Evening Star Newspaper, November 1, 1890, Page 12

12 dl THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON * —_ D. C., SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 1, 1890-SIXTEEN PAGES. THROWING THE BONE A Game That Is Popular With Col- ored Sports. CRAP AND ITS MYSTERIES. The Clubs of Washington Where Game is Piayed—Twe Bice All the Parapherna Necded — How the Game Originated. —_— ACK was dressed in his best suit of lothes the other Sunday when he wended his way toward the river and jumped from the causeway to that piece ©. cnele Sam's land adjoining the Long bridge that promises to become a public park some time, Jack is colored, and hiv companions call his iver Lip Jack,” or “King of the Bone Tirowers.” The mention of a game of “crap” or the use of the word “bones” never fails to excite Jack's interest, as there is no other per- son in the nation’s capital who can outdo him at bis favorite game. On the Sunday mentioned his costume was ono that distinguished him from the balance of the club. None of the others dared to purchase even a second-hand suit that would give him an appearance that might give outsiders the slightest excuse for mistaking him for ‘de president.” Jack's coat and vest were of English goods with a very de- cided stripe. The stripe was in his trousers, too, and they were loud ones, ax Jack's friends declared, because every color of the rainbow was visible in them. ‘A percale shirt, a red necktie and a plug hat compieted his costume, and he was the proudest man in town when he Jumped down from the coping and asked: ~Who am de people now ‘iiainbow Jones,” the ‘“seckertary” of the rap shooters’ assembly, was also cut in fine style, while “Sloppy Weather Lumpkins,” the Ietely elected “treasury,” wore a pair of high- water trousers and a short coat. His good suit of clothes had been lost at the last game, but an old overcoat borrowed from another mem- ber covered the different-colored patches on his trousers. Denny Huskins, whose club name is “Denny the Kid,” was also present, and his remarks -about the “treasury’s” clothes evoked hearty laughter among the boys at the expense of the ove who had lost his ck 3 at the last game. OPENING BUSINESS. ‘The party was soon made up and the roll eall showed twenty-nine members present and Voting. Notwithstanding the absence of “Black Diamond” and “Slew Foot Joe” the President decided that there was a quorum Present and he would “perceed to ‘scuss de questions befo’ de meetin’.” ~Hol’ on dar, Mr. President,” shouted “Snow Bali Jacobs,” “de missin’ members am _on de road. I heah dem singing on de bridge.” ‘Sure enough they were on the bridge and in & few minutes they were on the grounds under the tree and onthe roll they were marked present. “Who am de people now?” was the question repeated by the president, and the members answered in chorus, ‘We is.” IN THE ALLEY. “Liver Lip Jack,” as the presiding officer, arose and stood ona log of wood to make his address of welcome. He began: “rodder members, you is all aware dat Jedgo Miller gays apnounced bis ‘cision in de crap club case, ad it 1s agin de bes’ interests of de club to hold firther meetin’s in de city. Dem dar lawyers did de bes’ dey could wid the case, but ‘cordin’ to de jedge it wa'n't a good case and dat’s de reason he said something "bout de grand jury. De coansel asked de Jedge for pussonal bonds, but ‘twa'nt no go, and he said dat de backin’ must be a house and lot or nothin’, an’ as we is not yet Wealthy enouf to spote dat kin’ of property we Jess thought we'd come outer town and get over here ‘tween de waters. whar de people knows no law and whur every member of dis club kin git justice.” “Dat's what and we's gwine ter git it, too, shouted “Islacit Diamond.” w bout de ingh s continued the “ts perty curion: and one what policemen doan know nothin’ nd anyhow dey ain't got no right to wid us nohow, azd 1 knows jes’ as well as we all does dat none of de high sea boats am coming up dis river.” ‘> de matter wid de police boat?” asked the Kid. ok at dar now, what bizness is dat boy gette break up de president's speech?” asked fticer. chorused the other members, iL, den, as I was about to tell vou, Ise done er spenkin’ and de bizness of dis club mus’ now be tended to.” Rainbow Jones” then read the minutes of the last mecting and by a unanimous vow the club decided tat there would ve no reciproc- ity treaty between the United States and them- ‘ong, solve: id they would declare the proved r property because their legal adviser, ‘Squire Bi. Stone.” had decided “that pos- Sessiun is nine pints Custodian “Johneing” shuck out ‘de bones” aud “de president” announced “dat ali pussons Wid a cash capital couid enter de game.” THE GAME BEGINS. “Come seben!” “Come big leben!" “Come en uow while de pots er fryin’!” shouted the ones who were risking their well-earned nick- els and dimes, “I'l go you one dat you don't big Joe dat crap. Seben-leben is gwine fer to come next.” “Shake up dem boues well and don't let de little numbers come on top all de time.” o’ de lawd! Ibelieve dat dem bones is n law.” ‘Well, here goes all I'se got and it’s de lass “Tain't nothin’ but @ dime and in the clothes. §f dat goes I walks hom “You bets, den, dat you is gwine fer to walk.” we comes, De sebeu am bound to come On to; The seven didn’t come and “Ole Hog’s” last cent was gone. The game was continued until after sundown and “Oie Hog” had to wait until after dark to go home, for he had stuked and lost those gar- Tents that yere necessary to prevent his be- coming liable to arrest as soon ag he met a copper. HOW IT ORIGINATED. The game, which is nota new one by any Means, is said to have originated in the cotton fields of the sunny south. The slaves Were not permitted to gamble or play games of any sort am the field. They could not carry packs of cards or a dice box without being caught, and ousequently they invented the game that could be pluyed with two dice thrown from the hand instead of from the tell-tale box. ‘The proper name for the game was “crop,” because it was chiefly played during the season when the crops were gathered and they could play without fear of detection. While the game is one originally confined to the colored people. and to the mule sex, it has ome more popular in later days, and now the colored females indulge in the sport it affords as well as their male friends. ‘Ihe game is one of national repute among the colored population with sporting proclivi- ties, and is played in every state in the Union as well as on the other side of the waters. At railroad depots, ou river docks and on steamers @ne never finds it dificult to get in a game. ‘Ihe deck hands on the voats invariably carry a set of bones with them, and when the boat is renniug frou oue port to another the ratuing sound of the bones is constantly heard iu among the mass of freight. The colored pas- sengersare often made victims of professional players, aud many of them lose all their mouey @ vain attempt to get “even” with the game. IN A CRAP ctUB, ‘The crap game is very simple indeed, and San be learned in twoor three throws. It is country road: Otten the players go to a house top in order to get away irom the police. The ase thrown from the band, aud two dice used } will also be the spots that Pennsylvania, ‘© turned up are the ones that are counted. Ifthe player throws seven or eleven he has made a *-pass” and the money staked is his. If, however, on the other hand he throws uum- Pere 2 | bors aggregating two, three or twelve he loses, while if any number other than the seven ai eleven and the others mentioned comes the | player scores a “point,” that is, he has another cha nd can throw again, When the first throw is made the game is shortened and the player must again score his first “point” before seven or eleven comes up, in which case his money goes, ‘The player has the appareut advantage at the first throw, but the chancea even then are against Lima, for although he may score a point he must in his next throw, in order to win, score the same point before he throws cither seven or eleven, which arc termed “crap.” v this is gencraliy the recognized way of playing the gume, different clubs arrange the details according to their own liking, play- 1 “over™ and “u is two deuces, and other comb.nations, which Lear various names. ‘The crap players about this city, while not decreasing in numbers, have been so closely looked atier by the police that they bave been forced to abaudua many of their old haunts, although bootblacks, newsbovs d others oc- cusionally chance a game on a street corner under an electric light or in an alley where they cxn have a boy on watch for the police. “Mutual improvement of members aud pro- motion of social intercourse” is the way that the crap game is designated by tha high-toned gamblers who can afford to organize and in- corporate a ciub, In these club roome the Young as well as the old are permitied to en- gage in the games of “Little Joe,” “Crap,” “Points” and ‘Passes. The game is such a popular one in some of the colored clubs that regular crap tables are made, around which the players can assemble and bet their money. ‘ihe tables are about the size of an ordinary billiard or pool table, ‘e neatly covered with green cloih. Like other gambling tables there is a hole or slot cut throuh near one end, and through the opening the expenses of tle game or the “toll down" is dropped into a box with a lock upon it so that no member of the club can rob itand continue playing longer than he otherwise would. tis estimated that in these club rooms thousands of dollars pass hands and the poorer class of gamblers are robbed of taeir earnings. Written for Tar Ev: Kondeaus. I—acremy TwnuGuT, When daylight die: stnks the sun away Behind the clou Js ting sd with his parting flame, And ‘Twilight meek, y-clad in stole of gray, Steps on to usher in the stars, and claim Her empire brief, ber mute hest I ovey. To her a tribute of sad thought I pay: { muse how fleets the meteor-light of Fame, How soon the glories of our state decay, When daylight dies, How transitory joy, how short the stay Gf the loud echoes or of praise or blame, How vain is all for which most mortals pray, I muse, and, ah, how quicisly we must say Farewell tolife, and sink to wheuce we came, When daylight dies! EPENTHE, Give me Nepenthe!—I fain would forget All the,vain toil of terrestrial things Chase of vague phantoms with pain and with fret, Sad disappointments, and Memory's stings, Baficd endeavor, and useless regret. Vain are our struggles in Destiny's not, Vain are the songs that blithe Hope to us sings, Vain are Love's roses with thorns aye boset— Give me Nepenthe! Let me long slumbe: —but vainer ‘twere yet Never to waken, and soon on the wings Worn by the soul, with no hindrance or let If, the sleep o'er, I may rise and the debt Pay to the One whence the universe springs, Give me Nepenthe? —W. L. Suormacern, —— ee LEWIS NOT INVOLVED. Who the “Colonel” of Birchall’s Ace quaintance in London Is. It appears that the “colonel” described by Mr. Stevens of Montreal as an intimate friend of Birchall, the murderer, is not the Col. Lewis whose name was found registered at Morley’s in London, The “colonel” in question is Col. J. E. Lewis of 11 Wall street, New York, who was in London at the time of the murder. The gentleman is well known in business circles and was merely a casual acquaintance of Birchall, who was introduced to him through an accidental meeting in the smoking room of Morley’s Hotel by airiend of Col. Lewis, who also knew Birchall, Col. Lewis was for many years a broker in New York and Philadelphia and made the financial ar: ments for the iding of many water works in the United States, At Morley’s Hotel Col. Lewis was introduced to Lirchall as the son-in-law of Mr. Stephenson of the London aud Northwestern railway, Col, Lewis having as a friend the gentleman wio furnished this information and who is e:: in the business of railway equipment and who cultivated Birchall with a view to busi He invited Birchall to ding with h.w family and introduced him to Yarchall called at the latter’s ouice with Benwell and made am appointment for three days later. The gentleman kept t pointment and then learned that Birc, jeft suddenly for Canada, ‘The gentle “When Birchail left Morley’s Hotel b bi i 1. Lewis’ attempt to conneet Col. Lewis wii case must iall to the ground. as scores of iriends who met him every day during the firs: ty. Gov. Hill at Hartford. Gov. Hill of New York arrived at Hartford, Conn., last evening. After lunch he was driven to Allyn Hall, where he was greeted by 2.000 people. He was introduced by ex-United States Senator Eaton, He alluded to the effucts of the McKinley bill upon the interests of the laboring men and consumers of the country, and argued that the effect of free wool would be to imparta stimuius to the manufacturing and laboring interests that could uot be equalied by any other act, — vee A Twelve-Ounce Baby, A baby boy, born to Mrs. Michael McGinn, of Newark, N.J., om August 15, now weighs but three-quarters of a pound. Its existence has been kept a secret lest the too frequent visits of curious people should endanger its health, The doctor who attended the case considers it wonderful that so smalla child should live, as it was @ premature birth. There is nothing abnormal or deformed about it, the only man- ner in which it differs from other babies being in size. ‘The hands and feet are uo larger than the claws of a bird, but the child is healthy and has every chance of living. ‘The fa‘her is pow- erfully built and works in the steel works, Mre. “McGinn is also lage and is doing well. ‘Lhe case is regarded as one of the most wou- derful known in the medical profession. Mr. and Mrs, McGinn have four other children of ordinary siz ————+eo—____ The Yale-Princeton Match, Interest in the Thanksgiving game between the Yale and Princeton foot ball elevens at Brooklyn is increasing rapidly in athletic ctr- cles, The large scores made by the Yale and Princeton elevens in former seasons against weaker teams have been missing this year. Now that Harvard shows up stronger than ever before, she may battle with the orange aud c! formerly, Yale ig stroug in the rush In the center ‘ticularly their team seems invulnerable. The Princeton men do not seem able to break through with the cus- tomary ease of Princeton teams. ‘Their block- ing does not sppear of the best either, ———_o-——_—_— Harty Rates to Paria Buvr Lixe.—The B. and 0. ELPRIA via Rovan RR. Co, will sell excursion tickets from Washington to Philadel- phia at rate of one fare for the round trip for all trains Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2 and goo for fifteen days trom date of sale. tickets sold to other points in the state of THE CLAY BATTALION. Men Who Organized for the Defense of the Capital in 1861, FIRST DAYS OF THE WAR. Personal Recollecti f the Existing Events in Washingtoa in April, 1861— The Fear of a Confederate Movement Upon the Capital. ———_ Written for Tre Evenrxo STAR. T THE beginning of the war, in 1561, the national capital, comprising all the public buildings, official records and treasures of money, was wholly unpro- tected, There was not a fort, mounted §Uu or armed sentinel standing for its defense. It is doubtful if any other nation ever per- mitted its capital to remain so exposed, even ma time of profound peace, much less with the dark clouds of war hanging over it. A few before the seating of President Lincoln I saw the Capitol for the first time. It was then unfinished and tall derricks stood at the north and south ends for hoisting stone into place. The dome resembled the frame of an umbrella without covering, except that its bare iron ribs extended only half way to the top. Thero Was @ man in charge of the grounds to whom I expressed my admiration for the building, and was considerably surprised to hear him say. he “didu’t suppose it would over be finished; that it stood on southern soil and in the di- vision of states it would naturally belong to the south and would be taken down and removed toa more central location,” [is remarks were significant, as reflecting the ideas of men in higher positions, for he would n: thought of such things if he had not from others. Other southern men asked: * you believe the north will fight?” They seemed to think that the republic could be rent asun- der aud the souti take the lion's share of the spoils even without the spilling of blood. ANXIETY AFTER THE SUMTER BOMBARDMENT. The bombardment of Sumter brought mat- ters to a sudden crisis—and the war was already begun. Much anxiety was felt by Union men in Washington regarding the national capital. Should it fall into the hands of the seceders, then secession would become an accomplished fact from the beginning. Congress had just adjourued, but some of the members still’ re- mained in Washington to transact Lusinesss at the departments, aud there wero visitors and ottice seekers from the north to the number of several hundred. An article appeared in ‘Tue NG STAR suggesting the organization of 1 for the defense of the capital, call- ing a mecting for that purpose at the armory in Armory square. I went at the hour in- dicated, énd gave them my name and place of but nothing came of it, ‘Iwo or three days afterward (April 17 or 13), two mon arrived irom Kichmoud and stopped at the Nw tional Hotel, They were northern men, who iness in the south, but had were meeting to; mevery village and hemlet aud cross-roads, and were forming companies and drilling with muvkets, and where muskets were not to be had they used pitckforks or other implemen:s that first came to hand, and they declared that in less tian s might the southern dag should float o: national capital.” was more likely 0. the isth of April, Virginia Fasscd the ordiwace of secessivi on the 17th, and it must have been that act which created the ‘blaze of excitement” ad emboldened men to sa or the 5 FH ting about the puss nance of gion, al they a mentioned it, But their great object se to be toimpress their hearers with the fact th it was necessary to do something immediately for the defense of the capital, Such, in brief, was thcir story, which was y 200 perso: ular guests of filled) a grea to mevt friends and emed the house (aud it was then we went there « there, I ba crowd on what was regu quent orators momentous occa- the minds of sions,” who ewaye gained their upplause, but I never bh oration that was listened to so eageri tently as were the simple words of these two men, or that carried decper convictions of th: necessity of immedinte action. tioa of Washington The Presi 000 acm, but at migh ial days before any of them would reach Washington, ORGANIZING VOLUNTEERS, Two organizations of voluntecrs were now effected, composed principally of the northern and western men who were transiently in Washington, with afew from the District of Columbia and the southern states, One was commanded by Hon. Jas. H. Lane of Kansas and took the name of Frontier Guards, and tered at the White House. Of their es 1 know nothing. ‘The other was com- manded by Col, Cassius M. Clay and was calied the Clay Datialion and had quarters in a large hali adjoin.ng Wallard’s Hote! (formerly G Church.) In effecting the organization Clas exercised great cautiousness, with almost suvage severity, No one could join his com- mand or get access to bis headquarters unless he was knowa to him or was vouched for by some oue with whom he was acauninted. He had rooms at the hotel near the en- trance to the hall, where he registered the names and then conducted them into the hall. The process was this: Eiht or ten meu would form in line upon the floor, when, each being vouched for, the colonel en- tered their names ou the company roll and then marched them past the guards into the hail, One incident only needs to be given to ilustrate his caution aud severity. A man who was tall and fine .ooking took luis piace in & squad that was being formed, who was un- known to Mr, Clay, and beg asked who vouched for him answered “his member of Congress,” giving his name. Clay pushed him into the corner of the room and told him to stand there till somebody should come to identify bim, The unknown man stood awhile, but getting tired of standing started to go, su; ing “he would bring lis member of Cou- gress.” But with a large navy revolver againet his breast and « bigger oath hurled at his head, Clay thrust him back into the corner and told him he would shoot him down in his tracks if he moved ayaiu without leave. At first, and joralony time, this seemed to me to be un- necessurily rough. But, when we consider the circumstances, this was really the only safe course and he was fully justified (saving the oath) by the rules of war. ENCAMPED IN WILLARD HALL, There was a passage twenty feet in length leading from the hotel, occupied by the volun- teers, at each end of which a guard was sta- tioned, and no one without the password could pass the first guard. If any one desired to see Mr. Clay, or any one els: of his command, he could come no further than the first guard, The battalion numbered more than 100 (as I believe) on the night of organization, and, as shown by the muster roil now in the hands of Col. W. 8. Lamon, 310 in all. They were armed with breech-loading carbines, which carried an ounce ball, as it was stated—and they were said to be very destructive weapons —but without bayonets Danie E? Buster: field (afterward colonel of the twelfth New York) was @ member and rendered valuable services in getting the men into something like military shape aud in drilling them. Without knowing who our drill master was, at first, or that he was a graduate of West Point, we knew that he understood his business and that every- thing went “like clockwork.” The hall was unfurnished, having neither nor carpet, Alter an hour spent in drill aud in giving and receiving instraction squads were formed of eight to ten men each, and three or four wore sent out simultaneously, who spelen the strects from Georgetown to the Navy Yard and Meridian Hilland in other directions, An uprising of the people in sympathy with the secession movement was anticipated, by which, accord- ing to some J egeermanns signal, they might simultaneously get possesion of the public buildings, Therefore the guards were told to “keep a sharp lookout in every direction and in all parts of the city.” A southern state flag had been suspended over Pennsylvania avenue, midway between the Capitol and White House, but before this time was withdrawn; yet the club room whose emblem it was would bear chairs watching. Those not on squad duty disposed of themselves upon the bare floor with army blankets for pillows, 4 YOUNG PaTRIOT. On the night of their organization a young man was found near the house of Secretary Seward with a pair of horses and buggy and a colored man foracompanion and both had revolvers, The colored man and the team wore placed uader end the white man was taken into Clay's headquarters, The men were standing in line—in double ranks—as he entered the bail, armed with their carbines, and be was conducted past and 1n front of them tothe head of the column, where Mr. Clay stood with a belt around him ontside his blue coat from which depended a pair of navy re- volvers and a long bowie knife—Kentucky style. Not knowing whether he was among friends or enemies at first he refused to give any account of himself. Clay asked him “why he was at Mr. Seward’s house and so late at night,” but he made no answer. Mr. Clay finally said: “We are all friends of Mr. Seward and if you are his friend no harm will come to you.” With this assurance he said he was from Alexandria; that he had seen Governor Seward once and had given him in- formation and had promised to give him more in case he should leara anything; that there had been a great dinner at one of the hotels in Alexandria (where he was waiter); that many southern generals and other military men were Present; that they sat several hours over their wine, talking over their plans for immediate action, which included the capture of Washing- ton and Harper's Ferry. He gave the names of the generals or others who were to have com- mand of the difierent undertakings, the nam- ber of men each was to have and the routes by railroad or otherwise by which they were to travel. The plan for tal: plant cannon on Arlingtu ness of Saturday might, and, at the tine for beginning of church service Sunday morn- ing, to demand the surrender of the city, and, in case of refusal, to open fire with shells and burn it to the ground. Such in bricf was the substance of the young man’s story; at the concluston of which Coi. Clay sent a guard with him to Mr. Seward’s house, and he was aroused and forced to get up at3 o'clock in the morning. I much regret that 1am unable to give the name of the young man (tien about eightecn), who hazarded his life on that eventiul night to serve country. He deserves to be honorably remembered as one of the heroes of the war. FORTIFYING GEORGETOWN HEIGHTS. Arlington Heights at that time was covered with a heavy growth of hard-wood timber that would ufford a very convenient cover for artil- lery, About sunrise on the same morning that Mr. Seward was called up heavy artiliery went thundering up Pennsylvania avenue end was planted on Georgetown Heights, from w Arlington is in casy rauge, being a mile and a half or two miles ‘distant. Later in the day and the day foliowing scouts were sent over to scour the woods of Arlington for batteries of artillery, but nothing was found, ‘iy was the 19h of April, and late in the afternoon the Sixth Massachusetts reached Washington, with Gurty-six men wounded and four killed in passing through Baltimore, Lut their presence under the circumstances afforded no encour- agement, but rather mereased the anxiety. ‘due rough treatment they had received in Baltimore was disheartening, and the more 60 because that was the only way by which troops could come by raiiroad to the relicf of Washington, On the evening of the day of the riot telegrams passed between the President and the mayor or marshal of Baltimore, which were read wt Clay’s Leadquar- ters by the reporter of the New York /ieraid Mr. Jon’t have any more troops i 3altimore for God's sake.” The President auswered that “Other troops are on the road and must come through Baltimor Uther dispatches followed; one trom Baitim suid, “We nre at che mercy of the mob and sive the troops no protection,” and a telegrain from the President said something about the Koverument fort inthe harbor being directed to shell the eity in case more troops were sauited, The reporter of the Herald was back uk boiween tue White House, the War Of- Slay’s headquarters till late in the nigh aicies and telling what was go. resident could come to no agre ¥ telegraph, the latter ob 5 60 having more troops seat through aud the that way, CUTIING OFF COMMUNICATIONS, During the night the secessionists of Balti- more settled ¢ President claiming they must come 1 tearing up the railroad track, ¢ off all connection with the norti, fies or other means of com- ion with the outside world the gloom ned, Men now had a great de: wve Washiugion and #ome paid extravs sud almost fabulous sums to be carried 1 . and others of southern bi as to get south, and ina 2 # considerably thinned eat population, Whether the garded the city asa sinking ship or their busi- hes called not be told. to be a time of were filled with ap- ead. ildan e and perl the spilliug of blood, had gone by. wo be 8 without But now c.osing in around us size tor the posses al, and it might eventually be eral thousand sod there might and others batteries farther doen tion with Wash- y was Occupied reports 0: were said to be erce the river to cut off evn ington by water; Harper's Fer by the enemy and there were somebody Luving seen troops crossing the Po- iuto Maryland. sometimes above aud sometimes below Waslington; and Baltimore, according to the official statements of the tarshal and mayer, wa: vonirolied by the —another name in thatinstance for seces- sionists, GUARDING THE NAVY YARD. And there was as yet comparatively but a handful of men in Washington under arms— aot enoush to hold the city against the vigor- ous attack of 1,000 disciplined mon. At this time there were # good many resignations in the d:fferer artinents of the government, t als taking their departure for y. Among the more im ys the author of the of Commodore Buchanan rd, who took with him severai other subordinate ofiicers, This was on Mon- Commander J. A. Dahlgren, nd, requested that acom- sent there to guard the prop- y Battalion was detailed for ‘There was a rumor which came at an attempt would be made to seize or burn the property, Before starting on the march to the nay d Col. Clay made one of his characteristic speeches, about as follows: “Comrades: Perhaps the time has come when we shali be required to prove our loyaity and toshow for what purpose we are organized aud armed, and if it is ordained that we should have our throats cut before the sun rises to- morrow morning i hope that uo ons will show ite feather, but that every maa will do his duty My words may fail to do him justice, al- though they convey the substance of luis speech, He was capable of makin eloquent and ringing speech in well-chosen words. But at that time, surrounded as he was by secession- ists who sought his life and whom he hated as ardently as they hated him, he was always somber and stern and seemed to look only on the gloomy side. Ho never smiled or jestcd or sowed the least bit of humor in his speech, ‘The nearest he ever came to doing so was when a report got into & Montgomery paper to the effect that he was in Washington and in com- mand of a gang of 1,009 cutthroats, when he said that that didn’t hurt him, and he would as soon they should think he had 5,000 as 1,000, THE POST OF HONOR, On arriving at the navy yard a guard was placed around the grounds and the rest of the men, some forty or fifty, found quarters as best they might in alarge ship building, I took lodgings i the folds of a large sail that was suspended hammock-like over a beam, At 12 o'clock a relief guard was called for, and being uncomfortubly bent up and chilly in tho sail jumped out and was the first to respond to the corporal’s call; and for my promptness I was assigned the “post of honor” (as he told me, although I didn’t know what it meant), My beat was next the river, and it was much more comfortable marching back and forth four rods under the starlight and with a good musket thant was in the sail. We expected the attack Said come (if at all) from Alexan- dria and by way of the river. And we peered out into the darkness which hung over the broad wate: ff the Potomac, trying to get sight of an enemy that wo hoped would not come, About sixty yards off lay a Jong. low black steamer that had been captured and which about 3 o'clock a.m. showed signs of getting up steam. After holding a short coun- cil with tho sentry next to me we concluded to Teport the fact that the vessel was making team to the commandant of the yard, which did through the corporal of the guard, and word was returned that it was all right “and according to orders.” About an hour later Commander Dabigren came out of his resi- dence in full dress uniform,and being lenged gave the password, “Massachusetts,” and then descended the steps to the water’ 2, got into his we suspicious Soselaeaninnere slowly and silently away, I now understood what the corporal meant by post of honor. HOW THESE EVENTS ARE CHRONICLED, Tho author of the “Life of Lincoln” mentions these two volunteer organizations as follows (Century Magazine, April, 1888): April 18.—‘The city was yet full of office seekers from the various states, north and west, Cassius M. Clay of Kentucky and Senator-cleo Washington was to | Jas. H. Lane of Kansas, both men of mark and | cou: fter an evening or two of gaming speech making, organized them respectively into the Clay Battalion and the Fronticr Guards, These companies, of from thirty to | sixty men each, were what might be called | irregular volunteers, recruited from east aud | West, of all ranke in the great army of politics, who came forward to shoulder a musket with- out enlistment, commission, paymaster or com- missariat, By this time the danger bad be- come so threatening that every scrap and show of military force was welcome and reaily use ful. The government furnished them arms! and gave them in charge of Major (afterward | General) David Hunter, who on the evening of ; tho 18th stationed Ciay’s company in Wiliard Hall with orders to patrol the streets, and took Lane's Frontier Guards to the post of honor at the Executive Mansion, At dusk they fil-d into the famons east room, clad in | citizens’ dress, but carrying very new untat- uished muskets, and following Lane brandish- ing a sword of itreproachable brightness. Here ammunition boxes were opened and cartridges dealt out, and after spending the evening iu au exceedingly rudimentary drill under the light of the gorgeous chandeliers they disposed of themselves in picturesque bivouacs on the brilliant-patterned velvet ear- pets— perhaps the most luxurious cautonment which American soldiers have ever enjoyed. Their motley composition, their tuo frans- Prrent mokve, their ancmalous surroundings. the extraordinary emergency, their mingled awkwardness and carncetness, rendered the scene # medley of bizarre contradictions, & blending of masquerade aud tragedy, of grim | humor and realistic seriousness—a com tion of Don Quixote aud Daniel Boone—alto- gether impossible to describe. However, the.r special guardianship of the east room lasted ouly for a night or two, until more suit- able quarters could be extemporized, and tor many days they lent a morai influence im re- pressing and overawing the lurking treason till present ine considerable fraction of the Washington inhabitants,” CORRECTING UTSTORY. Such is the graphic description in the “Life of coin” of the scene as it appeared on that momentous night, which, for artistic mingling of humor and reality, is worthy the pen of a Dickens, and whick no doubt wi.l cause a smile on the countenance of those who were then actors and who still live to read the judgment which impartial history places npon the man- ner in which they formed their parts. And perhaps there is not much in the description that can be objected to, They are credited with “exerting a healthy moral intluence in the repressing of treason,” and that is a good deal. ut it occurs to me that the words “too trans- parent motive,” which I have put in italics, ought to be qualified, or, perhaps, omitted al- toxether. Bovoud doudt there were many, and probably the greater number, who voluntarily took up arms on that occasion who were actu- ated by the purest motives of patriotism, with no other thought than that of serving their country in the hour of need, while the words objected to impugn the motives of all. I would not like to pass a wholesale judgment npon the motives of meu who are acting for the pubiic welfare lost £ wrong them, Again speaking of the night of the 22d of April, when Commodore Buchanan resigned ae the same author says lnable naval depot, with all its vast stores of material, its immense work- shops and priceless machinery. was intrasted soluiy to the loyalty and watcutuluess of Com- mander John A. Dahigren and a little handful of marines, scare cuough in numbers to have batiled half a dozen adroit incendiaries, or to ascertain the street gossip outside the establishment.” It is to be regretted that the above paragraph should have appeared in print in the “Life of Lincoln,” It is of little consequence who stood guard on any night of that exciting period, and perhaps the hisiorian might well have passed over th rin silence, but it mon- Uoned at all the record should be truthful. As already stated the Clay Guards were on duty at the 1. i the night mentioned, which Fa ihe loners due to Com- ren, and to whom praise im- y credited would be oifensive, td number of men, “thirty to nization is much too small, been much less than 190 y battalion the first night, aud n iderably mor,, aud many mor ithe next Col. W. S. Lamon sives the names of some of the privates, as totows: From Penusyly: lasha A. Grow, David Wilmot, Cok J. H. Campbeli. _L. Dutcher. Abrahaia Wakeman. Wm, Millward and Phil, Cc. MeP ‘Tennessee—Gov. John F. Votter and Gen. mander There conid not bi in the Ch Wm. Bell; Wisconsin- Ruras Mi. King; District of Colaabia—P. Washingtoa; New Hamp New York —J. Amasa McCo; ENROLLING VOLUNTEERS, Theso were of the number who were better known, several of whom were Congressmen, and others held equally responsible positions, patriotic, and were equally williug to serve ne hour of heed. “About 8 »vening of their or- ber, among whom mes are in the above list, eland went to Willard’s, xement, to join the organi- zation, There was already a good-sized cor. pany e doubie guard, pre- viously mentioned, was already set. I saw one or two syuads enroiled and conducted into the hall bofore my turn came tobe enrolled, Oa ig the hali muskets (carbines), cartride » belts and ammunition were dis- tributed, and Sergt. Butterfield (after- wari general) d the men ia the Iaanual of arms and in compauy tactics. ‘Their service was princip to patrol tho streets at night and do guard duty, and they had authority to arrest ad libitum’ all pers found on the rtreets atter 9 o'clock without the ‘The city was uot declared to be 1 law, according to my recollec- : it was 80. And a company of 2 volunteers were clothed by the War De- partment with extraordinary powers. 1 lad iers to shuot mot y man who should at my command or who should at- s my bent without the correct pass- not obliged to resort treme measures, Aiter the squads ntout there wes @ fair-sized miutary P in the These sat or reclined upon the floor as they found most convenicat, Some had pencils and tubicis aud wrote letters to the:r friends or to the newspapers or con- cerning matters of business, During their term of service many of them were not undressed, and what sleep they got yas With coats and boots on and lying ‘upon bare floor with an army blanket for a pil- low. ‘They were formed into two companies, David Webb of New York being captain of the first company and J. £, Vinton of Albany, Wis, captain of the second company. Henry Dixon of Alexandria was first lieutenant of the seco:.d y.who in physique and character much abled Clay, Like him he was stout, weigh- something over 200, and was somber aud stern, and withal @ southern abolitionist, It was given out that he would not be allowed to vote at the preciuct where he resided, but he went to the poll, revolver in hand, aud voted an open ballot for Mr, Lincoln. A few days after their organization Col. Clay tendered tie services of his command to tho Secretary of War for thirty days in any place or capacity whero they might be needed, INCREASED ANXIETY, Ihave previously mentioned the feelings of anxiety that prevailed prior to the night of doing duty at the navy yard, From this time forward the forebodings increased and tho suspense became almost intolerable. The feel- ing at this time is very forcibly described by the author of “Life of Lincoin,” who, after speaking of Mr. Lincoln’s usual great courage and hopefulnesg, say: But once, on the afternoon of the 23d, the business of the day being over, the executive office deserted, after waiking the floor in silent thought for nearly half an hour, he stopped and gazed long and wistfully out of the window down the Potomac in the direction of the expected ships (with soldiers) and unconscious of any presence in the room, atlength broke out with irre; sible anguish in the repeated exclamation, ‘Why don’t they come! Why don’t they come!’” Nothing less than a sense of real danger could cail forth such exclamutions from one so brave and hopeful as Mr. Lincoln was. It was now nine days since the President issued bis left the Nationa according to arrs Eg box the first regiment reached Washington by way of Baltimore. and the communication with the north was still cut off. But two days of still more intense anxiety were yet to be eudured. ‘There was great north with thousands of brave hearts and strong arms who were get- ting ready to come to the relief of the be- the city be laid in ashes. THE WELCOME NEW YORK SEVENTH. But relief came at last on the 26th of April the famous seventh New York regiment reached the city, and as they marched up Pennsylvania avenue to the iting music of their Bas togimantel bend. Gece or tae head the stars and stripes, their well-filled Paeeesg per ed a a a bear- proclamation asking for troops, and four since |" i ital, but another i A young woman who hed a check for $14 on a itd dentine! rs ae certain Detroit bank presented it at the back: “I want this money awfal bad, yours traly, please pay the bearer." and audibly thanked God that He had ordained | that the nacion’s capital should not fall into the | bands of its enemies. We may not be able to tell what effect these voluntary organizations had toward the saving of Washington and the result of the war, but this much is true: At the time when the tal was supposed to be in danger of falling into the hands of its enemies they volunteered their services, and during the darkest week of that dark period (from the 18th to the 25th of April) afforded an efficient guard both day and | night and without pay or the expectation of reward. But the aged veteran who stood on the piazza at Willard’s struck the right note; for it was never decreed by Him who rules over the destinies of nations that the republic | should be broken in pieces and a “confed. eracy” est hed on its ruins, having for its | foundation the right of human slavery. My discharge is dated May 4, 1861, in which the Secretary of War expresses “his ap tion of the services rendered by the voi in the time of danger, a sentiment in the President fully concurs,” and is signed Lincotn A third of a century has nearly passed since the occurrence of the events herein narrated, and most of the men who took part in those | scenes are gone, and in a few years more all | will have passed away. A Meauen oF THe Cray Rarratrox October, 1890. or VoLUNTEERS, ———__ How Wallie Toddie Made a Bad Mistake. From Life. SL dd On the way to Miss A.’s house he accom- panies Miss 1. for a short distance, And naturally offers to relieve ber of her parcel. Wallie presents his little birthday gift to Miss A., And the unfolding was a surprise to both, Written for Tax Evexrxe Stan. 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