Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1898, Page 10

10 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1898-24 PAGES YEARIN THE DISTRICT (Continued from Fifth Page.) general staff was reconstructed. Major McIntire, commissary general, was made quartermaster general; Major Newmeyer, chief of ordnance, was made commissary xeneral, and Major Tierney, quartermaster general, was made chief of ordnance; Major Alexander, inspector general, was made colonel of the first regiment, to succeed Coi. Moore, who resigned; Capt. Ourand, aid-de-camp, was made inspector general; Major Smithmeyer, chief of engincers, re- signed ‘The troop of cavalry was disbanded be- cause of the expense of maintaining 4 mounted organization, and for the s the light battery di: Separate Compan: part of the Engineer Battatior signed organiz: Hd Separd eterans, banded. engineer talion, ad been enlisted men, me acting 3d and 6th Battalions were wiv existence, the two companies of the Battalion being transferred to th talion and those of the ith Battalion to the 4th Battalion. ow imensea, of Comp: . Was jor of the ‘the 2d t Band was disbanded nd orgamzed. In view of the re- ton the annual inspection of the S$ Was not held. » National Guard went into Fort Washington, Md., June 10, ump at Te- s ten days, the results Company is, 2d onio, Texas, mained under canv: being entirely gratifying. Battalion, journeyed to San An in July for the purpose of participating in an interstate competitive dmil. Phe com- pany won second place and 31,000 in cash. A volunteer detachment of guardsmen visited sea Girt, N. J., In September aud participated in some of the rifle matches heid there. The brigade was not oificially represented by a team at Sea Girt. ‘A series of rifle matches between com- pany, battalion and regimental teams was held in the rifle gallery during February, March and Aprii. The were resumed in December. Tae a rifle matcaes of the National Guard were held during October at the Ordway range, in conjunction with the second annual meet- ing of the National Rifie Association. Tae meet was a decided success. Lieut. Col. Theodore Mosher, who had been connected with the brigade for five years, was relieved from duty in July and ordered to resume his duties as captain of one of the companies of the United States Infantry. Charles H. Heyl, @ captain of the 23d United States In : wus assigned to succeed Capt. Mosher a adjutant general of the District militia, and was commissioned as such, with the rank of colonel. Capt. Herbert J. Slocum, United States Cavalry, was assigned duty with the local brigade as ins . Late in the year Lieut. Col. Urell of the 2d Regiment was made colonel of that com- mand. while Major Richard A. O'Brien of the 2d Battalion was made lieutenant colonel of the 2d Regiment. Among the Officers who resigned were Major W. C. McIntire, quartermaster general; Major E. R. Campbell of the 4th Battalion, and Capt. E. A. Shilling, under whose command Com- pany B, 2d’ Battalion, won the title of champion military company of the United States at Savannah, Ga., in 18%, and sec- ond prizes in the interstate drills heid at Memphis, Tenn., in 1895, and San Antonio, Texas, last July. Capt. James E. Beil, in- spector general of rifle practice, and Capt. Parmenter, quartermaster, both of Regiment, were made inspector gen- of rifle practice and quartermaster respectively, with the rank of eral general, major on the general staff. ‘The Weather. The weather presented no especially re- warkable aspects during the year. The coldest time was new year had becun, January when the mercury went down to 8 degre low zero. soon after the There were two distinct shocks of earth- quake felt in Washington May 31, Dezora- tion day. At the naval observatory the otibl min"! the v no there iced per. about a present quake ly the ther bu- oticed nothing out ef the Persons sitting in the upper the Capitol were cons ious of a of the immens ng, which The shock was ted for several second: felt in rent sections of the city. It w reported by the weather bureau that the shock lasted five minutes~its maximum du- ration. The ce! a wind storm, aecompaied te > downpour of rain, the night of August 10. The damage but houses in the vicinity of on were struck by lightning. st day of year was Satur- @ay, mber 11, when the mercury P climbed up te ‘grees. Cuban Question. During the past year the cause of Cuba has been kept before the people of the Dis- trict and a great deal of sentiment in favor of the freedom of the islarid has been shown. On May 17 a mass meeting was held in Columbia Theater and prominent national and local speakers pleaded the cause of the afflicted islan Again, on there was a similar assembiage at the National Theater. But greatest event of the year of local interest to the people of the District was the heroic act of a Washington boy, Kari Decker, who a report by Lieut. Col. G. J. Allen, show- ing that the proposed plan of widening the bridge for street railway purposes is of questionable feasibility from an engineer- Ing standpoint. Col. Allen suggested the desirability of the. reconstruction of the whole bridge and superstructure in case it is proposed to subject it to any. additional weight or strain. The matter is still under consideration by Congress. According to the District Commissioners the appropriation for the ordinary care and repair of bridges has been for some years too small to permit any but the most necessary repairs to be made, and these in the most economical manner possible. They say that a limit has now been reach- ed which cannot be passed with safety, as several of the bridges are in a danger- ous condition, requiring repairs beyond the means of the Commissioners. In the last apprcepriation act the Com- missioners were directed to obtain by competition plans for a bridge across Rock creek on the line of Connecticut avenue exiended. These pians have been prepared and will be submitted to Congress with de- tailed estimates in a few days. The work of widening P street bridge over Rock creek, as provided for in the last appropria- tion act, is now practically finished. Under the act of Congress approved May 2s, 1896, the Capital Railway Company was authorized to run its lines operated by electricity across the Navy Yard bridge. The District Commissioners thought the bridge was not sufficiently strong for such . and Capt. Black, the Engineer Com- ced by a more modern structure. The railroad company contend that it will be impossible for them to operate thelr cars on the bridge by the underground system of electricity, and is endeavoring to se- cure the passage of an act of Congress which will enable them to use an over- head trolley system on the bridge. The dilapidated Long bridge continues to disgrace the national capital, and it is a source of regret that at the end of the year 1t was even in worse condition than at the beginning. Luckily the vear ed without a freshet and so the city 4 what might have proved a se- s ster through the damming up of the river by the Long bridge. The brick makers and others who have occasion to make frequent use of the Long bridge in their business have again petitioned the authorities to compel the railroad com- pany ia control to put the approaches and seways of the bridge in at least a pass- able condition. The matter is now in the hands of Col. Allen of the Corps of Engi- neers, who will endeavor to compel the railroad conmpany to live up to its charter and keep the bridge in good condition. The Public Schools. The year was marked by commendable activity in the public schools and excellent results were accomplished. It has been truly sald that our peopie have a just pride in the high standard of efficiency which has Leen maintained in every department of their system of public instruction. A new feature which has received their special commendation has been that of manual training, and the board of school trustees is receiving general support In its efforts to secure the establishment of a manual training high school as a necessary adjunct to the present system. : ‘The daily enroiiment of pupils during the year averaged about 43,500, being an in- crease of about 500 as compared with the previous Of this number 28,000 were white, 15,500 colored; 21,000 males and 22,- 500 females. There are now 1,107 teachers, an increase of thirty-six over the preceding year. Several changes in the organization of the board of trustees occurred during Par. the year. Mrs. M. B. Tulloch succeeded Mrs. L. R. § trustee for the sixth division; ar succeeded Dr. A. H. Witmer enth and eighth divisions ed Dr. F. J. ions; Dr. C ce eighth div H. Richardson sv Jed Mr. A. Cornish in the eleventh division, Mr. Thos. H. Wright suc- ceeded Mr. B. K. Bruce as trustee for the h division. The hold-over trustees are rs. Barnard, Harries, Whelpley, Hazen, m and Mrs. Terrell. ‘he appointment of Messrs. Brown and Richardson as grustees of the colored schools provoked considerable discussion among the colored pecple, and a strong ppeal was made to the District Commis- to reconsider their action in this ‘The agitation finally died out, how- and the appointments were allowed ‘and. In January last Dr. F. R. vane was ap- poirted principal of the high schools, and has faithfully discharged the duties of that ever. to effice ever since. Miss Eva May Pitts, teacher in the Central High School, was dropped from the rolls for insubordina- tion in June last. Before the opening of the present schoo] term the board of trus- tees merged the two branches of the Nor- mal Scheol into one and established it in the Franklin building. Up to that time one branch of the school was located in the Franklin building and the other in the Dennison building. A proposition to locate the consolidated schools in the Henry building was defeated by the school trus- tees at their meeting in May. At a later meeting the board decided in favor of foot ball playing in the public schools under certain restrictions in the line of safety to the players. Fair progress was made during the year in the movement for additional school fa- cilities to meet the growing demands of the District. The Wallach building, on D street between 7th and Sth streets, the old- est of the modern school buildings, was en- Urely reconstructed and reopened for hool purposes, with additional accommo- dations. The original building was first occupied in 1864. The Anthony Bowen -hool for colored children, corner 9th and Streets, was also rebuilt and enlarged, and is once more in use for educational purpos An effort was made to secure rescued Miss Cisneros from a filthy Spanish prison. The grand reception given Miss Cisneros and Mr. Decker at Convention Hall excited much enthusiasm for the cause of Cuba. Although no new bri were construct- ed in this vicinity during the past year, preliminary steps were taken for at least four important structures of that chara. ter, chief of which is the proposed mem- orial across the Potomac from the rvatory grounds at the foot of New k » to the Arlington reservation in Virginia. Acting under authority of a provision of law enacted at the last ses- Lieut. Col. Charies A. Allen, Corps of nducted a thor- is expe t giv De plans has a survey for a bridge across neh of the Potomac on husetts av his vestward. eyed by agineers, duct, un- in char der aut » District of Col appr approved Mareh His report on that subject is now ngress. He submitted two plans—o. steel bridge with stone foundat n estin cost of $ BH, a other for a earch U ne ie ing this e stone of the peopie strict and in the end prove the mo} Rep: duct bridge were con- tinu year with fairly satis- factor) but the cold weather set in before actors were to com- plete the construction of pier 4, the conditicn of which was found to be so bad as to endanger th safety of th entire ructure. ‘The repairs to this pier will be Tesumed as soon as the weather permits, and the work hastened to an early comple- tion. There has been considerabie contro- versy during the over the use of the Aqueduct bridge for railroad traffic. The Washington, Arlington and Falls Chure! Railroad Company is making a strong move to secure permission to lay tracks on this bridge in order to enter the city of George- town. But the company recentiy over- Feached itself in an arbitrary attempt to lay its tra over night without the knowl- edge or conSent of the Secretary of War or the District Commissioners. The result was the arrest and conviction in the Police Court of the representatives of the com- pany concerned in this attempt. A bill was introduced in the Senate au- thorizing the widening of the Aqueduct bridge for street railway purposes. It was Feferred to the District Commissioners for an opinion. They reported in favor of the _ for laying a car track on the bridge. e bill was referred to the Secretary of ‘War, and in December last he made a re- port on the subject to Congress, inclosing the removal of this school to another lo- cation in South Washington, but it failed. ‘The only new school building in the city opened during the year is the Hayes school, at the corner of 5th and K streets northeast. It is an eight-room building of approved design and construction. Other buildings in the county opened during the year are the Langdon, a four-room build- ing at Langdon: the Reservoir school, a four-room building on the Conduit road, and the Chevy Chase school, a four-room building near Chevy Chase, just inside the District limits. The brick building at Con- gress Heights was remodeled from a four- room to an elght-room building by the ad- ition of another story. The increased fa- | cilities gained by these new and recon- structed buildings resulted in a_ material re- duction in the number of half-day schools | and consequently in better school accom- |} modations for the pupils. The construc- | on of the Western High School building, a corner of 35th and T streets, is well It is now under roof and will and ready for occupancy e completed early this year. At a recent meeting of the school trus- It was Cecided to create the office of musical director of the colored schools, nd Mrs. Alice Strange Davis was ap- nted to the place as the result of a ompetitive examination, conducted by a disinterested board of musieal experts. An- other new office created in the colored sch was that of director of primary Scho to which Miss E. F. G. Merritt Was appointed, with Miss N. T. Jackson as assistant director. The estimates for the support of the public schools for the next fiscal year aggregate $1,580,601, of which $162,750 is for new buildings, $11,000 for the ‘estal lishment of free kindergarten and $798,0i for salaries of teachers. The Churches. There were many changes among the incumbents of the pastorates in Wash- ington churches during the year. Rev. A. G. Rogers of the Church of Our Father in January accepted a call to Reading, | Pa., and some months later was succeeded | by Rev. Leslie Meore of New Hampshire. Rev. Dr. Asa S. Fiske was installed pastor of Gunton Temple Church, taking the place of Rev. Dr. G. B. Patch, who retired be- cause of ill-health, and was elected pastor emeritus. Rev. Gilbert F. Williams resign- ed as rector of Christ Church, Navy Yard, and was succeeded by Rev. Arthur 8S. Johns. Rev. William R. Turner assumed the rectorship of the P. E. Church of St. Michaels and All Angels. Rev. W. W. Van Arsdale of the Fifteenth Street M. E. Church, whose reappointment was unani- mously requested by the congregation, was, notwithstanding this, transferred to Ha- gerstown, Md.,-and the complications which resulted from this were not adjusted until the appointment by the presiding bishop of Rev. Dr. S. Reese Murray to the vacant charge several weeks later. Early in April Rev. H Schroeder accepted a call to Ger- man Trintty Church, to succeed Rev. Geo. Koenig, who died about four months be- fore. During the same month Rev. Louis G. Wood of Toronto accepted a position as assistant rector of Epiphany Church. Later in the year Rev. Ernest M. Paddock was called to St. John’s P. E. Parish. ‘The University Park Temple, of which Rev. Dr. Sterling N. Brown is pastor, and which has recently been much referred to by many of the colored people of the city as having an undue proportion of its mem- bers in the board of school trustees, be- came an Independent organization soon after the beginning of the new year. Its membership was at that time quite small, but it has since had an almost phenomenal growth. During January Rev. E. Bradford Leavitt was installed as pastor of All Souls’ Church, ard Grace Lutheran Church was dedicated. Not long after this the fac- tional troubles in the Salem Baptist Church were taken into court, and finally adjusted by judicial authority. The corner stone of the North Carolina Avenue Methodist Protestant Church, of which Rev. Louis Randall is pastor, was iaid February 25. This church, when completed, will, it is ex- pected, be among the handsomest within the limits of the Maryland annual confer- ence. The annual meetings of the Balti- more conference of the M. E. Church South and of the M. E. Church, respectively, which met during March, caused a number of changes to be made in the assignment ef pastors to different churches in- this city, and several surprises were the result. As the effect of this there will probably be but two changes made among the ministers of the M. E. Church at the conference which meets at Waugh Church in March, and none in those of the churches con- nected with the Southern Methodist Church. During the same month ground was broken for a new M. E. Church at Kensington, the corner stone of which was laid the follow- ing month, and which was dedicated later in the year. The spring meeting of the Washington city presbytery was held April 6, and delegates elected to the general as- sembly, which met during the summer in the west. The annual meeting of the Mary- land conference of the M. P. Church, with which the churches of that denomination in this city are connected, began in Balti- more early in April, and the appointments were announced on the 14th. New pastors were assigned to each of the Washington churches. The election for vestrymen in each of the Episcopalian parishes was held April 20, and two days later a new parson- age for the pastor of Mount Zion Church, Georgetown, was formally occupied as a residence by that official. May 1 internal ensions, which had long existed in Shiloh Baptist Church, became so violent as to cause the police authorities to inter- fere for the preservation of the peace, and it was not until the dissatisfied members withdrew and formed a separate organiza- tion that peace was restored. During the same month there was talk in prominent quarters of a change of site for the pro- pesed Episcopal Cathedral, but nothing se- rious resulted. The history of the old Jew- ish Synagogue was printed in ‘The Star of June 5, and a few days later the eorner stone of the new Hebrew Temple was laid. This temple, which is now rapidly ap- proaching completion, will, it is believed, be one of the handsomest in the south, if not in the entire country. The corner stone of the new Ninth Street Christian Church, also now almost ready for service, was laid June 26, Archbishop Keane, after a residence of many months in Rome, returned to Wash- ington to spend his vacation, August 1 He was received by his friends and the citizens generally with great enthusiasm, and on the eve of his departure for Rome, about two months later, was tendered a banquet, which proved to be a magnificent affair, A splendid new Congregational Church, Rev. M. Ross Fishburn, pastor, dedicated August 14. During the same month steps were taken to build a Catholic Church at Colonial Beach and to rebuild the Dumbarton Avenue M. E. Church, West Vashington. annual sessions of the Lutheran synod of Maryland, the Sunday School As- sociation and of the synod of Baltimore were all held in Washington during Octo- ber, in which month, also the case of Mon- signor Schroeder, who was removed from 4“ professorship in the Catholic University by the trustees, and who disputed their authority to do so, was referred to the Vatican for settlement. The Sunday School Assoclation of the Christian Church held its convention here November 30. On December 12 Keller Memorial Church, cor- ner of Maryland avenue and 9th street northeast, Rev. C. H. Butler, pastor, was dedicated with imposing ceremonies. Fire Department. The fire record for the year shows ‘ smaller number of big fires than some pre- vious years, but the destruction of the Central power house increased the amount of damage more than half a million dol- lars. During the year the total losses amounted to $870,977, while the insurance was $448,423. Human life was destroyed in six instances, the victims being William T. Slason, who lost his life in January at No. 314 Delaware avenue northeast; Mrs. Carrie Dornoff, who was fatally burned on the 12th of January at No. 1206 Kirby street; Mrs. R. Burke, dress caught from stove on March 1 at 2032 i7th street; Miss Annie Ward, victim of gasoline, at 308 street, in April; Mrs. Dora Upshur, at 607 23d street, April 28, and Mrs. Susan Mc- Gee, at No. 44 F street southwest on the Sth of last month. There were many nar- row escapes, and in several instances the bravery of firemen, notably Chief Parris and members of No. 7 company, prevented ‘the sacrificing of human life. Gasoline ex- plosions caused many fires, while kerosene lamps also furnished material for starting a number of conflagrations. During the year the fire department was enlarged so as to cover territory In the county outside the fire limits, and the city is now pro- tected from*fire better than it has been at any time previous. In the annual re- port of Chief Parris he told of the needs of the department at length and of the many improvements that had been made. Among them was the introduction of a new fire alarm system, which was put in operation only about twenty days ago. Barly in the year dangerous overhead elec- trie wires came in contact with wires of the fire department and caused damage which may have resulted in more serious damage by fire because many fire alarm boxes were burned out. Fortunately for the city no fires of any consequence hap- pened while the boxes were disabled. Twice during the year the navy yard was visited by fire, and the naval exam- iners’ building was virtually destroyed by fire. While the second tire did not do so much damage as the first there was a mystery surrounding it that caused the be- lef that an incendiary had been at work, and there was an official investigation made. About this time Douglass Hal}, Hillsdale, named after the late Frederick Douglass, was destroyed. During the early part of June a company of the local fire d rtment was called to Alexandria, where several large buildings along the river front were destroyed at a total loss of about $500,000, On July 8 the Anthony Buchly building at No. 912 Pennsylvania avenue was mysteriously fired, but not much damage was done. An investiga- tion by the police did not result in the ar- rest of the fire bugs. Criswell’s drug store, con 7th street, a square south of Florida avenue, was the scene of a destructive fire, which resulted from an explosion of ben- zine or gasoline. In September there was a fire at Takoma which threatened to do considerable damage, but the flames were quickly subdued and the park was not dis- figured. The same month fire visited the neighborhood of Four Corners, in Mont- gomery county, Md., a few miles north of Takoma, and burned to the ground the gnificent Bryant mansion. Besson’s dye shop was one of the several places visited by explosions, and the flames which spread so quickly through the shop caused a scare and injury, but no lives were lost. The night after Thanksgiving the power house of the United States Electric Light Com- pany fell a victim to the flames and suf- fered a loss of $10,000. Two months pre- vious to this fire was the largest fire of the year—that of the Central power house. This fire was started ip a printing office in the big brick structure, and resulted not only in the demolition of the building, but it crippled the two branches of the Capital Traction Company’s road, Pennsylvania avenue and 14th street, and caused the company to fall back to horse power, and later to inaugurate the underground elec- tric system, which has been so success- fully operated by the Metropolitan Com- pany. Once during the year there was a fire scare in the government printing of-* fice building, which has been spoken of 4 frequently as a death trap, and al- though an alarm was sounded for this fire very little damage was done. Business houses and dwellings in Anacostia were de- stroyed at a loss of $10,000. Only a few days ago Charles Losano’s dry goods house in Georgetown was burned and $16,000 loss ‘was sustained. The Police Force. ‘The metropolitan police force has under- gone muny changes during the past twelve months. Many were removed, while others received promotions and a few were re- duced in-rank. Probably the most impor- tant change was that made in the detective bureau when Detective Joseph W. Matting- ly succeeded Inspector Hollinberger, the latter taking charge of the fourth precinct station. Detectives Horne and Rhodes were ee en — eateetis office to the while Detective Quinian was transferred to the Police Court to fill the responsible sition of handling the District funds, took the place made man Daniel Williams, was acquitted of legul responsibility verting several thousand dollars of the money to his own use. Policemen Frank Helan, Thomas Mc- Namee, Michael Muller 1d Frank Baur Were promoted from to the de- tective force. Following the investigation made by Commi: Wight of the escape of James, alias it,” Carr, Lieut. D. H. Teeple was reduced and Sergeant John Kenney was fapbatpce ll the vacancy. Lieut. Teeple, who wi luced to a pri- vate of the second class, was made assist- ant sanitary officer, fn’ place of Officer Amiss, who was sent back to precinct duty. Another change madecwas‘tne “eduction of Lieut. Charles R’ Vernon, who was made a private of the second class at his own re- quest, and detailed at, headquarters in Maj. Moore's office. Numerous transfers were also made. The system ‘of receiving in- formation at headquarters was changed by the establishment of what {s xnown us the “Central Bureau,’ and Policemen E. L. Phillips, Samuel Murphy and W. H. Amiss were detailed as operators. During the year the police made 24,477 arrests, 11, white and 13,099 colored. There were 3,384 females and 11,3,0 males. Of the males who were arrested 7,120 were married ond 13,973 were single, while there were 1,168 married females and 2,216 single females. In the month of January Policemen Foley and Evans were tried and dismissed be- cause of charges growing out of a visit to the “Division.” It appeared that Evans had parted with a considerable portion of his month’s salary in an alleged disreputa- ble house, and the next day he took his brother officer to the house to play éc- tective. This was done for the purpose of getting back some of the lost money, but the officers got dismissed instead. Follow- ing this came a complaint from Madgs Fisher, a young woman in the “Division,” ef alleged ill-treatment on part of the police. The investigation resulted in a complete exoneration of the charges. Maj. Harries, as chairman of a committee of the board of trade, made an interesting re- port on fire, police and National Guard matters. A new police boat, cailed .the Vigilant, was put in service, and the an- rual parade of the police and fire depart- ments showed off both these depaitmenis the District government to the best ad- vantage. There was a competitive drill by the police of. the several precincts, and Lieut. Amiss’ command of the first precinct carried off the prize, a handsome silk flag, donated by Commissioner Wight. Maj. Moore's annual report showed a decreased number of arrests compared with the work of the previous year. Among the men re- ported missing were William Fredericks ana A. J. Tucker. Fredericks was a manu- facturing jeweler, and after his disappear- ance articles that had been left with him for repair were recovered in pawnshops. Miss Mamie Harvell and Miss Florence Jordan were also reported among the miss- ing, as was Pearl Maltby. In each case a man figured, and the female in each in- stance was finally restored to her parents. Florence Jordan eventually became insane and was brought here from Philadelphia and put in the asylum. Another matter of interest in potice circles was the exer- cise of executive clemency in the case of ex-Policeman Terry, who killed Willis Washington. The killing occurred during the time that ‘Jack the Slasher” gave the police so much trouble. Edward Turner, colored, figured in police circles because insane he entered St. Dominic's Church and caused about $100 damage by smashing furniture. He was arrested and was afterward turned over to relatives. e Crimes. Ten homicides were recorded during the past year as against thirteen during the preceding year. Alt! zh. Dorsey Foultz was the only alleged murdérer to escape, not one of the others jg under sentence of death, and several of then? have not been tried. The first crimiral fatality of the year the fatal shooting, ef Robert Jones by John Jones, his brother.- it was a boys’, quarrel, and John, who was only thirteen years old, was given a mild sentence. In May came the killing of Charles Robinson by Dorsey Foultz. This murder occurred in the daytime, when pedestrians on the street were numerous,’ but the man who used the revolver got away.‘ From time to time it was reported that he had been seen in different places, amdng them in the big sewer near Howard Untversity. Hundreds of houses have been searehed, and the police have spent many restless nights, but Dor- sey is still at large. June 9 Jacopo Ferarri shot and killed Mrs. Chiara Guiliana, m her home, on 14th street northwest between H and I streets, and then committed sui- cide. The double tragedy was the out- growth of a love affair that existed between them in Italy. Ferarri went to the house of the Guilieras early in the morning and committed the crime. In July Joseph Sinith was held for killing Edward Johnson with a stone. A month later Farmer John D, Marshall of Maryland was shot and killed near the Pennsylvania avenue bridge. Frank Johnson, colored, was arrested for the killing and held for trial. William M. Strothers, a young colored man, killed Rosa Talbert, his mistress. He used a hatchet on her head while she was asleep, but he re- fused to give any reason for his conduct. Next came the brutal murder of Edmonia Jackson, for whose killing Edward Smith is in custody. This affair happened in Chew’s alley, and the crimes of burglary and arson were added to murder. Smith was under the Influence of liquor, and was the last person seen with her. Her hus- band was In jail when the offense was com- mitted. December 13 Charles Winston, col- ored, killed his wife at their home in South Washington, on 3d street, and then made an unsuccessful attempt at suicide. The mystery of Sam Lung’s broken head has not been solved. He was assaulted in his laundry, on 2d street, by an unknown col- ored man, and, although physicians thought he would not live many hours, a Chinese doctor saved his life, but his assailant was not found. Another serious assault was that committed on Isadore Efren of Texas in the White Lot. He was also robbed, and for this double crime the notorious “Billy” Williams end his pals were sentenced to the penitentiary, Michael Donoghve and Henry A. Stewart were connected with an alleged assault case, and the former was acquitted of re- sponsibility for the latter's death. Mabel Dunn and her companion, F. Wilson, were assaulted on the Conduit road while oP their wheels one night, but their assailants were not captured. Charles E. Barber, a patent attorney, and Edward D. Hayes, colored, of Baltimore, each committed sui- cide, after an attempt to commit murder. Barber shot Miss Dorothy Squires, a form- er acquaintance, because she refused to recognize him, and Hays shot his sweet- heart, Mildred Robinson, because she re- fused an unreasonable request. The cases of Patrick Carr, for alleged felonious as- sault on little Mollie Robinson, and Darre- dine Di Nunzio, for an alleged similar crime on Dora Ax, attracted some attention. Carr was caught after some delay, and is serving a sentence in prison, while Di Nun- zio, after a conviction, was granted a new trial and released. Howard Freeman, a colored boy, arrested for alleged assaults on two small girls, was sentenced to jail. There were several reports of robberies and nysterious conduct of people reported, which, upon investigation, proved to have been without foundation. Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue T. R. Farrell was ar- rested and charged with extortion. His case has not been trieq.- Thomas Varick Hawkins, colored, was arrested for robbing Collector Davis of $9,000, i Ba was a mes- senger in the collectons, office, and had succeeded in reaching Canada before he was apprehended. He ig now serving three years in prison. Frank HL. Miles, a clerk ip the assessor’s office, was ested on a charge of purloining funds of the District, and the case is pending’ before the grand’ jury. Robert H. Martin was arrested, after many years’ connectiof, with Columbian University, for robbing’ ‘the'institution ot $20,000. He confessed guilt, and waa sentenced to five years In the penitentiary. Joseph White of Norfolk’ fownd his wife in the “Division,” and attempted to shoot her. Miss Annie Kimball, pte on a charge of false pretenses, was held by the Police Court for the grand jury. ‘William Lazenberry, a prominent colored resident of Deanwood, fell from the rall- road trestle not far from home and was Killed. Mr. Badendrier, clerk in the office of the superintendent of the 9th street branch of the Metropolitan electric line, was robbed of $1,700 while eating lunch in an F street cafe. “Johnny” Price was arrested in New York as the alleged thief, but the New York authorities have not sur- rendered him. There was a bold diamond robbery committed at Gerome Desio’s store on F street by two professional crooks, and the residence of Mrs. Mary A. Packer was burglarized of valuables. Philfp Mc- ne ee ee and onet for the al- leged_purloining of autograph papers from the Congressional Library: Lewis Turner, arrested on a similar charge,. was not tried. York for the alleged theft of government it_by ex-Police- wi r stamps, but’a sul uent ag Te showed that he did not steal them. jlice- man J. E. Pierce was arrested for robbing -SPOSOTOOO Hecht & Company wish you a happy New Year. The most extraordinary sale of coats which He:hts have had. - The climax of the wonderful value offerings which we have been making takes place Monday in the offering of two lots of coats at the very lowest prices ever named. Two Its of “ sam- ple” garments secured from one of the foremost wrap makers of America so much under price that we are enabled to make values which will startle you. $5.00 for your choice of several hun~ dred coats, consisting of tan coverts=-black and blue ker- seys--black boucles, &c.--cne and two of a kind--some all silk andsatin Jined--some with inlaid velvet collars--all thor- oughly tailor-made garments- which were made to sell for as much as $15. Just think of saving $5 to $10 on a coat. The privilege of easy payments is offered, just as thongh you were paying full prices, and you’re asked nothing extra for this accommodation. ¢ i dred with $22. ing. for your choice of several hun- whipcords, tan coverts, black, blue and brown kerseys--made collars--some with pretty strap seams--all with silk or satin lining: and Roman stri stylish coats of the season- which were made to be sold for as much as $18, $20 and You can clearly see the sav- $8.98 coats, consisting of fine inlaid velvet and velvet in plain, high colors pes--the most aa Hecht and Company, 515 Seventh Street, OS ss ee en en ee attempted to shoot Howe Totten in the office of the latter's father. Totten would not prosecute him. Mrs. Campbell, an elder- ly colored woman, was arrested and held for the grand jury for alleged criminal mal- practice. Thomas Arrington, former post office inspector, was arrested for the al- leged embezzlement of post office funds. Mrs. Ella. Harris was intended as a victim of an unknown negro. She was in her own home when the brute made the attempt, and she frightened him off with a revolver. In Montgomery county, Md., near Ednor, Wm. Timmons killed his wife and father- in-law, William Hinton; shot Mrs. John Hinton, his sister-in-law, and then commit- ted suicide. At Marlboro’, Prince Geor; county, during the county fair, Moses Jack- son, a horseman, killed James Wedge, a colored Washingtonian. who was also em- ployed about the stables. He escaped with a penitentiary senteni There was a double murder in Virginia near the Chain bridge. Arthur Parker, colored, kiiled a female relative and the man with whom she was living. He was arrested and held for the crime. Laurel had a murder mys- tery. ‘There was a body found in the woods about a mile from the station. It w: badly decomposed that doctors disagreed as to its sex, but, because of the finding of scme clothing near the body and their subsequent identification, the jury found It to be the body of Mark A. G. Clift, a drug- gist, and as such the body was_buried. ev. A, G. Harrison, pastor of the People’s ‘Tabernacle, on 1ith’ street southeast, dis- appeared, it is alleged, with nearly $10,000 of the church funds. He did not return. Rev. Gilbert F. Williams resigned the pas- torate of Christ Church, Navy Yard, and members of the standing committee of the Episcopal diocese of Washington, acting as an advisory council to Bishop Satterlee, made an investigation of alleged scandal- ous conduct on the part of the late rector. ‘The charges embraced reflections upon Mr. Williams’ character of a m@st serious sort. Suicides, Many persons who had grown weary of life during the year committed sulcide. The causes for their acts were numerous, a number of them having become tired of life because of financial troubles. Others were disappointed in love affairs, and stfll others resulted from affected minds follow- ing illness. Besides those who died, there were many who attempted their own lives and who are now living because of the ef- fective work of physicians. Joseph Collins was the first victim of the year, and he sought death in the river near the foot of 9th street. This was on the 7th of January, Before the close of the first month of the year Frank H. G. White, who lived at 768 10th street, attached a rubber tube to the gas pipe and the other end he put in his mouth. The gas was turned on, and when found his wife had been made a widow. Joseph I. Peyton, a patent attor- ney, who had shown signs of despondency for several days, ended his life by using a pistol. He was forty-nine years old, and the deed was committed at his home, on A street southeast. Gilman Marston Fague ended his life in the same manner because of financial troubles. When he had failed to borrow some money to tide him over for a few days he went home and ended his earthly troubles. Charles W. Golden, a man of some means, who feared he would end his days in the poor house, inhaled illuminating gas in a C street bcearding house, and the coroner turned his body over to his friends. Peter Cc. Burke, a Washirgtonian, went to New York to end his existence. George A. Jor- dan and John P. Sheppard died in May. Each used a pistol. Mrs. Mary M. Baid- win, who was insane, suffered a horrible death. She had made several attempts, and finally, on the 25th of May, she suc- cceded in saturating her clothing with oll and applying the torch. Charles C. Mason, an insurance agent, fifty-two years old, ended his life with a razor in a police cell. He was locked up for drunkenness, and a razor that had not been taken from him he used on his wrist. When discovered life was extinct. George H. Marlow, who had been a salesman for Baltimore houses, be- came tired of life because business was not brisk, and died in a hotel here from inhal- ing gas. Aaron Brunn, an elderly man, whose many years of married life had been spent* without a quarrel, jumped in the river from the Long bridge July 19. He had been in the insurance business ahd was treasurer for*fraternal organizations, tut he was not short in his accounts. At the time ne committed suicide it was sus- pected that his pocket book, containing a small sum of money, was stolen. Sadie Tasker died at No. 328 13th street from a dose of morphine. She was thirty-two years old and was married, but did not live with her husband. It is said that she quarreled with a treasury clerk with whom she had been keeping company, and for this reason she ended her life. The cor- oner’s jury requested that her death be investigated by the grand jury. A dose of morphine killed Dr. T. McA. Wehrly, an East Se eruaeat = _— — in the habit of vsing narcotics, wi stated, and some of his friends thought he accidentally took an overdose, A young colored man named Marshall Williams, a resident of Madison street, who was wanted by the police for having stolen @ coat from his father in the early part of September, jumped in the river from the Long bridge to save -himself a short sen- tence in jail. Following the suicide of Charles Mead by cutting his throat with a razor, two old soldiers, Charles Mair and Charles Barlow, hanged eee — Hi South Washington William George Bird hanged himself over a side gate. Family trouble and the use of alcoholic stimu!ants drove him to take his life. He wrote a rote before he made the noose and bad asked a grown daughter to call, knowing she would find his dead bod: arles H. Fisher, a Georgetown barber, selected il- luminating gas as the means of sending his soul into eternity. Howard De Atley, a saloon keeper, who had been one of his own best patrons, used a revolver. An elderly man named Henry Eikel, who kept a dyeing establishment on New York av nue, ended his life by hanging. He h: made repeated threats that he would kill himself. Frank Matthews, driver of a milk Wagon, used carbolic acid and laudanum He died December 20, and the following day Miss Leila Herbert, daughter of ex-Secre- tary Herbert of the navy, jumped from the window at her father’s house on New Hampshire avenue. Ill-health was the cause. A few days later Miss Emma Vir- ginia Wells, daughter of a prominent at- torney and friend of Miss Herbert, ended her life by sending a bullet through her heart. She had also been in ill-health, Among the cases of attempted suicide was a school girl named Lucy Kinsolving, who took poison because of a childish trouble. Accidents. There were many fatal accidents during | the year, besides scores of them which did not prove fatal. Among the more seri- ous of them were those that happened on the dangerous grade crossings of the sieam railroads. These crossings were responsible for many deaths, while there were many narrow escapes from death on them. The first fatal accident of the year happened to David McKenzie, who, in January. fell over the stairway at Masonic Temple, in Southeast Washington. Joseph De Souter died a month later from the effects of in- haling illuminating gas, at No. 607 6th street. A few days later Harry York, a Baltimore and Ohio brakeman, had his life crushed out while coupling cars. John Scanlan slipped from the roof of a house in Georgetown in March and was killed. Sev- eral days later Louis Dessez, an architect, met with a fatal accident while riding a bicycle. Franklin T. Howe, jr., was seri- ously injured while riding a bicycle. His wheel collided with a street car, and sev- eral months after his recovery he was thrown from his wheel and painfully in- jured. A colored resident of Benning name Henry Tolliver was killed by a railroad train while walking on the track near his home. Robert L. Bains met with a_sin- gular accident while riding a bicycle. When the accident happened he was thrown from his wheel and imvaled on a picket fence On the morning of April 9 E. J. Underwood, an attorney, was found in the marsh on Analostan Island. There had been a heavy rain all night, and the unhappy end of a fishing and gunning trip came near costing the attorney his life. Winston Williams, colored, janitor of an F street building, fell from an upper story of the structure and was killed. Near Great Falls on the 25th of April a party of a dozen or more Wash- ingtonians came near being killed by being precipitated over an embankment. August Merkel was accidentally drowned. John Perkins, sixteen years old, was drowned near Cranford’s wharf, while attempting to catch some drift wood. On May 9 Wii Hallet Phillips, who resided at No. 1707 H street, was accidentally knocked overboard from a saliboat ni Mount Vernon and drowned. His body was recovered the foi- lowing day. Isaac Barker found the body of Charles Johnson in the river above Georgetown on May 13. Johnson, who was a colored man, lived at 945 F street. John Avery, colored, was struck and instantly killed by a Chevy Chase car. He was at work on the track at the time of the i- dent. George Kidwell, seven years old. was drowned off the sea wall opposite the ar- senal. He was playing on the wall with some companions, and when he fell in they were unable to rescue him. A prominent East Washington citizen, John H. Garges, mistook a glass of poison for water with fatal result. Bosie Perry, colored, fifteen years old, was drawned in the Eastern branch while swimming. May 26 John Ad- dison and George Simms were fatally in- jured while at work on the big F street sewer. A Metropolitan electric car upset some timbers and caused the accident. Ad- dison died shortly after he was hurt, but Simms lived several days. The coroner's jury declared that the affair was an acci- dent for which noone was held responsible. A dead-horse wagon was responsible for Thomas Robinson’s death early in June. A part of the vehicle became disabled and the driver, when thrown to the pavement, was run over by the heavy vehicle. June 21 one of the air motor cars on the Eck- ington and Soldiers’ Home railroad, un- able to make the top of the Louisiana avenue hill, ran wild down the hill and struck against a horse car. Mrs. Coleman, @ passenger on the latter car, was pain- fully injured. The following morning John Cragin, sixteen years old, was killed on the Brentwood road by a runaway horse. He was on his way to market before day- The collapse of a rotten wharf was the No one was drowned. i i DaDreoecosdontocgesdestegerteettontentectertes Sede te desetecndetesteceetetentetectetectete tecgetectee ad Miss Villa Cus= ssing occurred the sad double tragedy by @ coroner's jury. red the railroad company for th ‘red Burlingame, son of H. Burlingame of Capitol Hil, Was drowned near Sandy Point by the sizing of a boat. 1 old, his death the accidental disc’ Judge H. O. Claughton a tis on the Deanwood 2th of Augu s fully lin Hood, fifteen art met y in September by of a gun. He was Hood, secretary of the and Trust Company, c ds at the time the accident occurr: John B. Baird, who Was chief clerk to the constructors of the new city post office building, was found drowned in the canal above’ Cabin John bridge. His drowning was the result of an accident W. Holmes was accident- ally drowned in the river the same day. e same day, On the night of September 4 there was en aceldent on the New York and Florida avenue grade crossing. Valley train No. 14 struck a horse and b EY, killing the horse and demolishing the vehicle. The driver escaped. The accident was the result of the failure of the company to protect the crossing after 9 o'clock p.m. Louis Cun- ningham lost his life by being injured by @ Brightwood electric Mr. and r. Cari Auerbach and their Mrs. Rosenberg of Norfolk, ious smash-up on the M. September S. They were seated ‘n a carriage at the time, and the crossing was unprotected. The result Was that a moving train crashed into the Vebicle and while ‘some of the occupants ‘¢ dangerously hurt, none of the injur- ies proved fatal. Miss’ Maud Mason of SOL 12th street northwest was run down while riding a bicycle and dangerously injured. Thomas E. Fletcher, a colored boy, was killed on the Rock creek dump by a’stone from a cart striking him on the head. Sep- tember 20 George L. Ammon of Anacostia was killed by a twain while walking on the Benning ‘trestle of the Pennsylvania. railroad. The next day Thomas Ritter was drowned in the river walle at work raising a sunken barge. pPhaniah Jon one of the oldest contractors in the cit ceived fatal injuries at North Capitol’ and H streets by being knocked down by a bi- cycle. R. F. Grey, the bicycle rider, was uitted of criminal ri y. ‘Chas. colored, was James canal, Octob Mr . and five days latet Charles Cooper knocked down by 4 Metropolitan electric car and killed, No- vember 5, about 4 0 ck in the morning, Herman L. Lewis, a clerk in the Capitol, was killed near the South Ca pitol street ing of the Pennsylvania railroad, and ly badly mutilated. A shifting en- nt de Vecchi ‘and Dr. Te made sick by eating mush- rooms, ané the former died. Dr. Kelly re- covered. About Thanksgiving J. Walter her was killed by a fall from a bl- : A painter named Robert A. Pum- r » lost his life on R street by falling from ‘a scaffo'd. t W al: Hessler, a bricklayer, w killed by | the rial collapse of Hilding near B streets soutt nd Thomas ¢ Jobn Kirby, Gus Wiiliams and J. F. were injured. Health of the City. As an offset to the “hard tim people of the capital were bles: favorable health conditions, A review of these for the r just closing shows a decrease In the number of deaths in the District as compared with the year preced= ing of about Mendar year 1896 there were During the calen- , estimating ral days of December, of hites composed 3,004 and ‘the td and wroll, Jones colored 2,479. The year began with an outbreak of the grip, with increased virulence over that of the winter previous. This malady caused 118 deaths directly, and through pneumonia, as its principal signal, carry- ing off about 300 persons in addition. The weather prevalent during this period was attended with sudden changes from warm to cold days and the reverse. During this time there were nigh 400 deaths from con- sumption in the first half of the year, and about 700 during the whole year, amount- ing to the normal percentage of all the deaths. As the year progressed and the summer season approached affections of the lungs grew less, and those incident to the sum- mer time gradually appeared. The diar- rhoeal diseases, which, in the preceding year carried off 468 victims, declined to 35s, making a decrease of over 2% per cent. Typhoid fever, which caused 240 fatalities in the last year, declined to 158, or over 36 per cent. These decidedly favorable re- sults may safely be attributed to the great work of the health department in the radi- cal suppression throughout the city of un- itary accumulations and the closer sup- ision of the milk supply. Under the law of Congress compelling premises to be con- nected with sewers that department has caused about 1,500 of these connections to be made, from which are discharged the house refuse and the overflows of outhouse secretions which formerly ran over the neighboring surface grounds. The dairies number over 650 in the surroumding country and in the District, which furnish the mili supply to the city, have been placed under strict surveillance. The adulteration and filthy manipulation of dairy products have been curtailed to a minimum, and the kill- ing of diseased milk cows unfailingly in- sisted upon. ‘ While it may Rot be safe to base conclu- yet the closing of many surface wells, tho removal of a great number of exposed privy boxes and supervision of the milk supply undoubtedly has had % most de- cided influence in the diminution of diar-