Evening Star Newspaper, December 8, 1929, Page 105

— — repast; the gentlemen had succeeded them ati the table, and some of them had left it; the vessel was on her return up the river, opposite to the fort. where Capt. Stockton consented to fire another shot from the same gun, arcund and near wt . to obscrve its effects, many persons had sered, though by no means so many as on similar discharges in the morning, the ladies who then thronged the deck being on this fatal occasion almost all between decks, and out cf reach of harm. “The gun was fired. The explosion was fol- lowed, before the smoke cleared away so as to observe its cts, by shrieks of woe which announced a dire calamity. The gun had burst, at a point three or four feet from the breech, and scattered death and desolation arcund. Mr. Upshur, Secretary of State Mr. Gilmer, so recently placed at the head of the Navy; Com- modore Kennon, one of its gallant officers, Virgil Maxcy, lately returned from a diplomatic residence at The Hague; Mr. Gardiner of New York (formerly a member of the Senate of that State) were amocng the slain” ON March 1 the bodies were brought to this city and placed in the East Room of the White House, and funeral services held the following day over all the distinguished dead except the remains of Mr. Maxcy, whose body had been removed from there to the home of his scn-in-law, Francis Markoe, jr., a clerk in the State Department, who resided on the north side of I street between Twentieth and Twenty- first streets northwest, now the home of the Arts Club of Washington, and numbered 2017 I street, and thence to the estate of the de- ceased at West River, Md., there to be interred the family vault, in accordance with the wishes of the family. In the religicus services conducted over the other victims the Rev. Mr. Hawley, the Rev, Dr. Laurie and the Rev. Mr. Butler of George- town participated, after which the bodies were temporarily placed in Congressional Cemetery. One can never account for the many pecu- liar things which happen in life, for out of this most distressing disaster began a romance be- tween President John Tyler—whose wife, Leti- tia, died in the White House on September 9, 1842—and Miss Julia Gardiner, daughter of the deceased State Senator Gardiner, resulting in their marriage on June 26, 1844. Following this, in 1850, came the funeral of Zachary ‘Taylor, the second Chief Executive of the United States to die in the President's of- ficial home, after but a brief illness, he having taken ill on July 4, after aitending an Inde- pendence day celebration at the base of the Washington Monument, the corner stone of which had been laid but two years before. Upon this occasion, it is stated, the weather was intensely warm, and the President partook freely of ice water during the period of the exercises. Feeling quite hungry when he re- turned to the White House he ate very heartily of cherries and iced milk, and more ice water. At dinner he did not heed the warning of his physician, Dr. Witherspoon, but again ate free- 1y of the cherries, with the result that within about an hour the general was seized with cramps, which resulted in acute cholera morbus, which, it is said, “from its remittent charac- ter, took the form of typhoid fever, from which he died on July 9.” ON July 12 his body was placed in the East Room, from which the funeral departed for the vault at Congressional Cemetery, after religious services at the White House were con- ducted by Rev. Mr. Pavne, an Episcopal clergy- man. “The catafalque or moving bier,” an account tells us, “was drawn by eight white horses,” and “‘Old Whitney,” known to every soldier who served under the brave old man through the perilous and glorious Mexican campaigns,” was led in the procession. He is said to have been “a well made animal of some 15!, hands in height, in fine condition, and, as it seemed, with a militant air.” President Taylor’s last words breathe thoughts of real sentiment, beauty and patriotism. He said: “I have always done my duty; I am ready to die; my only regret is for the friends I leave behind me.” Mr. Gobright, who was one of Washington’s earliest correspondents, relates a strange and unusual event which happened a few days be- fore President Taylor was taken ill, and which shows how little we know when our time is near, or how we are to go. Mr. Gobright tells us: “A few days before the laying of the corner stone of the Monument, a young gentleman ‘from Baltimore brought a letter of introduc- tion to me. His business was to sell cholera medicine. It was thought, by the friend who furnished him with the letter, that I might, perhaps, help him to commend the medicinal preparation to public favor. As I had never been engaged in the physic business, I was quite ignorant of the means to serve his pur- pose. None of my friends were suffering with cramps or any other painful internal affliction. The medicine was a geniune painkiller! For- tunately, I had no necessity to try it. He asked me whether it was not a good idea to call upon President Taylor and make him a present of a bottle. I replied that perhaps it was a idea. quainted with Gen. Taylor, I could not present him, but I consented to accompany him to the White House, to see how he would act. The young gentleman, as we walked thither, re- hearsed his speech. We had no difficulty in getting into the reception room, which was tol- erably well- filled. There' was the President, in the center of the parlor, with his hand con- tinually stretched forth, earnestly shaking that of everybody who was ambitious to enjoy the pleasure. 3 “Now came the trial. My new acquaintaince timidly approached the President, and under- went the stiff and formal ceremony. I saw his lips tremblingly move, and drew nearer to hear what he was saying, but I clearly remember only a few words of that, his first speech to a President, as he put his hand into his pocket to pull out ‘the dead shot’ President Taylor started back a step or two, and exclaimed in a loud tone, ‘I thank you—am much obliged to you—but I never take medicine, cholera or no cholera.” The young man almost fainted and hastily took my arm and disappeared from the gaze of the spectators. Less than 10 days from that time Gen. Taylor dled of cholera.” As I had not yet become intimately ac- THE Civil War brought on three important funerals from the White House. Almost at the beginning occurred that of Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth, colonel of the New York Zouaves, who was killed in Alexandria, Va., May 24, 1861, when just 24 years of age. In him was the making of a great military leader, and his sudden taking away undoubtedly took from the Union Army a most valuable and enthusiastic officer. As a drillmaster he had no equal in this country, and with his Zouave Corps, which he formed in Chicago, he toured the Eastern cities, winning, it is said, “golden opinions everywhere.” His men were not. allowed to use tobacco, and the use of intoxicating liquors was not permitted in any form. He had worked hard for the eleciion of Lin- coln and accompanied the President-elect to Washington, where he received a lieutenant’s commission preparatory to his entrance in the ‘War Department. However, upon the issuance of the President's proclamation of April 15, 1861, he hastened to New York and organized the regiment of 1,200 men, with which he re- turned to Washington in three weeks. He was a handsome, fascinating fellow, and the idol of the President, and upon his death his body was brought to the White Housd, from which his funeral took place. Many versions have been written of this un- fortunate occurrence. The Star’s version, pub- lished the day following Ellsworth’s death, will be here repeated: * “At 4 o'clock a.m., at about the same mo- ment, the Zouaves landed at Alexandria from the steamers, and the troops before named who proceeded by the bridge reached that town. As the steamers drew up near the wharf, armed boats left the Pawnee, whose crew leaped upon the wharves just before the Zouaves reached the shore. The crews of the Pawnee's boats were fired upon by the few Virginia sentries as the boats left the steamship, by way of giving the alarm, when these sentries instantly fled into the town. Their fire was answered by impromptu shots from some of the Zouaves on the decks of the steamers bearing them, Immediately on landing, Col. Ellsworth marched the Zouaves up into the center of the town, no resistance whatever to their progress being offered. “Immediately on landing, the Zouaves marched up into the center of the town to the city flagstaff, upon which they immediately hoisted the American flag. “Col. Ellsworth then marched with a portion of his command to the telegraph office, which he seized and placed under a strong guard, in order to prevent any news of the movement of the Federal trcops from being communicated to the disunion forces South of that city. While at the telegraph office he discovered the seces- sion flag floating over the Marshall House, and, taking with him a squad of men, proceeded to the place, and in respectful language desired the landlord (James Jackson) to haul it down. This request being refused, he. proceeded with his squad to the top of the house and hauled it down. “In descending the stairs the keeper of the house discharged one load of a double-barreled gun into the heart of Col. Ellsworth, who fell dead upon the stairs. Pvt. Brownell, one of the Zouaves accompanying Ellsworth to take down the flag, instantly discharged the con- tents of his musket into Jackson's brain, bayo- neting his body as he fell. The remaining bar- rel of the gun in Jackson’s hand was dis- charged as he reeled backward, the ball graz- ing the forehead of Brownell.” ON the day of the funeral The Star carries this account of what transpired: “The body of the late Col. E. E. Ellsworth of the New York Zouaves was on Saturday morning removed, under ‘a military escort, from the navy yard to the Executive Mansion, pre- paratory to its removal to New York. It was placed in a metallic coffin, of imitation rose- wood, heavily mounted with silver, and en- veloped in the United States 4ag. It was in the usual uniform of the gallant commander, and a beautiful bouquet of white lilies placed upon the breast. From 8 o’clock to 11 the East Room was filled with a sympathizing crowd, anx- fous to see the face of the departed soldier, which bore a pleasant and natural aspect. “At the appointed hour for the funeral, the President of the United States and Mrs. Lin- coln, Secretary Seward and daughter, Secretary Smith and wife, Gen. Scott, a number of Army Historic east room in the White House. officers, the field and staff of the Zouaves and other distinguished persons. being present, the solemn funeral service of the Episcopal Church was read by Rev. Dr. Pyne, attended by Drs. Butler and Marshall and Chaplain Dodge of the Zouaves. Dr. Pyne made some very im- pressive remarks on the subject of the sudden death and manly character of the deceased soldier. “The services having been concluded, the body was conveyed to the hearse, drawn by four white horses. “Corp. Brownell, the Zouave who avenged the death of his commander, attracted much at- tention as he walked in line, bearing the cap- tured secession banner, bathed with the col- onel’s blood.” THE White House was to have but little rest from funerals, for before the lapse of -an- other year the President’s second oldest son, William Wallace Lincoln, also died, from typhoid fever, on February 20, 1862. Very little is printed about this lad and few publi- cations, such as we might expect, carry even the date of his death. It might be that the President for military reasons wished little to be said of it, or it may have been crowded out by important news from the Army, but whatever the cause, The Star carried only the following editorial on the day after the death of the President’s son: “Death of Willie Lincoln.—The public re- joicings at the recent successes of the Union Armies will be clouded by the intelligence of the death of the second son of the President, and the country will sympathiz with the be- reaved parents in such a heavy aflliction. Willie Lincoln was a boy of unusual intelli- gence, and was a favorite with all who visited the White House. Some weeks since he was taken sick with an intermittent fever which soon assumed a typhoid character, and since that time the little sufferer has been gradually sinking. Much of the time his mind has been wandering, and only those parents who have seen a beloved child a prey to fever and de- lirlum can imagine the anguish of the father and mother as they watched the progress of the disease, without the power to alleviate his sufferings. His condition has been very critical for more than a week, and last Monday his condition was considered almost hopeless. Since Wednesday he has sunk rapidly, and yesterday it was seen that he was dying. He lingered until 5 o’clock in the afternoon, when his spirit was released. “Drs. Stone and Hall have attended the des ceased and his young brother since their illness. The latter is yet ill, but it is hoped not dan- gerously so. The President has, with Mrs, Lincoln, watched by the side of the suffering children for 10 days past, and in all that time has had scarcely any rest, as in the midst of his domestic affliction the cares of state were pressing upon him. “Willie was a fine-looking boy, and his in- telligence and vivacity made him a favorite with old and young. He was a faithful at- tendant at Sabbath school at Dr. Gurley's church, and the last day he was present there told his tutor that when he attained to man- hood he wanted to be a school teacher or a preacher of the gospel. His exercises in literary composition were very creditable for a youth of his age, and he seemed to take great pride in them.” Evidently embalming then was not so gen- eral as it is today, for we read in The Star of February 22, 1862, this statement: “Little Willie Lincoln.—It will be a source of gratification to the friends of the President to learn that the remains of the little favorite of the White House have been embalmed by Drs. Brown and Alexander, assisted by Dr. Charles A. Wood, and in presence of the family physicians, Drs. Hall and Stone, Senator Browning, Isaac Newton, esq., and others. The embalmment was a complete success, and gave great satisfaction to all present. The body will be deposited in a vault on next Monday, and will be eventually removed to Illinois, to be deposited in the family burying ground of the President.” FOLDOWING this, three years later, came the assassination and burial of the Presi- dent himself, which threw the whole Nation into grief and mourning just at a time when gladness and rejoicing should more appropriates ly have been expected and looked for. There are many living who recall this sad event, around which many stories might be written, for there is always something new to be said about Lincoln, but this may be taken up later. Mrs. Grant’s father, Col. Frederick Tracy Dent, a native of Cumberland, Md., was the next to be buried from the White House, he having passed away on December 15, 1873. Garfield, who died September 19, 1881, was not buried from the Executive Mansion, his remains having been taken direct from the train to the Capitol and from there to his last resting place in Ohio. Then followed the horror of the Tracy firé at 1634 I street northwest, in which Mrs. Tracy and Miss Mary Tracy, wife and daughter of the Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin F. Tracy, per: ished, and the Secretary himself had a very narrow escape. They were also buried from the famous East Room, as was Mrs. Caroliné Scott Harrison, wife of the President, who died in the White House on October 25, 1892, only to be followed a month and four days later by Dr. John W. Scott, father-in-law of President Harrison. ; Secretary of State Walter Q. Gresham was the next to be buried from the President's house. He died May 28, 1895, and his funeral services were held in the East Room. He was buried on the slope in front of Arlington Man- sion, and his grave overlooks the Capital City. Following this came another extremely sad event in the tragic death of President William McKinley, who was strick=-; down at Buffalo, N. Y, on September 6, 1901, by the hand of an assassin, and died on the 14th day of that month. His remains were brought back to Washington on the evening of the 16th, via the Pennsylvania Railroad, arriving here at 8:37 o'clock, and immediately taken to the ‘White House. At 10 o'clock that night Mrs. McKinley ex- pressed a desire to view the body of her de- ceased husband, and she was assisted to the East Room, where the casket was opened for this purpose, after which she bravely retired for the night, and the next morning the re- mains were conveyed to the Capitol, where pub. lic services were held, after which they were conveyed to his old home, Canton, Ohio. Mrs. Ellen Louise (Axson) Wilson, first wife of President Woodrow Wilson, died in the White House on August 7, 1914, and from there her funeral took place. She was noted for her noble character and charitable works. N No doubt the reader is quite familiar with the more recent funeral from the White House, that of President Harding, whose body was borne from there to the Capitol on August 8, 1923, to be followed by the services over the body of Mrs. Laura M. Work, wife of the Sec~ retary of the Interior, on May 12, 1924, Then came, within two months, that of Cal- vin Coolidge, jr., who died at Walter Reed Hos~ pital on July 7. Two days later simple funeral services were held in the East Room of the White House prior to taking the body to Northampton, Mass., for interment. Ancther funeral to take place from the East Room in 1924 was that of Henry C. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture, who died on October 25, and whose funeral occurred two days later. ‘These are probably all of the funerals which have taken place from the White House, and they show that, no matter what our station in life may be, sooner or later the Grim Reaper is bound to beckon us home. Colorado Ore Production. ELLER COUNTY, COLORADO, was far and away ahead of the other counties of that State in gold production last year, yet ranked second in total value of the ore production for the State. Teller's 49 mines yielded the precious yellow metal to a total of $3,059,181, consider- ably more than half the State’s figure. San Juan County produced but $326,915 worth of gold, which was a yleld of about a dollar a ton of ore handled, yet led Teller by more than $500,000 in total ore yield. The immense oute put of zinc, lead, copper and silver made the difference. Alamosa County, with a single lode mine, pro- duced a ton of ore yiclding $11 worth of gold, to rank last.