Evening Star Newspaper, June 10, 1893, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D C. SATURDAY, JUNE 10. 1893-EIGHTEEN PAGES, il | AN ITISTORIC STONE Laid One Hundred Years Ago by, ashington. | President Wash THE LOCAL CELEBRATION | ao ‘The Great Event im the Founding of a Na- tion's Capitol to Be Cetebrat-d in Septem- went of the Building. ge | HIs I8 AN ERA OF | centennial celebrations _ and multiple-centen- AD) nials, bi-centennials,tri- | SD centenninis wna the like, | and three months hence, | while the world’s fair | quadro-zentennial i stil m full binst m Chi- cago, the citizens of | Washington, according to the arrangement now | proposed, will com- memorate the founding. ed corner stone on Sey the physical of the government—was in a great e the founding of the city of Wasbing- | really the permanent establishment of | lic. The grand building iteelf. more- | of the most impressive and imposing j jcew in the whole world, bas coms to | with H an event of excep! Some of the features prop: bration inelule a parsd ic organizations and de- | nents of ie aru, wavy aud marine Corp, representations and spectnentar dis- | an opening nddtew by President Clove- | ind froma stand erected at the east front of the Capitol near the soatheast corner of the old | north wing, followed by other orations con- cerning the laving of the original corner stoue, tue history of tie coustruction of the Capitol, its cost, important eveats that cccarred within it and their effrct. » bailoon sion, music, grand illuminations, firewor! The pro- | fect is but little over « month old, and within thet short time a great deal of onthast os ew exlubued in relauen to vv qratuns citleens of Wasblngtom and the higher orders. societies and trek When the original corner sione wa century age, the country around Washington was a practica'ly nubroken wilderness, and the act was performed and witnessed by a com- parative.y small awsembinge of people—few jeed in number, but «trong of faith in the ire greniness ‘of the American republic. ¥ chroniclers, the Columbian ‘of date September Gazette of Annap- jess than as Pre was the leading procession, under phenson, marched est solemn dignity laying, drums be secoud and third degrees from M. Virginia, deacons with stalls of offic with wads, wardens with trancheong, secreta- ools of affice, past masters with their vers with their jewels: bands ibie. borne on grand cushions; doit and grand master, sword After performing the usual Ma- Learer, &e. sonic ceremonies the gravd marshal delivered to the comminioners aud the commissioners to the President, who deposited in the corner Ke large silver plate bearing this inserip- “This southeast corner stone of the Capitol of the United States of Ame: in the city of Washington. was laid on the 18th day of Sevtember, in the year 1793, iu the thirteenth of American independence, in the first year of the second term of the presidency of George Wash- ington, whiwe virtues in the civil administra- tion of hus eowatry have been as conspicuous and bene‘icial as his military valor and pradence have been useful in establishing her liberties, in the year of Masonry 5793, by the Grand Lodge of Marvland. several lodges under ite jurisdiction, aad Lodge No. 22 of Virginia, trom Alexandria, Thomas Jobnson, i Stephen Hallette, architects: Joseph Clack, PW. G. M., P.T.; Collen Wi 3 1M Mason.” i as having delivered an . “punctuated by fifteen barbecued, of which they “generally partook, with every cbundance of other recreation.” DESIGNS FOR THE CAPITOL BUILDING. PEE CAPITOL AS IT LOOKED rv 1814 arrer THE BRITISH GOT THROUGH wiru IT. (From an old lithograph. ) | that were submitted were crade and fanciful | sketches of impossible structures, originating with unprofess.onal men or amateur architects, One plan, however—that submitted by Geozge Turner—contained the first suggestion of a| dome. This feature struck Washington most | favorably. Many other designs were discussed | and rejected, but on April 5, 1793, President | ‘Washington cave bis formal approval to a plan | submitted by William Thornton of Philadel- phia, one of the commissioners, because | “grandeur, simplicity and convenience were | combined” in it. Accordingly to Thorntor was | awarded the first premium—a building jot in | the new federal city and #500 in money. But | Stephen Hallette, also of Philadelphia, who was | he second prize for the next best received the same instead of merely $250, Placed on an equal | NOT & PRACTICAL DESIGN. Thornton was not an architect and had | studied drawing only three months in his life. | His design was an ideal sketch, very pleasing to, the eye rather than a practicable plan, and was | unaccompanied by any drawings of elevations or sections. A board of consulting architects | decided that there were six valid, material and jnsurmountable objections to it. ' Hallette was | thereupon directed by Jefferson, then Secre- | tary of State, to alter Thornton's pian. He | did so, preserving the vaiuable ideas in the | original sketch and rendering them susceptible of exceation. at the same time supplying de- | failed drawings Thus the two designers, | address, requiring two hours for its delive Thornton and Hallotte, must be credited about | equally with the honor of drafting the plans for the American Capitol, y owing to still further m quently made, the finally quote the words of Wa-bingtor but a compound of everybod _Hallette, however, was appointed to the of- | cial post of architect of the Capitol. In June, | 1794, he was dismissed on account of a rupture that had oceurred between him and James Hoban, the superintendent of publie build- ings, over a question of auth He was succeeded by George Hudtierd, glisbman, who continued to hold the position until 1403, when. like Hallette. he was removed under 3 tobe succeeded in turn . Benjamin Latrobe of phia, upon the appointment of Presi- jefferson. He retired in 1317 on account | of dificulties with President Monroe's commis- sioner of public works. ERECTION OF THE NORTH WING. In July, 1795, the foundations of tho north | and south wings were begun and, after many tribulations and vexations delays from the carelessness of contractors and stonemasons, the walls of tho north wing were raised in March, 1797, to within ten feet of their intended hei ad in 1900 the present Supreme Court room and law library room below were fitted up | for the reception of the Seuate and House re- spectively. The old south wing walls were began in 1803. Bricks for the interior walls were made upon | the ground. For the out and also for the original pillars in the interior the freestone of the Aquia creek quarries was chosen, being the cheapest and most readily delivered, After P was “nobody's, | eight years of energetic labor both the old | north and south wi were finished in 1811. The plans for the rotunda and central section were | about ready in 1812, when the preparations for | continuing the work were suddenly stopped by the war with Great Britain, and tho work was | not resumed until the restoration of pence in | 1815, DESTROYED DY THe Burrs Then, too, had to be commonced the re- | ding of what the British hud earnestly en- d to destroy on August 24. 1814, after ladensburg races,” as the battle at that eniled on account Uisplayed by the | . The victors | Il of cord woo, desit | yer saturating | i But | he most important | the wood with tft Providence ville: rts of the Capitol uninjured. The picturesque entrance to the House of Representatives, the corn capitals of the Senate vestibule, the great staircase and the | vanl of the Senate chamber were com- paratively free from ds Some of the committee rooms were not even soiled, and in Keneral *ne woodwork was burnt only in patehes, ‘The sandstone or freestone columns injured by the fire were replaced by pillars of beantiful conglomerate marble, obtained from the bree- cia beds in ty. Md., and in Lou- doun count; and other details were changed to er strength and durability to the stractur ne and iron were substi- tuted wherever possible for wood and brick. THE CENTRAL BUILDING. Charles Galfinch of Boston, who sneceeded Latrobe as architect, and served from 1817 to | 1830, laid the foundations of the center building on Mareb 24. 1818, finished both the wings, com- pleted the rotunda ait dome in accordance with Latrobe's plans, and infact perfected the whole building. It remained nuchanged as be finished it in 1827. save for minor repairs from time to time. until 1851, although the steady increase in the number of es and the consequent growth in the number‘of Senators and Repre- sentatives admonished the nation that the old quarters were fast becoming inadequate. The first public record of a proposition to extend the Capitol by means of new north and south wings is found in a letter of the late Jef- ferson Davis, then a member of tho Senate committce on public . addressed to Robert Mills, the arti April 3, 1850." In answer to this Mills favored the proposed extension and subm for new wings and a new dome. same year Congress ord bu work. ‘The extensions con tion of 187 feet at a with hexa portions cor the umterials bie and the exterior of the old freestone por- tron to be painted to match the new wings in appearance. TEE NEW SOUTH WINa. Work was at once begun on the foundations, and the corner stone of the new south wing | id by President Fillmore on July 4, original corner s parade then, too, | the “National Grays, harp- | iy | ‘ue war of 1812 divided the honors, be rowd of oid | d been present at the ying in 1793, a host of gov and « great body of Masons in After asalutatory by the Marine tect. Walter deposited in the co sealed jar containing parchments newspapers of the day and written in the autograpa of Danicl Webste “On the morn: day vf the seventy-sixth year of the independence of th tone THE CAPITOL IN 1827. United States of America, in the city of Wash- ington, being the 4th day of July, 1551, this stone, designed as thé corner stone of the ex- tension of the Capitol, according to a plan ap- proved by the President, in pursuance of an act of Congress, was laid by Millard President of the United 5' . grand master of the Masonic lodges, in the Presence of iaany members of Congress, of Officers of the executive and judiciary depart- ments, national, state and District, of officers of the army and navy, the corporate authorities of this and neighboring cities, many associations, civil and military and Masonic, offers of the | Smithsonian Institution and National Institute, professors of colleges and teachers of schools of the District, with their students and pupils, and vast concourse of people from places near and | remote, including a few surviving gentlemen who witnessed the laving of the corner stone of the Capitol by President Washington on the 18th day of September, 1793. “If, therefore, it shall be hereafter the will of | God that this structure shall fail irom its base, that its foundation be upturned and this de- osit vrought to the eyes of men. be it then Enown that on this day the union of the United ‘ates of America stands firm, that their Con stitution still exists unimpaired and with all it original usefulness and glory, growing day stronger and stronger in ‘the affection of the great body of the American people, and attracting more and mor: the admiration of | the world. And all here assembled, whether belonging to public life or to private life. with hearts devontly thankful to Almighty God for the preservation of the liberty and happiness of tl country, unite in sincere and fervent prayers that this deposit, and the walls and | arches, the domes and towers, the columns entablatures now to be erecte: endure forever. God save the U: a America. Danizz. Weaster, “¢3eeretary of State of the United States.” WEESTER’S GREAT ORATION. Webster was the orator of the day, and his was one of his most masterly efforts. In it he | set forth some noteworthy facts and figures to | illustrate the wonderful developmen: of the | eountry from 1793 to 1851, the dates of the e« ner stone layings. At the first dats, forinsta there were tif in the Union, while at | the second th: bfirst the Population was but 3,929,528, as compared with | 23,26 jount of treas- | ury re 624, as compared with 243, tures 87,529,575, as compared with $3 United States was pared with 3,314,3 Was 209, as com of colleges 19, as compared with offices | nber | i ot | and as compared with 694, & jow the great statesman and orator would opened his eyes to know that bis maximum fig- ures would be doubled and trebled and even multiplied ten fold in 1803! Then, turning to the southern Congressmen and Souato orator preached eloquently against the foll disunion and secession in the face of such an unexampled record of national advancement, and concluded by paying his respects glowingly to the American eagi Before the close of the year 1851 the founda- tions of both wings were laid to a depth of from fifteen to forty feet, and tho basem stories were fini In Dee front of the center or old bu the Library of Comzress, was ace iy d stroyed by fire, but this was prompily restored | xt year in connection with the new work. close of 1354 the walls of the Senate and 1 reached the height of the ceit- chs old brick and wooden ke an in wi moved, und the mate- © new iron dome, the crowning glory tol today, were contracted for. Both re covered with metallic and glass rooting in 1836, the -cast iron ceilings of the House and Senate chambers were completed and the columns of the corridors and vestibules and the larger part of the entablatures were set. ‘Th ‘er portion of the interior was finished in 1597. ‘The House of Representatives first mot in the now hall on Decenber 16 of that year and the Senate in the new Senate chdmber on January 4, 1859. ‘The remainder of both wings was completed in 1861, WENT ON THROUGH THE WAR. Owing to the exigencies of the civil war no ppropriation was made for continuing the work on the new dome in 1862, but through the, faith and patriotism of the contractors, who continued placing the iron castings upon the dome at their own expense and risk, the sound of the hammer upon the Capitol ceased not throughont the entire struggle, giving to the Union troops and visitors in Washington an as- surance of the government's belief in the sne- cessful termination of the strife. ‘The spherical Portion of the dome was completed in 1863, aud on December 2 of that year Crawford's colossal statue of Freedom was raised to crown it and saluted with 455 guus from the forts surround- ing Washington. In 1864 the eastern portico of the north wing was finished and the dome completed. In 1865 both wings, with their beautiful six porticos, two magnificent entrances and four grand stairways, were substantially done. The in- terior of the dome, decorated by Signor Brumidi of Rome, was also finished, and Archi- tect Walter's tsk was declared atanend. He was suceceded by the present accomplished in- cumbent, Mr. Edward Clark, who supervised the construction of the beautiful white marble terraces on the western side from 1882 to their completion in 1891. MILLIONS EXPENDED. The old portion of the Capitol, completed in 1827, cost $2,435,844. ‘The whole building up to date cost $14,455,000, including the terraces, which were built at an ontlay of $800.00. Counting in the art works within it, but leaving out of the calculation the furniture and also the grading and improverent of the grounds, the Capitol has cost in ali $16,000,000. ‘The paintings and statues have alone cost nearly $1,500,000. Persico’s sculptured figures the ne: At th; | on the central buttresses of the east front, rej resenting tho Discovery of America and Civili- zation, cost $24,000 each. His colossal Carraras behind these, representing War and Peace, cost $12,000 ench. Koger’s famous bronze door at the main entrance, east front, cost 228,000, Crawford's bronze door at the ‘east entrauce cost $57,000, and his statue of Freedom, surmounting’ the dome, $24,000. The peculiar style of libert can it wears, fashioned to resemble eng! feathers and eagle beak, was suggested by Jetierson Davis, Brumidi’s elaborate fresco, representing “The Apotheosisof Washington,” covering the canopy of the rotunda, cost $50,000. ‘Trumball’s four historieal panel paintings at the sides of the rotunda cost 832,000 together, while the four other panels, painted by Van- derlyn, Powell, Chapman and W each. Franzoni’s clock, at the north entrance of statuary hall, cost $16,000, Lentze’s “Westward Ho." facing the west stairway to the House gallery, cost $20,000. SOME FACTS OF INTEREST. It is a curious fact that of the six men who have served to date'as architects of the Cupitol four have come from Philadelphia, besides one of the original designers, Thornton. Theso are Hallette, Latrobe. W: rc and Clark. Of the other two, Hadficld eame direct from Eng- land and Balfinch from Boston. ol has four storie¢—cellar, base- 1 floor and attic. There are 190 in es and hidden stairways, the subbasement. In this re- le terraces contain 124 rooms, 24 of which are used by committees and the re- mainder for storage purposes. ‘One conld live imside the Capitol the whole without going out of it, and live comforts are cor The buildiug boasts two finely- »pod restaurants, superb marble baths, barber shops, luxurioas sofas, &e. ‘Tho seat- ing capacity of the House of Representatives is 100 on the ‘floor and 1,009 in the gallery; that of the Senate, on the floor and 800 in the gallery. Exch hall, however, will, on “a pineb,” accoumodate over 2,009 spectators, IN PERT AND INCHES. ‘The Capitol is 751 fect in length and varies from 56 to 324 feet in width, covering over four acres, The old portion is 352 feet in length and 34 exquisitely fluted Corinthian col- umms whiek adorn the porticos 190 are of pure white marble. quarried at Cock high ch are cut from a single ache. ‘The thirty-four ast and west fronts of the central ding are of freestone, painted white, the capitals being of m he rotunda is ninety-five feet six inches in From floor to canopy the distanze 3 inches. The Supreme Court now sits in what was The old formerly the ld Senate chamber, chamber of the House of Repr: astitutes what is known a: si law library room, on the baseme was formeriy occupied by the Supreme Court. THE BIG cryPT. Down beneath the subdbasement, directly under the center of the building, is a big stono crypt, which was prepared to receive the body of George Washington. It now contains the bier or catafalque on which successively rested the remains of President Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens, Vice President Henry Wilson, Presi- dent Garfield Gen, Logan, as they lay in state in the rotunda. From tho window of the room now wed as the office of the chiof clerk of the House, on the central basement floor, the inventor Morse sent his first telegraphic message over the government's experimental wires to Baltimore. Directly across the corridor the present office room of the doorkeeper of the House was for- merly used by Daniel Webster, Heury Clay and other kindred spirits of their generation as a “private bar room,” and was well stocked, if tradition tells truly, with cases of wine and bar- f rum, gin against molestation during transit from abroad. Not Entirely Definite. From the Toronto Datly Ma‘l. nes MeCrabb, a resident of Fairbank, left awill when he died which was remarkably | brief, but not clear enough to avoid litigation. One bequest of $760 was lef of somewhere near New York.” ‘The master-in- ordinary hax ordered to advertise and discover if possible the man for whom the money is in- tended. 0 James Kelly Chivalrous. From the Chicago Rec Biggles the Tough (with sgorn)—‘You're afraid to fight me.” Muggins-—"‘Afraid, nothin’. of a man who's so mach optiar opinion would de- in’ a emalier mau,” aoe “There's that cat on the breakfast tableagain. Tl just show her-—" “Where ner place ix.” (But the cat had s pull.) rted suzar bowl of | 50 on the uy floor | 90 in all’ besides | loom up in quite lofty fashion, Sculptured in Italy. | But I won't take | cost $10,000 | $2. i ! | REMINDERS OF WAR. Scenes in and Near Wilmington Dur- ing the Blockade Running, THE SEA GATE OF SECESSION. How Fort Fisher Looks Today — Little Left for Relic Hunters—Scenes of Some of Cush- ing's Daring Exploite—The Last Bicokade r—At Fort Caswell. eS Special Correspondence of The Evening Star, Rauerog, N.C., June 7, 1893. ; OUR CORRESPOND- ent has visited recently the “last port of the confederacy” and tho Inst highway by means of which the floet vos- sels which “ran the blockade” came in. It is safo to say that no | part of the country has changed lees in physical appearance, as well as in many other respects, during the years be- tween 1865 and 1893. Wilmington was the last port of the short- lived confederacy, and thore are many sights in and near that city which recal! war memories. As one walks along the streets now there comes before the mind Fort Fisher, which commanded the then chief inlet to the Cape Fear river, and also the scenes in Wiimington during the -ex- citing period of the (beets Ag which lasted from 1862 to mid-January, 1865. In thoso days rakish blockade runners, somber-colored, with all the signs of speed about them, lay in the river, while ashore were many foreigners, who represented European houses, English officers on leave to see the sights, mingled with soldiers the large garrisons, cotton planters and naval store producers from the interior. Tho odor of tar, pitch and turpentine was in all the air, while big warebouses, government and pri- filled with what the confederacy and the state had to barter for clothing and equip- ments. DOWN THE RIVER, colored dark brown by the stain of the cypress along ite supplying streams, the scenes aro pleasing. The barrier dividing the river from the sea for many miles is very narrow, as a glance at the map will show, the lines of river and ocean being nearly parallel. About this Cape Fear river there is yet another peculiarit —it is the only one of all North Carolina's streams which flows directly into the ocean. the othersall flowing intosounds. There were during the war two inlets, one at the mouth of the river, at what was then Smithville and is now Southport, the other at Now inlet, some miles up the stream. ‘The latter inlet is now closed, the United States having, at a cost of over 000,000, done the work by blccking it en- tirely by means of a dam of stone three milos in length, FORT FISHER. It wasat New inlet that the confederates built Fort Fisher, the two attacks on which be- came so notable in the history of the war. In the construction of this immense work only sand was utilized. and the engincers to a great degree availed themselves of the mounds or dunes which the wind raises or sweeps away, ‘There was a large fort, built to repel attacks by land. sea or river, and a chain of mounds or separate batteries, each mounting one gun. Of these the outlines’ all remain, thanks mainly to the growth of sca onts or of scrubby bushes, which retain the sand. Some of the hillocks It iw at the southern extremity of the fort that the houses of the river improvement force which closed the inlet were bitilt. ‘The place iv very doso- Inte, Eastward there is the roaring sen, the surf breaking in long lines upon a beach of nowy sand. Out beyond the breakers the iron work of several blockaders projects above tho heaving waters, and there are similar views of all now remaining of blockade ravers which adventured too near the shore or were driven in by the blockading squadron, The gu furthest down on this pomt were a couple of | | ; whom Cushing things.” The blockade runner at once left, hor departure being entirely unopposed, and got away back to Nassau, the then of supphes, from whence she ha? come. SCENE OF SOME OF CUSHING'S EXPLOITS. At Smithville there was a fort—a mere sand battery—on a very attractive plateau, lofty and green turfed and commanding a grand sweep of river. ‘This is now only level sward, and the sole building remaining is what was wy the commanding officer's quarters and the U. 8. signal static During the war = known as Fort Johnson, was the scene one of Lieut. Cushing’s most daring exploits. The commander was a Georgian named Brown, who, it was said. had violated his parole, and was extromely anxious to capture. One dark nicht Cushing came in from the blockading fleet, his boat being rowed by six trusty sailors, well armed. Piloted by two be away at the time, but the second in com- mand was not so fortunate, Cushing “bagged” the latter and took him away with ease, celerity and silence, After all bad gone the negroce impressed into service as guides gave the alarm and then there was.a great hubbub, The gar- rison was turned out, alarm guns fired from Fort Johnson, to which Fort Caswell and bat- teries on the shore responded. ‘The next day a boat landed under a fing of truce, bearing a request from the captured confederate major for his clothing and other effects, which were sont to him on the vessel of the blockade fleet to which Lieut, Cushing had spirited him away. Nothing more was over heard of the major at Smithville, Cushing used to make his way as the wind blows—“Wwherever it listeth.” Ho was searched for time and again. and yet lay in the rank marsh grass near Smithvi in a few boat's lengths of the searchers, ‘iwice he went to Wilmington, both times disguised as a woman, and once attended a performance at the theater. A very pretty woman he made, they say. had relatives in mingtou, who were hor- rifled to seo him at the performance alluded to. It was just like Cushing to do a thing like this at the “‘sea gate of secession,” as Wilmington was poetically termed. Cushing became famous in war annals by bis blowing up of the ram Albemarle at Plymouth. A TROPICAL ISLAND. The strangest bit of land north of Florida Smith's Island, or Bald Head-Island, which, by roference to a map, wili be found ‘to project nearer the gulf stream than any other land on this continent. The reeult is that it is sub- tropical, the palmetto reaching 0 height of 30 feet or more and growing in profusion, while the olive and the myrtle are abundant A greater peculiarity is that frost doos not affect Vegetation on the island, The latter is about four miles long and three wide. On it is a light house, built in 1817, and a life-saving station. Extending across it is a heavy earth- work, built by the confederates in 1861, now vast line of sand bank. The place is a hunter's Paradise six months in the year. ‘The island was recently purchased for $25,000 by a Chi- cago men, who will build a hotel, and utilize the great forest of live oak and palmetto for a game preserve. This island is a bit of Florida anchored off the North Caroiina coast, HIDDEN TREASURES, For two centuries wrecks have occurred along | this stretch of coast, and looking sexward there are more signs of purtialiy sabmerged blockade runners which came to grief. Money is fre- qnently exposed by the washing away of the bench. One night in 1864 a party landed there and digging ahole bid in it €175,000 in gol Ever since this has been searched for. pilots say that there are grounds for belief that just after the war the money was dug up by a man who lived in that section, but others do not believe this, and it is only a short while since several persons from New Yor! ton, Philadelphia and Ni the treasure. They used divining rods and ex- plored hundreds of places on the island, work- ing day and mght. There is no doubt as to the burial of the money. These laat searchers made no secret of their purpose to find it, THE CAPE FEAR is tho most historic stream in the state. On its banks was the first city of Charleston, or Charles Town, which, owing to depredations by | Indians, was removed and became Charleston, | S.C. Then there was the town of Bruni of which there remain the ruins of the gov- | ernor's house,“of the church (the latter a fine | ruin, of brick brought from England). neazly | concealed from sigit by trees, and the fort. ‘The contederates built a battery there and util part of the old ramparts. ] | 100-pounder Blakely rifies, presented by Euglish | business men and *ympathizers with the con- federacy, and there wre many stories vot extant | Charlie. who Be were thre nean | Coow Mayetinyllls), anion this hace te then triumphs of English skiil. ward of what was the fort is the broad river, with a soft haze nearly always hanging over it, and with glimpses on the landward side of the stream of low-lying rice fields, pine-covered bluffs and of the moas-covered trees of the southern streams, LITTLE LEFT FoR RELIC HUNTERS. Fort Fisher now yields little to tho relic hunter, Just after the war the junk dealers | appeared at Wilmington and found the negroes apt pupils in the collection of old iron. Into the junk pile went thousands cf shel bayonets, &c., from the fort and its vicinity These have loug since been liverally turned into lowshares. Very few articlus can now be found in or near the fort. The place is looked over many times a year for relies. In Wilming- ton some are preserved, and there are also the official drawings of the nttacka on the fort, as well ag illustrations of the same. What is spoken of as the Butler attack was made in De- cember, 1864, and during it Gen. B. F. Butler's powder boat was exploded. ‘The explosion did no damage save to the vessel which held the 250 tons of powder. At Christmas time that year Gen. W. H. C. Whiting. the commandant at the fort, sent to Gov. (now Senator) Vance a couple of. 15-ineb shells fired by monitors at the fort. These were accompanied by a letter saying that they were a “Christmas gilt.” Those shells were placed on pedestals on either side of tho approach to the statue of Washington in the Capitol Square at Raleigh, and there they yet remain, not one person inten thousand kaow- ing aught of their history. People who were in the fort say that after each attack it was quite possible to walk for hundreds of ya:ds upon shell fragments, and at the second and success- ful attack bodies lay thick in all directions, FORT CASWELL. Where there wxs once New inlet, so sternly guarded and off which the blockading fleet lay for years, no vessel could now enter and a fort would be useless. At the mouth of the Cape Fear river thore stand the grand ruins of Fort Caswell, one of the largest fortifications on the Atlantic coast. This guarded the other en- trance to the Cape Foar river, and in a great semi-circle keaward from this opening were the Dlockading vessels. ‘The ruin of the fort is nearly complete and is one of the most porfect reminders of the war to be found in the coun- try. Vast masses of brickwork, shattcred | arches, svlintered stone and burned buildings, with missing roofs and gaping doors and wins dows, look Jurt an they did wien the confeder- ates ' destroyed the costly and abandoned it the night after the capture of Fort Fisher. And yet there was no attack mado upon Fort Caswell aud only three shells were fired into it by the block- ading fleet. The fort ix on Onk Island und was built about 1820, brick being used in its con- struction. Hndailthe powder exploded that night in January, 1865, the ruin would bo ten times greater, but only one magazine was de- stroyed. Notasoul ia now seen there. The ordnance sergexnt nominally i mainland, two mi ¥, and the ouly signs of life on the island are at the life-saving station, haifa mile distant. In case of war the fort would again become important, as it guards the state's greatest waterway. In’ war times the channel was right under the guns of the fort and many a score of blockade runners have slipped by there at night. Now the channel is much farther away. THE BLOCKADE RUNNERS. In those war times little Smithville wasn lively town. In no piace in the entire confed- racy save this was specie in any way current. There gold and silver, mainly the former, was lentiful, and pilots whe received as much as $5,000 in'gold for taking. ont or bringing in'e vensel lived in handsome style. Some of these Yot live there, but their “flush times” long since ended. It was “‘easy come and easy go" with them. Most entertaining stories these Pilots tell It ia really very remarkable that the lockade runners could pass the fleet ns they did. The darker and “nastier” the night the more agreeable wasit to these little vessels. and they often crept by under the very bows of a man-of-war_on the lookout for them. The night Fort Fisher surrendered the last blockade runner crept in. Her captain and pilot were astonished when they received no response to their signals, secretly made to the people at Fort Caswell.” Instead they saw the flames here and there from the burning buildings. Up tho river all was still. The great bombardment of Fort Fisher, which, at Smithville, had made the air quiver with its concussions, was ended. The blockader crept in and made its way to Smithville. In the early morning hours the news was told the people on the vessel of the fall of Fisher, the march of the federal forces upon Wilmington, and what many of the half- People believed was the “‘the end of all fortification | farms, 1 by a deep mo 3 though nearly two centuries old. Up this stream sailed the followers of Princo rlie, who fled from nd after the defeat «at Cross Creek famous Flora MeDooald,the door stone of whose | house is vet preserved, Near by are the rico plantations, cultivated for 150 years, and wonderfully productive. At | for ure as seed, | leads the world mm quality and price. “Orton” is the most nozed of these Its stately buildings, of brick and | stucco, date from 1769, and the place is kept in ruperb style by its wealthy New ‘Along the river there nro elway review the lougshad owner, | passing in | nex, floating up or down with the tide: big ** steamers, cotton | Jaden; Limber versels, pleasure boats and «cores of Norwegian barks and brigs, which command a great deal of the carrying trade of Wilming- ton. The naval store b: 298s, once the glory | is section, has sed away, and | Georgia and not North Carolina is now the stave of “tar, pitch and turpentine.” TI lumber trade takes the place of that in naval | stores. A Sign of From the Chiceice ! “Do you think concert?” “No, I'm afraid not, sae only patted her foot through three of the songs.” joyment. iss Suburbs enjoyed the | <4 as Love's ter. ‘The Sent Messenger. From Fliegende lies quite near ruined Fort Caswell. This is Sar | that the requirements Inid upon REAL ESTATE GOSS! A Growing Public Interest in Good Architecture, A CHANGED LOCALITY. The Fature of the Property About Lafayette Wark in View of the Advance of the Busi- ness Section—Some of the Improvements and Changes in Progress. —+.—_— HATEVER IS BEING said in praise or in crit- icism of the Chicago fair, and of couree that ) | house inthe Colonia stvle, and as it will occupy quite a wide lot, and will stand back from the street, with an xmple Inwn in front, adorned with aes oak freee. it wil have an appropria' 4 terior ‘apa- chona. ith a large ratrancs end eraireeme halle nd wide rooms handsomely finished in bard woods, The new house will be in « locality which was improved a good many years ago, and the subsequent additions have been of a similar character. *OXE SEW IMPROVEMENTS. John H. Nolan is building from plans and Specifications prepared by Denson & ‘Schneider # row of eight two-story and cellar brick dweilings from 69 to 75 N west for J. F. Denson. The houses will be eon- structed in the best manner and have all modern conveniences. is the subject of a good | terry deal of the current comment of the day, there seems to be but one opinion about the buildings. It may be gi said that every one is agreed that the build- ings are grand in con- ception and effective in their execution, When it is considered that these buildings represent the best architectaral skill of the country and are, in fact, suitable and harmonious in design, the dogreeof interest which their purely architectural qualities have elicited may be taken as an i good proportion of the veople of this country recognize artistic merit even in a building. Certainly the managers of the fair realized the that 9! the prepared by R. E. Cramp. front will be of pressed’ brick with = bay window verales Op Sve shorten, Le Droit Park is shortly to havea fine im- Provement in the shape of a row of ix two- owner. ‘The foundation is being Inid for the erection of a handsome private stable in the rear of 1763 importance of the profession of architecture, us they spared no pains to secure the best skill which the country afforded. The existenco of this goneral appreciation of the good inskillfal designs is further illustrated by the exhibition which is being held in Boston of designs and plans for improving Copley juare, on which the library building and Trinity Church fronts. Instead of giving out the contract to the lowest bidder the artists and architects of the city are invited to send in designs #0 that the best treatment possible may be given to this important public, place. | Tt is evident that the beautiful and the artistic ro- ceives popular appreciation, and while this competition is invited by the Boston Society of Architects, yet, no doubt, the adoption of a plan of the proposed improvement will be in- fluenced by the plans placed on exhibition. DESIGNS FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS. There is another indication of the attention to and interest in the subject which is afforded by the action of Congress at the Inst session in authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to invite from architects throughout the country designs for the erection of public buildings.” The purpose of this legislation, as generally understood, i to secure the best skill of the country in designing the buildi erected by the government. ‘The rules under which this competition is to be conducted were left to be formulated by the Secretary of the Treasury, and, no doubt, when that official finds time to give the matter attention a begin- ning will be made in giving the proposed new ‘stem a trial. The best architects of the country favored this legislation, and althongh under the law no compensation will be allowed to any one entering the competi- tion except the one whore design is i yet, in spite of the fact that this is an essential @epartare from the rule regulating private competition, the ng architects have ex- pressed an intention of submitting designs for public buildings as soon as the Treasury De- partment invites them. It is expected that a higher grade of bnild- ings will be produced under this system than was posrible under the old, where all designs for public buildings were prepared in the office of the supervising architect. Asa rule archi- tects of eminence have been at the head of this office, but they have been so burdened with the admitisirative details that they have had but little time to attend to the professional” work of the office. Under the new aysiem it is thought that the character of the buildi erected by the government will be izaprove and that the public tarte will be cultivated so dividuals will be higher and thore will be an advance im the character of the designs of buildings of all kands. IMPROVEMENT OF AX OLD BoUsE. The old mansion on Lafayette place where Senator Cameron lives is to be thoroughly over- hauled. In fact, the house is to be rebuilt with the exception of the exterior walla. Some | idea of the extent of the improvements is ob- tained from the estimated amount of the cost | of the improvements, which is $30,000. ‘The | contractor, Mr. John McGregor, has already begun the work, which is to be carried on from plans prepared by Hornblower & Marshall, architect. It is a pretty largo «um to | spend on an old house. A large and rather e:aborate residence could be built forithe | same amount of monev. It is evident ‘hat Senator Cameron likes the location of his resi- deuce and is of the opinion that the property warrant the outlay. Perhaps, however, be | ay be making uecdel improvements without | considering much the future of the property. In any view it is evident that the boure will | coutiime to be a private residence, which is of | tome consequence in that localits, which to some extent ceems to ‘ing through the | transitional period of boafding houses to the usual destiny of becoming a business settion of the city. Some claim, however, that business will not invade the property fronting on La- fayette Square, at least not for a great many years to come. Others, however, who have noted the changes that have taken place within the past few yoars in the property along 1 sireet west from 14th street are of the opinion that the same move- ment will continue along H street to 17th, and 80 on up Connecticut avenue. Of course, it in jusetts avenue northwest for Senator H. c Jobu T. Walker is the builder and Hornblower & the arcl When completed it will cost $15,000. William Yost & Bro. are building for the In- dependent Methodist Church a church edifice on I street between 12th and 18th southeast. John H. Lewis is building a row of five two- story and basement briek houses from 1102 to Abanioone a is being at 2197 A ¢ dwelling erected R street extended by Alex.- Millard for Cornelia A. Stanley. jure will bave a prossed- front, will be three stories with attic and will have a bay windo} The house architect, Geo. 8. Cooper, architect, bas plans for two houses _for Mrs. Hary to be situated on Vermont avenue Rhode Island avenue and Q streets to be three stories and basement in height, with fronts of pressed brick brown stone and heavy brick parapet finish top, |The houses will contain ten rooms e same architect has also prepared for twenty-five six-room houses for Mr. Carmody to be situated on Francis southeast, i ‘Written for The Evening Star. Pensecs. ‘Thy spirit seems to cal! for mine Across the lapse of years. As if some kind thougat-beam of thine Sbone through my mist of tears. Sometimes I wonder what thou art, To those wao with thee dwell; pnd sce thee every day that comes, Anc know and love thee well. A presence bright, a voice that dwells In kindness on the ear, And all a‘fection’s tender spells For those wito hold thee dear. ’Tis thus I fancy thee at home Or with dear friends at ease, And wonder if the time will come When Fl be oe of these. A MINISTERIAL GuoOsT. It Haunts the House of a Brother Minister in an Uncanny Way. From the Pal! Mal! Budget. To look at 27 St. George's road, Kilburn, one would not suspect it of being haunted. Itisa solid, eubstantial, comfortable-looking house, standing in about the middie of a rather im- Posing terrace, with a small garden, containing afew bushes in the front and a larger grass plot at the back. It is not by any meansa new house, but it has so few marks of age about it that a self-respecting ghost would hardly have been expected to regard it as an eligible resi- dense. Yet there are three people dwelling in the house who assert confidently that they have each on separate occasions been eyewitnesses of © remarkable apparition in the house. The Rev, G. 8, Tyler, the minister at present attached to the Quex Road Wesleyan Chapel, and his fam- ily, who are the eye witnesses of the ghost, have told a Pail Mall Budget reporter about it. The | house has for many years now been the dweil- ing place of the various ministers who have succeeded each other every three years at the Quex Road Chapel. Mr. Tyler and his have lived there now for eighteen montha, have nover seen the apparition myself.” said Mr. Tyler, “‘and have always been a confirmed unbeliever in spirit manifestations, and so on. But the fact remains, explain it how you will, that my wife and my daughters Ada and Julie, aged wely twenty and nineteen years, have iy seen a mysteri ‘They the distine 3 which, ini the absence of any better way of scribing it, we have called an apparition. agree ciceely in their several descriptions of claimed that the side streets will be affected | figure. and that the, entire section is destined to be given up to business. Boarding houses, it is wsertod, are the vanguard of such» movement, and there iy no denving thet, with afew ex. ceptions, all the residences along H street be- tween 14th sireot and Lafayette Park are now devoted to this purpose. RESIDENCES VS. BUSINESS. It is said in opposition that while business may oceupy that territory yet it will not invade the residence sites fronting on Lafayette Park. As an evidence that this location is still looked upon as desirable for residence purposes it is ted that not long ago the Cosmos Club re- ceived a written offer froma wealthy man of £100,000 for the club property at the corner of Watrect and Lafayetio Park ‘The offer wee refured, but it is stated that the property was wanted asasite fora private residence. Of course it is didicult to foretell what the faturo of any section, of the city will be, but. it would’ seem, jadging from the history of | other sections, that the extension of a business locality is likely to advance with the growth of the city. The section of Connecticut avenve between K and M streets isalready largely given up to business places, and not many months ago negotiations were in p: for a lot near the Caurch of the Covenant. it being the inten- tion, if the purchase was made, to eract a build- ing to be used az a grocery store. Farther south, along 17th street between H and I streets, several residences have been turned into office buildings. Onesuch a change has just been completed. In a few days the house, 806 17th street, owned by Mr. W. M. Poindexter, is to be’ remodeled—one stor; added to the height of the building and the entire frontage of the lot built upon. The in- terior will be adapted for offices and apart- mente, THE NEW TELEPHONE BUrLDINO. Plans have been prepared for handsome building to be erected on the west ide of 1ith street just north of H street for the use of the telephone company. The ground was pur- chased some time ago by the company with the view of putting up a building which will be its permanent home in this citv. It is expected that the work of building will be began during ‘the present senson. A RAILROAD TO BROOKLAND. The extension of the Eckington railroad along the Bunker Hill road from 4th street east to Brookland is expecied to be made during the present season, The new management is now perfecting details which will result in imorov- ing the facilities of the road as it existe at pres ent. Then it is proposed to build the exten- sions which the charter anthorizes. The first of these will be the Brockland extension, which will be © great convenience to the peo- ple living in that vicinity. As has been stated, work on the extension of the Brightwood rail- road is in progress, andit won't be long before that rond bas lines connecting with the cable road at its terminus on 14th street and running to the gate of the Soldiers’ Home and connect- ing with the lines to Brightwood and the Dis- trict boundary. ‘MR. GREENLESS’ RES{DENTE. Mr. Archibald Greenless will build a bant- some house of stone and brick at the corner of Boad and Observatory streets, Georgetown. The architect, W. Bruce Gray, has designed the “It is that of a person attired asa Wi SS ss — clothes of a teal cut. It is a figure of average stature, with along gray beard and keen peculiar eyes. It was my younger daughter who first met with the apparation. She will teil you in her own way.” Miss Julie Tyier thon took up the story. “I was standing at the corner of the stairs,” she said, “and I saw what I took to be os him to tea, and him be neither answered not moved. giving z he was pluying with me, and trouble to go up to him, and I him, T pushed right throngh feil against the wall. was frightened, but when I told the same figure, and then mother hersel Nas before Christmas that I saw it. No, I not reading any ghost all then. Bus I have since. So all” Miss Ada then related experience of the uncanny was alone in the house wit day evening and saw the She thought a man bed broken into at first, uatil she observed the figuze’s garb, and then recalled experience. Mrs. Tyler's statement while pasting by the small room the passage one evening she saw standing in there, as she thought, iW oEst i Fis i a a i ie is Li i ladhes of the household near italone. Itisa on the back garden, but with wooden which are fastened over the giase in the ing. “It was in that room.” said Mise qiat J met the figare face to face. I sball forget his eves—grayich-blue in color, they seemed to look right through me qui bungrily.” es The Intercollegiate Feeling. From Lite. [ i iin “From Princeton?” No, sir; from Yale.” ‘Oh, I beg your pardon, sincerely. NEW PUBLICATIONS. JACKS HYMN. Kuramera Ou New York: Anson D. P yeni ‘Wasainge ton: Wm. ee NN, thor of “A Litue MARKED “PERSONAL.” Grmen (Mra Charles onlay author of “The Wenworth Case,” “Hund and King,” Waxeham's Slowey,” &c. NewYork. G. P. Putuan’s Sous. Washington: Robert Beall. REPORT OF THE t THE ARNY OF THE TENNESSEE AND 1:8 FOUR CORPS. From the ress of W Bumphreys & ©o., Logansport, ina. A record of the tn the Great Tent on September 22, 1892, while the Grand ‘Army encampment was beld in this city, An m Istoresting souvenir, in whieh are c neste. Thirteen crisp and lively narratives that are bad above the average in many respects, A WOMAN WHO FAILED, and others By Bessie CHANDLER. Boston: Rovers Washington: Woodwardss Lounrop, Me™ There are nine of “the others,” and they are all sound, bealiby eketches of real life. THE Co! THY ARCTIC TROBLEM AND XAMRATIVE OF ANGELO HEiLPKIx, leader of the Ex ition; texan emy of Natural Sciences, presidea, ut meena DAY AND NIGHT ‘TR ScuuvaN. New York: ner's Sons. Washington: NAPOLEON. A —. -4 Ricuxoxp Susp Leonard & Co. we Saisie THE LITTLE RD. By Mrs. & 8 ' cutrated. Kew? York: “ihaat = Noe Yon: eat Ss Eaton. EDICUS IN LOVE. A Novel of Student By G. Vow Tause. New York: W. FORGING THE SWORD, or the ‘War. Tues ‘rated. ‘New Yoru: tient & basa. —— see Scotland's Vigorous Free Church. From the London Dally News. BRIGHT NOOK; or, AUNT By Ovance Gatvonn. Eaton. i ive as the sole support of aeburch. The number of ministers who went out in 1843 was 474. ont of a totelof 1,208 bie £ Lf i a é Bee ibe Fs f é - & g H : if é t F Protessor —“What enbjct have you choses