING INSPECTOR’S OFFICE. “Yes, the building season has opened, and in a pretty lively way, too,” said Building Inspector Entwisle, in reply to an inquiry by a Stax reporter. “We are having so many applications for permits to build that we've about bad wo stop working on the District schools, “My office 1s crowded all the tme with these people. ‘The 1s for this season indicate that 1t will be much more pros- than last ‘season. ‘Then, too, butiders are putting up a better class of bulidings than they did last year, So far as I can hear, builders don’t apprehend any dimiculties with tue” labor untons Thave heard, however, that bricklayers contem- late asking ‘for five dollars for nine hours’ work, instead of four-and-a-half, which they are now getting; Dut of course I can’t say this with any certainty.” ‘Talks With the Architects. (COL, ROBERT I. FLEMING, whois now engaged in superintending the erec- ton of the Safe Deposit building, at the corner of New York avenue and 15th street, Mra, Ward Lamon’s residence, on Columbla Heights, and other bulldings, said that he thought that the building operations would not be as extensive this Year as last. “Last year was a rather unusual year,” he continued, “and there were a great many houses built, especially of the smail class. ‘The real estate men did this kind of building principally, and I think that they rather overdiu it. Then, the ‘smaller investors have been putting their ‘funds in land, in the suburbs, hat will te up money that would provably Be in- vested in small houses. ‘There 1s, however, going to be considerable building done here this season, and I think that the new houses erected will be large and will cost more than is usually put into the average run of houses that are built during a season. ‘and expensive houses will be the rule this year, and it will be only another indica- Uon of the fact that a great many people of means are coming here and building homes for thelr per- manent residence. ‘MR. 7. F. SOBNEIDER, who says that he has more work on hand now than any previous year since he has been in busi- ness, was found at his office looking at a cut in the American Arehitect of the new hotel which he 1s building at Forest Glen. “Judging from my own expertence,” he “this ‘season will bea very active one in bullding. I have now over forty houses elther in course of erection or to be begun 83 soon a8 the plans are ready. ‘There is one thing that may be sald about the present season, a that fs the character of houses to be erected are what may be regarded of a superior kind. Houses costing from $15,000 to $20,000 are the rule, in- Stead of the exception a8 heretofore. Large ex- pensive houses will, I haveno doubt, be the feature of the seazon.” POINDEXTER & CO. have under way the large addition to the Soldiers’ Home building, and have begun the oifice build- ing for Mr. Fendall. They havea numberof houses in course of erection, and when Tur Srax man made his appearance in the office Mr. Poindexter looked up from his desk and gave # very cheerful forecast of the season’s prospects, Me was very mane picaneal Uy baring Tacved © OEY ot a architect’ Tr pul in Paris, giving a Sketch of fue Presidents country” homer as" re- modeled by tals firm, “We have a nuinber of Jange buildings to be erected this year, uth in ‘hls city and in Richmond,” he remarked. “There are several who ure talking about building, and ‘one house now being discussed will cost $20,000, and there is still another that will require an out lay of $25,000. ‘The prospect for the season 1s if you can Judge of its character at unis ear! ‘The weather has been cold and unfavorable, Very often people Who want to build don’t think about it seriously until the weather is wettied, I expect that there will be a great many new houses erected here this year, as everything 1s favorable for an active season.’ ‘There 13 to inter- fere as there was last year.” ‘HARVEY L. PAGE. ‘The oak logs burned brightly on the hearth in the pretty office of Mr. Harvey L. Page, and that gentieman looked up at Tug Star man from 9 sketch plan, which he was coloring for the eye of some prospective house-bullder, and was inclined to think that the indications for a good season were very ._ “I have a good deal of work Tow underway. he sald, “but a great deat more Uhat has not as yet taken the form miost oe toan architect, ‘namely, the detailed plans. Uhink that most of 1t will assume form in brick and stone before the season 1s over, and probably there will be others as the weather grows more favorable. I am doing a better class of work now, in the sense of a more expensive class of work, than.for some time. Especially would this be true, if an average was taken by years of the work that has gone out of my office. ‘There are no labor ‘troubles to contend with tts year, and in conse- quence, none of the uncertainty About the cost which is 80 to those who lave bulld- ing in contemplation.” Mm, JAMES @. HILL had just returned from New York, where he has been inspecting office buildings before preparing plansfor the large office building to be erected on F street. He said that he thought there would be a very active seaaon. walready,” he went on. a coud, te. and mi of houses have been’ SATURDAY, MARCH Dullders build on tand owned by other parties, and, ag a general rule, have notldng to do wit land. “There are very few buliders Who Duy and build upon it for speculation. ‘That's Gone by the real estate lien. "A good deal of land, especially in the northwest and city limits, 18 delng sold, resold, and sold for sneculative pu “What is the prevailing styler’ That's & jam one to answer, - Houses are built. in every style. Ifyou were to ask me that question about some ular houseI am building I don’t be- Ateve I could tell you,” LANGLEY & GETTINGER, Mr. Chas. A. Langley, of Langley & Gettinger, said: “The prospects are good. I think there will be a good deal of building this year. The season 1s alittle late. A good many people who have talked about building have been holding: back for some reason, Now, , there are & good many plans out, and there will be, I a peason, Some Reople have been a ittie urn think that isall Gren There reine Dropeceor any trouble aval, ‘The cost of labor will be the Same as last year, HOLTZCLAW BROS. Mr. W. B. Holtzclaw, of Holtzclaw Bros, sald: “The outlook is a very promising one. There is a good deal of preliminary figuring betng done, which indicates that the season will be active. People are talking about bullding houses, an ul ere 18 hu prospect of any ble, “There 1s 8 good feeling ‘between tae oases and the journeymen.” = ISAAC BEERS. ‘When asked whether the butlding season had opened Mr. Isaac Beers said: “No, not fairly. The Tegular building season seldom opens till about April ist, ‘There's a very good outlook this year, and the ts for a good season for builders seem good. Last year we were consider- don't expect auything or the 2 mt Cx] Dullders” are” concetaed just as much money ear as ever. There can’t be less, ought to. this city inlay capita ‘of whom are im So't dont think we shail lose anvuning = character of the buildt you know that there ‘were lots of Lei st oer eee, A good many now ue hear lots 0 Complaint about the price of lana howadays, ‘A many people think the prices are too high. jut that you will find to be the case only in the most de le localities, and it is of course the natural resultof the competition between parties ing to build there. We make the most money off What I'd call medium-class houses. ‘There’s no money for us in houses that are built by specula- tors. I don’t think there will beany change in the style of houses. You see they can’t change the style for @ house as they can for a dress, The most costly bulidings are being put up in the northwest, but you'll tind @ good deal going on in the northeast and eastern parts of the city, but they are of a cheaper kind.’ MR. C. C. MARTIN. “I don’t think,” said Mr. C. C. Martin, the builder, “the prospects for this year are as good as last. Why? Weil, it may be that the weather has some- thing to do with it, but the real reason ts—the speculators, Why they’ve tied the builders hand and toot. They have bought A everything. Builders to-day can’t buy any land in this city for a price that would warrant them to build a decent ‘house uponeit. There's no profit for us in twenty- five thousand dollar buildings, because the people Won't buy. ‘There's little or no demand for them. Yes, ‘The poor people are crowded, gradu- ally, into the outskirts of thecity. It is not be- cause there are more rich people coming here to Iive but that the speculators are holding land at twice the price it is worth, I have seen this com- ing on for years, ‘There is no way it can be reme- died unless there should come a panic and force these people to sell, No, they don’t confine them- selves to any particular section but they buy everywhere, You can see this plainly in the northwest; where fifty buildings were bullt there several years ago, you will only see one or two going up now. Take 16th street, from Massachu- ‘setts avenue to the Boundary, for instance. It has Deen sold and re-sold several times in the last year, but you see but very few dings: yu up. ’We buiivers can’t do anything. ~A modenite house should cost about $4,000, but the lot nowa- days costs $3,000, and When, as we must, we ask $7,000 for the house the people won’t buy. They ‘think we are Lee here but it is not our fault, It’s the speculators.” ‘MR. CHARLES EDMONSTOX. Mr. Charles Edmonston said: “So far as we can see and hear the prospects for building are good.” MR. ROBERT DOWNING said: “The prospects for building are good. Work is, however, a little behind last season in com- mencing, because of the bad weather. There will Probably be less cheap work than formerly, and the conditions are very favorable for first-class work. I have already some work under way. The wages are three dollars for carpenters and tity cents per hour for bricklayers, and the cost ot building will be about the same as last year, for there is no material advance in material or labor.” MMR. W. P. LIPSCOMB sald: “The prospects are good, fully equal to last year. The conditions are favorable for work, for the® wages appear satisfactory, and there is no advance in material excepting as to glass and hardware, and that but sigan EMMERT AND HEISLEY, “Oh, yes, the building season is opened. Well, the prospects are tolerable, pretty fair. But it’s not as good as at this time last year. You see work was forced a little last spring on account of the strikes. The people haven’t made up their minds yet what to do, and then you know we've had such a backward spring and mean weather for Dulid- ing. Yes, Ithink the character of the houses 1s ‘better than those of last year. There are not so many small houses being put up. Neither is there so much money in them for the bullders except when we put uparow of them. Then wedon’t have to do quite as good work, and they can be slapped up. But when aman ig building a house and has plenty of money todo it he is likely to be more careful. Anyhow we make most on big jobs, ‘because we can cut closer. No, the price of land don’t make much difference, fa man has money to build a good house he don’t care how Inuch the land costs or the house either, There's plenty of land for builders, and commercially ‘Speaking you can’t say {U's too high. In some localities it’s up to its full value, especially in the northwest, Where they sell and resell for specula- Uon, We do the most buliding in that section. *What is the prevailing style?’ Well, thatI can’t s ‘They've got out of the Queen Anne, but What they've got into I can’t say. It seems to be a combination of all kinds. No,1 don’t apprehend any labor diMficuit; I believe all are satisfied. You see they lost a good deal of time last year, and they haveu’t got over that yet.” JOHN HENDERSON, JR, “J think w’ll have a pretty good season. There is no reason to prevent it. There’s plenty of work and plenty of men to doit. Altogether, I guess it ‘ll be a better season than last year, There don’t seem to be any indication ofa strike, Competi- tion? well, there's just as much com tition in Building, but we haven't had much speculation in building during the last eight or ten years. Probably the most work is done fa the northwest, but a good deal of cheap work is done in the northeast. The buildings phatase balng ut up in the northwest are,of course, muc ter than those in any other section. Why? Well, because the people who build have more money to do it with. The price of land ts too ch. Real estate is Just about as high as its going to be. Builders cant get any land now: Tew: 3 ago I went out abouta quarter of a mile bey the boundary to look at some land. When I, asked the price 1 was one dollar a foot, You see, when it was proposed to extend the streets into the suburbs, real estate men up syndicates of speculat ‘and they bought up every bit of and they could on the line of the extensions with the expectation of maki a big thing of it. Styles? Oh, they are of ailkinds. Almost every house you ‘come across will differ in style from its neighbors, and this 18 especially so ainong houses that cost'in-the thou- sands, Butldings that have been and will be put up are not coulined to any particular class of architecture. Strikes? Nota bitof it. Why, they are getting inore money for less labor at present than ever before, and I can’t see what they would want to strike = THE NIGHT SCHOOLS, Hf BS 8 “Oh, I think we'll have a better season than inst year, on account of the labor troubles we then had. satiated. There's consid- erable Dulding going on, and eaeey apace as emia ae the aany. voy. uetle cheap Soe, Bustadal ta every wale Eh aot ‘Their Close After = Successful ‘Term of Seventeen Weeks, ‘The night schools, which have been 60 success- fully carried on during the past winter in several je Fe i THE REAL ESTATE MARKET. A More Liberal Policy in Suburban Sub- divisions, THE FIND RESIDENCE OF MR. SAMUEL G, WARD—A GROUP OP ATTRACTIVE STONE HOUSES—OTHER 1X- PROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY—s XEW KIND OF INVESTMENT. ‘The question of the partition of the trace of land lying between Boundary street and Columbia Toad, and Just east of 19th street extended, known as the Chipman Trust, bas been before the court for some time, and Messrs. Wm. Forsyth, Thos. J. Fisher, O. C. Green and Henry W. Brewer have been designated as acommission for the subdivision and partition of the property between the owners and heirs. It 1s stated by the owners that it is the intention to place the property on the market as soon as the partition is effected. This tract con- tains about thirty-eight acres, and was formerly 9 part of the Little place. In 1871, there was considerable talk about the erection of a private residence for the President of the United States, and a syndicate bought this tract with the view of selling it to the government, ‘The project, how- ever, was never carried out. The members of the syndicate were as follows: Gen. N. P. Chi A. P. or, Major J. W. Vandenbury, GF i Hichardson, Gen ice paid was: Duncan and Anthony Pollok, “ The $112,000. In January, 1886, ex-Representative Kell *, Of Louisiana, purchased from ex-Attorney Genel Willams an undivided fifth interest for 000, and on the 4th inst, GF. Whiting and H.R. Dulaney bought from Anthony Poi. lok a twentieth interest in the property, ing for it $24,000. ‘The present owners, besides Messrs, Kell , Dulany and Whiting, are Chas, Peck, Gen. Duncan, the heirs of Ebon C. Li Geo. Taylor, the heirs of Thos. L. Tullock, Dr. A. P. Fardon and Anthony Pollok. ‘The property has never been improved, and during the years it has ‘Deen owned by the syndicate nothing has been done to it, except putting on occasion: a deed of trust. Tt is, ereiore, available for subdivision, and those interested in proneny. ‘say that they Propose to make the subdivision conform to the lan of the extension of the st: as indicated ‘the map sent to Congress by Col. Ludlow. THE KALORAMA SUBDIVISION. ‘There seems to be a general impression among owners of property that this plan for the exten- sion of the streets will be carried out sooner or later, or some plan similar to it. In consequence all the new subdivisions will conform in the lines of their streets and avenues with those indicated on Col, Ludlow’s map. The owners of the Kalo- rama property have ‘already prepared a subdivi- sion, which 18 now before the court for its proval, which provides for the continuation of the city streets through the property on the same lines and with the same width. This subdivision of course embraces the extension of Massachusetts avenue, with a deflection some distance from Boun- dary, marked by a circle which 1s about the same size us Dupont cirele. R, 8, T, U, V, and W streets are laid down, and the north ‘and south streets as fur as 25th street, A street runs along the edge of Rock creek. The lots on Massachusetts avenue are twenty-five feet front with some on the circle not being more than 100 deep. Nearly half of the eighty-six acres com- prised in this tract are to streets and avenues, ‘The lines laid down on Col. Ludlow's map will also be followed by the owners of the Marshall Brown and Petworth ‘on 7th-street road. AS soon as the authority 1s obtained from the court to act for the minor heirs, the 387 acres comprised in these two tracts will be laid out in streets and avenues of the same width as those in the city. ‘The era of narrow streets in suburban subdivisions seems to be past, and it is thought that this more liberal policy will induce people to buy with the purpose of building homes for themselves. MR. SAMUEL G. WARD'S HOUSE. ‘The brick wall which enclosed the garden sur- rounding the residence of the late Geo. W. Riggs has been removed fromthe K street front, some hundred feet back, and the ground has been di- vi into bull lots. The large, old residence, which, as is well known, fronts on I street, between 16th and 17th streets, is still occu- jee by the daughters of the deceased anker, It has a rather old-fashioned appearance now, but some years ago, when it ‘Was erected by Mr. it was considered one of the finest private residences in the city. It stands on the square just north of that occupied by Mr. Corcoran’s hotise and grounds, and the en- Ure place has front of nearly 200 feet onI street, and runs through with the same width to K street, ‘The ground fronting on the latter street has be- come very valuable in recent years, and a short time ago two lots, having a frontage of ftty feet, were sold tO Mr, Samuel @. Ward, of ew York city, for $3 per foot. These lots adjoin te alley at the northeast corner of the grounds, and already the excava tion has been begun for the erection of a fine house, Mr. Ward, who was formerly the repre- sentative in this country of the London banking firm of Baring Bros., has been living in this city during the past winter, and has become 90 much attached to the life here that he intends to make his home at the Capital City. Messrs. Hornblower & Marshall have prepared the designs for the new house, and the work will be begun atonce, It will be a handsome substantial structure, rather plain and severe in the general treatment but exhibiting in some details a richness tl adds tothe dignity and solid character of the ude The Baty aaa known ease an asement a ‘COURSES, used. with the lain brick. There isa fine brick arch over the main entrance and the window 0} in the upper stortes are so tioned as to give opportunity for an effective Dreadth of treatment, ‘eed deg is iy aeataeeen feature, being made of bricks, of aspect with, surface, producing a wavy effect. | Terra cotta is used quite freely in the courses De- tween the stories and in the cornice. A rather high roof, with dormer windows, surmounts the structure, A library is on one side of the main entrance hall, and a reception room, with a. ‘lor opening from’ it, on the other side, ‘The dining- room opens from the staircase hall, and the latter 4s lighted with large winddws, which are on the alley-side of the house. The interior finish Wtil be mainly in the colonial style, the wood work be- ing painted in different colors. ‘MRS. BURLRIGH’S RESIDENCE. Mra. Geo, W. Burleigh, of New York, has pur chased a lot on the south side of P street, between 17th and 18th streets, and will begin at once the erection of a handsome house, designed by T. F. Schneider, architect, and which she expects to have completed on her return here on the 1st of next October. The front will have a square bay extending to the third floor. ‘The front dows of tl bay are designed a little out of the usual order of symmetry, belng in two of unequal Alviston—one side is five feet wide, while the oul 1s Dut two feet; a large transom extends across the whole, producing an original effect. ‘The front 1s of brick, treated 11 With stone, in the rough or Tock face, as It is termed. A central st lighted by’ a large skylight of colored glass, divides the parlor and dining-room, and is connected by an archway with the entrance hall. ‘The staircase 1s of cherry, and has platforms at each turn. ‘The interior finish will be in the nat- ural woods. ‘A PRETTY GROUP OF STONE HOUSES, A handsome residence is being built for Mr. Jas. M. Johnston, on Rhode Island avenue, between Jeth and 17th streets. The architects, Messrs. Hornblower & Marshall, have used the same material as in the two adjoining houses, destgned by them some time ago, and the result is a very retty group of houses. ‘The gneiss stone used in tie construction of these houses was quarried from the Upper Potomac, where it ts found in lim- ited quanti In this instance the stone is not dressed, and the effect fs massive and substantiai. ‘Sa change from the red brick, it affords a pleas- Ing variety. Mr. Johnston’s house 1s three stories in height, with a high roof and bay-window pro. jection, The interior finish is in natural woods. MAJOR U. A. WALL'S HOUSE. Major. A. Hallis building a comfortable house, at the southwest Corner of 15th and P streets, ‘The house Will front on 15th street, and will have rooms on each side of the hall, It will _be three stories high and will be built in asubstantial man- her, There willbe Queen_Anne staircase hard wood mantel-pleces, open grate ‘Cooper & Fenwick are the architects, . ANOTHER FINE HOUSE TO BE BUILT ON SIXTEENTH ‘STREET. ‘W.H. Clagett will shortly begin the erection of depth of 64, and be four The front. will’ be substituting aredeemable ground rent for the ordinary deed of trust to cover deferred payments. For instance, @ house 1s sold for $4,200, subject to rent of which bears ESTP by pet cent’ and yoams, payable, at any (ime ne a tne eas paid ears. Zomewnat 1oore than mene i H hi : —— 26, 1887—DOUBLE SHEET ON BOARD THE MONITOR. THE FIGHT WITH THE MERRI- mAC. Admiral Worden’s Story of the Famous Battle in Hampton Reads. ‘THE LAUNCH OF THE MONTTOR—THE PERILOUS YOT- AGE TO HAMPTON ROADS—THE MEETING WITH THE CONFEDERATE RAM—HOW ADMIRAL WORDEN WAS WOUNDED—WHY THE MONITOR DID NOT GIVE CHASE—A GRAPHIC STORY OF THE VOVAGE AND FIGHT BY LIEUT. GREENB—WORKING THR GUNS IN THE TURRET, ETC. Admiral Jonn L. Worden, the hero of the fight be- ‘tween the Monitor and the ‘Merrimac, lives in a fine house on K street, near 15th the history of the country. bs The admiral is a slender an, of active nerves and ADMIRAL WORDEN. sightslot in the pilot-house ‘and dashed his face with a spray of powder and hot tron, He ts slow to speak of his own deeds. ‘Through courtesy to the Star man he was induced to tell briefy the story of the Monitor, He has deen often asked to write the story or to dictate it to others, but heretofore he has refused. THE ADMIRAL’S STORY. “Icame up trom Mexico,” he said to Tar StaB man, “at the very beginning of Lincoin’s adminis- tration, Iwas then a lieutenant. Iwas ina ter- Tible state of health. I was suffering with kidney disease, I was lying about, trying to get better, When, on the 24 of April, 1861, I was ordered to report to Admiral 8. H. Stringham, at Washing- ton, for special duty in connection with the discip- line and effictenoy gf the naval forces. I reported in Washington April 6th, abd was informed that Admiral Stringham was to be relteved and ordered to command the North Atlantic squadron. I asked to berelieved from the duty I had just been ordered to and to receive orders for service afloat. The tch for Capt, Adams, commanding aval forces off that haroot. “This was when, tbe Confederate . me. I replied that Iwas an of and heasked of which army. I told him of thé United States Navy, an jlained that I was eng, ‘Dearing communications from the Depart- meni mS ment'to Captain Adams, He said I had better ors 0 General Bragg, and, as there was & Doak just then going to the genéral’s juarters, I might accompany him there at once. ThusI was practically put under arrest GEN. BRAGG’S MISTAKE. “I was introduced to General Bragg, who ques- tioned me some, and I told him I wanted to get to see Captain Adams,”continued the admiral, “You have dispatches for him, I suppose,’ he said. I re- plied that had a communication from the War Department, and he at onee wrote me out a pass, Afterward, to cover up his mistake in letting me pass, he asserted that I had assured him that Ihad only a verbal message to Captain Adams of a pa- cific nature. This statement of General Braggy was utterly and unqualifiedly false. However, contemplated attack on Fort Pickens night, 1 ‘this information nick “of me, and carried Fort Pickens was reinforced, and ieee ig nie ae the way I had come. “f cold him I should rested if I did, but he thought I should go Idid, and was arrested at M ery, in prison for seven months, until I was swapped off for Lieut. Sharpe, a prisoner in New York. APPOINTED TO COMMAND THE MONITOR. “When got back I was in wretched health, my kidneys troubling me terribly. Iwas in New ‘York when I got a letter trom Commodore Joseph Smith, chief of bureau of docks and yards, dated January 11th, 1902, in which he said: “I have only time to say I have named you for the command of the battery under contract with Capt. Ericsson, now nearly ready at New York. ‘This vessel is an experiment, I believe you are the right sort of officer to put in command of her.’ “I replied to thison the 13th: I received your letter of the 11th inst, yesterday, and thank you for the feeling which prompted you to name me for the command of the Ericsson Battery. I went immediately to see her, and, afver a hasty exam!- nation of her, am induced t6 believe that she may Prove asuocdss. At all events am quite willing to be an agent in testing her capabilities, and readily devote whatever of capacity and’ Taverothat object, It che Bogartent deckes that I am to have the: ordered to ber a8 8000 a8 sequaint mypelf With all “My orders ‘to the command of the United States tron-ciad steamer building by Captain Ericaon,” were dated on the same day—January 13, 1862, DOUBTS ABOUT THE NEW VESSEL. “Many experienced men doubted that the new tron battery would ever float. It was predicted that she would go to the bottom when launched. Thad confidence in her fighting qualities, though I knew she could not standagaleatsea. When she was launched I was inside of her. She had no smoke stacks, and the fires were kept going by blowers. The blower holes, opening on the deck, ‘were covered with ® bomb-proof grating, as were the smoke holes. Over these were low covers ot riveted boiler iron, designea to the sea from washing in. were few fect ch—very low—and I told son that my experience I thing like a hij sea would them. He at me in a of way, and turned aside without reply. ‘Afterward, when ready for launching, he came to me at ArT desired tt he we Treplied that he need. account; it Was RO own plans and I fy a des E ne hailed her and ordered her to tow usinshore, where the water was smoother. We got the hawser fast, and she towed us at alout the rate of one mile an hour until We got into the calm Water, There we damages. But you know all about this. fell, we arrived at Hampton Roads. THE FIGHT WITH THE MERRIMAC. “Did I fee! much anxiety about the result of the fight? No; I was confident that the little craft could do good service in calm water. The only fear Thad Was that the turret would get out of order and refuse to go round. The opinion had been expressed by naval officers, and other men familiar with such matters, that the frst shot that struck the turret would put it gut of kilter and she would not Tevolve, But when the first shot struck her and other shots began to pour in, and she still worked Uke acharm,i had no more apprehension. In the fight, I remember, I tried to keep between the 'Merinae ann het alfanont, When I first’ saw the big ram coming | on towards us, "I felt confident that the Monitor could cope With her, 1 put bows-on and fired t Upon the monster, Shots were exchat fight when T was struck, The shot struck squarely against the tron logs that guarded the peep hole. I was knocked down and severely injured. The blow was right ‘tn my eyes, 80 I could not see, but I knew from the flood of light, such as you are conscious of even eyes are shut ‘the of the pilot use nd Soon orn'ofaud'f could bok to eat other @ had been done. AS I lay there I gave one order, t off! Lieut. Greene was not be reached at once. saw that the damages were repasted, ad ‘the Montt brought ngage. meat again. tor to be ut into Lhe e1 ‘RETURXING 10 THE EXGAGEMENT. “Tt could not have been more than twenty min- Greene had the Monitor back in Jess than twenty minutes, a8 I have said, “Let me say here,” the admiral added, “that I for Uaree or four hts before t. We entered it without hav. ‘We all had been work- a-half without sleep on the re Was another night on our ar- ‘this, as I have told ‘Thad been without sleep before I siarted on ADMIRAL WORDEN'S OFFICIAL REPORT. Admiral, Worden in a report on the engagement, made some years afterwards, and which has never been published says: “= * * About® o'clock p. m. we anchored ing taken food or ng for two. Hivaltealaes rival. Tun down and ‘the enterprise.’ anchored near him at about 1 o'clock a. m. of Sunday, March 9th. He hoped to his ship afloat at high water, about 2 o'clock, but failed to do so. At daylight’ the Merrimac, with several to have been handled more quickly and effec.ively, and with better trestle tse : ‘The rest of the report was tm phrase of Lieut Greeve and the other officers und the crew. THR STORY TOLD BY LIECT. GREENE. A few days after the engagement, Lieut. Greene Wrote a letter to bis mother, describing the @an+ gers of the voyage by sea, and the battle with the iron monster. ‘The letter was written on board of the Monitor at the scene of the engage= ment, and only five days after tt. A copy of wis letter Was given Tue Stax reporter by Admiral Worden, Lteut. Greene tells hts mother that on the sea voyage of two days and a-half he lived ten full Years; that the “sea was breaking over the decks at @ great rate and coming in our hat pipe forward in perfect foods, @ + 7 ame down under the tower ite a water fall.” It “came through the narrow eye-hole ot ihe pllot-house with such force as to knock the helmsman completely round ferring to whan the wa: stacks $0 that the blowers gav gine-room filed with a “Then, mother, oc scene 1. shall never’ forget. "Our engineers behaved like heroes, every one of them. They fought with the gaa, until they suffocated deavoring to get the blowers to work, |, apparently dead. 1 Was nearly With the ay Dut got om decks after everyone had left the engine room, just in time to sume save myself, Three firemen wer: condition as the engineers tum: rather blue, We had no fear as long as the could be Kept going lo pump out the w when that stoppal the Water Increased r immediately @ hand pump on rth deck, Dut as We were Oblied Uo lead the hose out over the tower, there Was Not force enough in tho pump lo throw water out. Our only resource now was to Dall, and that was useless ax we had lo Pass the buckets up through the tower, which made it a very long operation. What todo now Wwe did not know; we had done ail in our power, and must let take their own course, For: tunately, the wind was off shore, so we hulled the tugboat, and told them to steer directiy in omer tO get in th p.m, we managed to get the €0, and everything comparatively quiet aptain had been up nearly all the previous night, and as we did not like to leave the deck without Gne of us being there, 1 told him 1 would keep the watch from 8 tJ2, he take it from 12 to 4, and I would relieve nfm ‘from 4 to & Well, the first watch passed off vei stnooth sea, clear sky, the moon out, and the oid ‘Vank going’along at the rate of tive ‘or six knots very nicely. All Thad todo was to keep awake and Chink over the narrow escape we had had ia. the afternoon. At 12 o'clock things louked s0 fie vorable that I told the captain he ‘need not turn out. I would le down with my clothes on, and it ans happened I would turn out and ‘attend tit He sald very well, andl weat to and hoped to get a little’ nap. Thad scarcely gos tomy when I Was started by TAR MOST INFERNAL. NOISE Thadever heard. The Merrimac’s fing last Sum @ay was music to it! We were just passing @ Shoal, and the sea suddenly became rough. It came up with tremendous force through our anchor well and forced the alr through dur hawse pipe where the chain comes, and then the water Would rush through in a perfect storm, clear to our birth deck, over the wardroom table, The noise resembled the death groans of twenty men, and was the most dismal, awful gound I have ever heard. Of course the captain and myself were on our feet in a minute and em eavoring to stop the hawse pipe. We suc- ceeded partially, but now the water began to come down our blowers again, and we feared the Same accident that happened in the afternoon, We tried to hati the tugboat, but the wind being dead ahead they could not Lear us, and we had no way of signaling them, as the steam whistie which father had recommended had not been put on. We began then to think that the Monitor would never sec daylight. We watched carefully tue water that went down the blowers, and sent conunualiy (o ask the fireman how they were guing. His only answer Was ‘slowly,’ but could not be kept goln anuch longer unless the water could be stopp from coming down, The sea was washing com pletely over our decks and It was dangerous for man to go on them, #0 we could do nothing to the Diowers. In the midst of all this our wheel-rope jumped off the steering whee! owing to the pit ‘of the ship) and became jammed. She now began to sheer about at an awful rate, and we thought our hawser would certainly part. In the course of half an hour the wheel-rope was fixed, About 3 o%lock tho goa gut a. tuto umouther. © * § From 4 o'clock un ight was the louge hour anda half Tever spent. * * * APPROACHING HAMPTON ROADS. “When about half way between Fortress Monroe and Cape Henry we spoke a pllot-boat, He told us the Cumberland was sunk, and the Congress was on fire and surrendered to the Merrimac. We did not credit it at first, but as we approached Hampton Roads we could see the fine old Congress burning brightly, and we knew that it must be so. in the nicely, “at this time, about $ o'clock a.m, I was Proaching her on her starboard bow, on a course nearly at right angles with her Iine of keel, reserv- ‘until within very short range, when I altered my course paralleled with hers, but bows in opposite directions, stopped the engine and commenced ‘fring. In this way I passed slowly by her, within a few yards, delivering fire as rapidly as possible, ‘and receiving from her a rapid fire in return, both ible the commanding | his period I felt some Saxiety about the vurret inery, it having been ‘by many per- Striking the turret, would so derange aa ‘to stop ‘would 80 its working; but ‘Uhat 1¢ bad been twice struck and still revolved as freely as ever,I turned ack with renewed confidence and and con- e tat close every arguns taking effect upon the Muse shot from our guns of adversary, off the tron stripping fey disable her ‘WHY HE DID NOT GIVE CHASE. “The Merrimac having been thus checked in her Career of destruction, and driven back crippled ‘and discomiited, the question arises, should she have been followed in her retreat to Norfolk? ‘That such a course would commend iteelf very temptingly to the gallantry of an officer and be dimMcult to resist, is undeniable; yet I am con- Sad, indeed, did we fee. * * * Iwenton board (of the Minnesota) in our cutter and asked the captain what his prospects were of getting off. Re said he should try to get afloat at 2a. m., when it Was high water, * * * JustesI got back to th Monitor the Congress blew up, and certainly a SFander sight was never seen, bat it went straight to the marrow of ourbones. ‘Not a word was sai Dut deep did each man Unink, and wish he was the side of the Merrimac. THE FIGHT WITH THE MERRIMAC. “At 1a. m. weanchored nearthe Minnesota. The ‘captain and myvelf remained on deck, waiting for the Merrimac. At3a.m. we thought the Minne ‘sota was afloat and coming down to us, 80 we got under way a8 soon as possible and stood out to the channel After backing and filing about for an hour we found we were mistaken, and anchored again, Atdaylight we discovered the Merrimao at anchor with several other vessels under Sewell's Point, We immediately made every preparatjon for battle, At 8 a.m. (Sunday, 12th) the Merri- mac got under way, accompanied by several ‘steamers, and started directly for the Minnesota, By this time our anchor was up, the men at quar ters, and everything ready for action. As we Merrimac came down the captain ‘the word, tw commence fi 1 up the port, ran out the first gun. the gun, and ‘Thea began’ the iL bate Detween the Mon itor and” the Merrimac.” “Now, mark the condition our men and OMicers wer in. Since Friday event rest and very little fv0d,'as we coul ‘veniently cook. ‘They had been hand at work all Bight, had nothing to ent for Dreaktast exoupt hard ‘bread, and were worn out. As 51 hours, and first gun was fired we forgot all fatigue and we forgot all fatigue an hard work and everything else. and went to work ashard as men ever fought. We loaded ‘as fast as we could. Kvery shot, I would the effect, and the majority of . ‘The captain was in the movements of the vessel speaking trumpet from the tower to the pilot-house was broken, so we passed the word from the captain to myself om Ue berth deci. by Paymaster Keeler and Captain's Clerk Toffey. Five times during the engagement we (the vessels Louched each other, and each tume J fired a gun at her,and I Would vouch (hat the 168 pounds penetra ved her side. Once she Urted to run usdown with he iron prow, but did us no damage. After fightin for two Bours we hauled off for half an hour (0 48 hours, t hotst our syot in the tower. AUIt we went again ag hard as3ve could. The shot, shell, grape, can- ister, musket, and rifle balls Mew ‘about ‘us in every direction, but did no Gamage. Our tower was struck several Limes, and although the nolse was pretty loud it did not affect usany. Stoddard and one of the men were carelessly lea against the tower when a shot struck it direcuy Opposite to them and disabled hem for an Lour oF uwo. TUR CAPTAIN DISABLED. “At 11:30 the In Sent for me. I went fore Ward, and there stood as noble a man asever lived, at Une foot of the ladder of the pllot-house, His face was perfectly black with powder and iron,and he was apparenuly blind. I asked him what was the matter, and he said a shot had struck the pllot-house directly opposite his eyes, blinding ‘them, and he thought the pllot-house was dam aged. He told me to take charge of the ship and use my own discretion. I led him to his room, laid htm on a sofa, @n@ then took his position. On ex- amining Uhe pilot-house I found the iron batch on top had been knocked about halfway off, and the vinced that under the condition of affairs then existing at Hampton Roads, and the great inter- ests at stake there, all of which were entirely de- pendent upon the Monitor, good judgment and sound discretion forbade ft, It must be remem- ered that the pilot-house of the Monitor was situ- i Second, tron log from the top, om the forward side, was: evely cracked We still con~ tinued firing, the tower betng under the direction Of SUemers, We Were vow vei ween two fres—iue Minnesota on one side and the Merrimac on the other. The Minnesota had struck us twice on the ‘ower, and Ure Merrimac Was retreating to Sew- ell’s Point. I Knew if another shot should strike our pilot-house in Ube same place our sucering ap would be disabled, aud we would be al the Mercy of the batteries on Sewell’s Point, THE MERKIMAC WAS KETKEATING towards the latter place. We had strict orders to act on the defensive, and protect the Minne Sota. We had evidently finished the Merrimac, alongside the Minnesota Secretary Fox hatled ati on Fecond, and Delved as gallantly — as on Fite proud ‘and ii He