Evening Star Newspaper, May 26, 1929, Page 98

o W here Lived Ste- phen Decatur and Daniel E. Sickles — House Used by the Rooscvelts While the W hite Was Being Re- paired—The At- iempt Upon the Life of Secretary Seward—Gun- fire and Duels. By JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. east side and the west side of La- fayette Square are of equal historic im- portance to that of the north side, & and Jackson street sides of the square are not the same as existed at an earlier date. It was built by Commodore Stephen Decatur, hero of the War with Tripoli, in 1819 with prize money awarded him for captures made by American vessels under his command. It was here that this intrepid naval officer died in 1820 after his fatal duel with Commodore James Barron, also of the United States Navy, brought on by a misunderstanding, as, indeed, are so large a percentage of our quarrels even today. Decatur’s most celebrated act of bravery con- sisted in retaking the frigate Philadelphia from the enemy after it had grounded during a biockade of the port of the City of Tripoli. Con- cealing his men below, he entered the harbor with a small vessel, which he warped alongside the Philadelphia as though it were a ship in distress. As the two vessels struck the pirates first suspected the design; but it was then too late, for Decatur leaped aboard with his men #ind swept the affrighted crew into the sea. He then set the ship on fire and, amid a tremen- dous cannonade from the shore batteries, es- cdaped witheout losmg a man. st T was Commodore Decatur who was the au- thor of the famous toast: “Our couniry! In hor_jntercourse with foreign nations may she nlways be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!” It seems that when we are pledging our allegiance, we might think of the lofty sentiments expressed in this toast—that we love our country though she be right or wrong. After Decatur’s death the home was leased to Baron Tuyl, the Minister from Russia, who left ‘Washington early in 1825. Henry Clay, Martin Van Buren and Edward Livingston followed in order, when it again became the home of For- eign Ministers Sir Charles Vaughan and Baron Hyde de Neuville. In 1836 it was sold to John Gadsby for $12,000 and was subsequently occu- pied by Joseph Gales, Howell Cobb, George M. Dallas and Judah P. Benjamin. After the close of the Civil War it was purchased by Gen. E. F. Beale, and Gen. and Mrs. Grant were frequent visitors there after leaving the White House. It is now owned and occupied by Truxtun Beale, son of Gen. Beale. The new office building, numbered 24-28 Jackson place, adjoining on the south the De- catur house, is erected on the site of the gar- den to that old home, and it obscures from view the window in the south side of the second floor which was cut there in 1834 by direction of Martin Van Buren in order that he might see and respond to signals displaye¢ {rom the ‘White House by his most confidential friend, President Jackson, in whose first administration he served as Secretary of State, becoming Vice President to Jackson in 1833 and following him into the White House in 1837. The next house to the south, No. 22, is the home of the Women’s City Club. It was first woccupled by William L. Marcy, who held many 3mportant offices, including that of Senator d¥rom New York, governor of that State, Sec- Tetary of War in the cabinet of President James X. Polk and Secretary of State for Franklin Pierce. Later Representative Newberry resided ‘there while serving in Congress, followed by James Blaine and later by Representative Wil- liam L. Scott of Pennsylvania, who was a native Washingtonian and who served when quite young as a page in the House of Representa- tives. After Mr. Scott’s death, his daughter, Ars. Richard Townsend, inherited the property The Benjamin Ogle Tayloe hone, where Mark Hanna, Vice President H obart and other dumlguuhed persons Tived. Durmg the McKmky ad- muuurmon the home soas known as "Tlle Liztle "Ma House.” - $ and resided there until she moved to'her resi- dence at Massachusetts nvame md Twenty- third street. ENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT oc- this residence in 1902 while repairs ‘White Seven Bu!klm, at Pennsylvania avenue Nineteenth street. Two years ago Mr. Coolidge lived for a few months at 15 Dupont circle while extensive repairs were being made his official home; and aside from the Presi- dent’s Cottage in Soldiers’ Home, which is no longer used, these are the only houses tempo- o gy e Residence occu’;oud rarily occupied by the Chief Executive when in the city which are now standing. No. 20 Jackson place is now the office of the Christian Science Parent Church. It was for many years the residence of Charles C. Glover, the well known local banker. Secretary of the Navy R. W. also lived there for a while during his official life in Washington as a member of the House of Representatives and while serving in the cabinet of President Hayes. The large brownstone residence, now num- bered 18, was once occupied by William .J. Murtagh, editor, and Gen. Frank Steele, and where is now the International Bank once lived Maj. Gen, J. G. Parke, The double house to the south of the alley was at different times occupied by Commodore Stockton, Levi Woodbury, Senator from New Hampshire, Secretary of the Navy and Secre- tary of the Treasury under President Jackson and later justice of the Supreme Court. John C. Spencer, Secretary of the Treasury under President 'ryler: Vice Preddent Semmer col- by President Roouuelt, while repairs were being made at the White . The building is now occupied by the Vomen': City Club- and Madison Whnttookphoemubut be told by what the National Intelligencer said -on Monday, February 28, 1859: “Our commiunity was ym afternoon thrown iInto a state of painful excitement and regret by the reports of an encounter and resulting homicide which took place about 2-o'clock in the first ward, at the cor- ner of Pennsylvania avenue and the east side of Lafayette Square. The parties were - . Philip Barton Key, Esq., United States dis- trict attorney for the District of Columbia, and the Hon. Daniel E. Sickles, a Repre- sentative in Congress from the City of New York. Thé meeting ended in the killing of Mr. Key by Mr. Sickles, the former having lived but & very short time after receiving three shots frem a revolver. “The provocative to this dreadful affair is disclosed in the testimony of Mr. Butter- worth of New York before Justice Goddard, the chief of police. He states that about the . - - C!metbovemmumedhemm sickluon Pennsylvania avenue, & little-eastward of the corner of Lafayette Square mdnetflyowo—‘ site the State Department. He had & few words of conversation with Mr. Sickles, who " left him as Mr. Key approached, the latter coming down the Avenue toward the State agsggéa 5 i s 3 ‘Murder.’ Mr. Sickles then fired a third shot into the body of Mr. Key and left him, aiter . which Mr. Key was conveyed to the ‘club- house,’ close at hand, where he expired in a few minutes. “We learn, in addition to‘the above, that .immediately after firing the third time, Mr. Sickles proceeded to the residence of Judge - Black, which is in that neighborhood, and to which place he was followed by several ’ - police officers, whom he afterward requested to accompany him to his own residence, - that he might make some necessary arrange- . ments preparatory to surrendering himself to the chief of police. The officers, : - plied with his wishes; the mayor 3 of police were soon in attendanee;’ a brief examination, Justice Goddard hav= . ing deciined to take bail in so serious a case, Mr. Sickles was committed w prlson for n. further examination.” : THE STAR at that time printed a New York Tribune dispatch, which said: “Mr. Sickles married his wife when she was 16 years of age. He took her to Eng-- land with him when he was secretary of the - legation at London under Mr. Buchanan, , . introduced her to the Queen, carried her to . the continent and introduced her into the . most fashionable society. Mr. Sickles loved . her with great devotion and lavished all his means upon her. They lived in elegant style here, occupying a house of $3,000 rent. Mrs. _ Sickles rode in a splendid carriage with out- . riders, wore Jewels to the value of $5,000 _and seemed to want nothing that she did - _not have.” Evidently the Circuit Court of the District ot Columbia did not feel that Key was such a bad fellow, after all, for on_the Monday after his death his demise was feelingly referred to and the following action ordered spread upon the records of the court: , “On the opening of the court this morn- ing James M. Carlisle, Esq., in & few appro- ' priate remarks, announced the death of: Philip Barton Key, hq.. United States .l»- » torney for the District of Columbia. “To which Chief Justice Dunlop replied as follows: ‘We have received the intelligence ' of Mr. Key's death ‘with deep grief. He had ’ fine talents and many noble, manly and generous qualities, which endeared him to his friends. In all his official intercourse with this court his manner and professional ability won our affection and respect.’ “The court then adjourned until Thursday next.” Key was the son of Francis Scott Key, author of “The Star Spangled Banner” and who was also at one time the United States district at- torney. He was a nephew of Roger Brooke Taney, Chief Justice of the United States Su- preme Court. “His fine, manly figure,” as The