Evening Star Newspaper, October 11, 1931, Page 79

s e e Sheir banquets, and that upon one occasion President Johnson was present at a festival and entered a shooting contest, when he succeeded in carrying off the prize. The guests of the association on such occasions have been the ieading citizens of the country, and it has al- ways been the endeavor to show them true German hospitality. At other times whenever there has been a public appeal made for chari- table purposes the associztion has respended with money and with assistance.” HE active and passive membership of the Washington Schuetzen Verein in 1886 amounted to about five hundred, and the board of directors then included: Chatles Grafl, president; J. J. Appich, vice president; R. Springsguth, sccretaiy; W. E. Muechlheisen, treasurer; G. J. SeufTerle, first shooting master; John Leppold. second shooting master; John Angerman and Charles Ebcl, kings; George C. Walker, marshal; C. Heurich, John L. Vogt, Chrs. Ruppert, Williom Helmus, W. Berens, Charles Schroth, G:oorge C. Walker, Simon Wolf and G. Hartig. ‘The presidents of the verein from the begin- ning of the association up to 1885 included the names of some well known Washingtonians. Charles Kloman w:os the first president; the second, B. Henze. Then John L. Vogt served for two years, and he was followed by Simon Wolf, who seived for nine y>~rs and subse- quently became honorary vice president and a member of the board of directors. He was succeeded by William He!mus, Charles Ebel and Charles Graflf, in order. As a child the writer frequently attended these schuetzen fests—!egiiimately or surreptitiously —for his stamping ground was not more than half a mile distant; and though he never tried to climb a greased pole, yet he did not find it a difficult task to climb the rear fence of the Schuetzen Park or find some other means of getting in without the customary quarter. But the Germans liked children, and always treated the outside kids with kindness, provid- ing they did not become too much of a nui- sance. Indeed, as the writer has become older and has had the opportunity of studying the people of this country of German birth or de- scent, he realizes more and more their great importance in the making and preserving of this great republic. In the Revolutionary period, Von Steuben will always be remembered as an indispensable factor in the acquiring of Amer- ican independence, and the best troops of Gen. Smallwood’s army were the Germans recruited from Frederick County, Maryland. At the first inauguration of Abraham Lin- coln, at a time when there were probably more Secessionists than Unionists in Washington, it was the 8th Battalion, District of Columbia Vel- unteers, consisting of threc companies under the command of Maj. Arthur Balbach, who were called upon to march before, behind and at the sides of the President's carriage, and members of this battalion were also stationed as sharpshooters along the routc at strategic pesi- tions. This battalion was composed entirely of the German citizens of Washington, and was organized early in 1861, and no doubt some of these and thousands of others fought through- out the war that followed under the command of Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel. HEN a plaster bust of a woman was Ie- cently found in removing buildings in the area acquired by the Government the writer was asked: “Who was Mrs. Pendleton?” To him the name was quite familiar, and yet, for the time being, he could not answer the ques- tion. However, just a day or so ago, he came across the name of the only Mrs. Pendleton who he thinks would fit in with the story re- lating to the bust, and. incidentally, he also found that this lady met with a very tragic death well within the period of his recollec- tions, which probably accounts for her name being familiar to him, at leact. To begin with, Mrs. Alice (Key) Pendleton ~—for such was the lady's name—was the wife of Mr. George H. Pendleton of Ohio, one of the few Democrats who served in Congress during the dark days of the Civil War, his term in the House at that time covering the period from March 4, 1857, to March 3, 1865. In the Autumn of 1864 he failed of re-election, due probably to the fact that he was also run- ning for the vice presidency on the ticket with Gen. George B. McClellan, who received just 21 electoral votes to Mr. Lincoln's 212. Mrs. Pendleton was the daughter of Francis Scott Key, author of ““Th= Star Spanglcd Ban- ner,” and is mentioned among his children by Francis Scott Key-Smith, a descendant of the poet-lawyer, who includes among his ancestor's children the names of Elizabeth Phoebe, Maria Lloyd, Francis Scott, John Ross, Ann Arnold, Edward Lloyd, Denicl Murray, Philip Barton, Ellen Lloyd, Alice and Charles Henry. How- ever, The Star, at the time of Senator Pendle- ton's death in 1889, refers to Mrs. Pendleton as “the adopted daughter of thz author of ‘The Star Spangled Banner.'” Just how much of a social lioness Mrs. Pen- dleton was, the writer cannot say, though the chances are that she did very little entertain- ing here, at lcast until afier her husband en- tered the United States Senate in 1879, where from 1882 until he left Congress in 1885 he resided in a new home still standing at 1315 Sixteenth street northwest. Miss Alice Key and George H. Pendleton were married in Baltimore in 1346, and the chances are that they lived in Cincinnati from that date until he first came to Congress in 1857. In 1860 we find him living in Carroll Row, now the site of the Congressional Library, where he was probably boarding. By 1862 he had moved to 500 Eleventh street (old numbering), prob- ably another boarding house. The following year he was living at 481 Tenth street (also old numbering). His name and residence next appears in the city directory for 1881, when he lived at the northwest corner of Thirteenth and K streets northwest, where is now located a gasoline station, and from that time on he lived on Sixtecnth street just two doors north of Scott Circle. ‘ EING defeated for Congress in the election that put Cleveland in the White House, and being a consistent Democrat and a man un- doubtedly of means, Mr. Cleveland appointed him early in 1885 United States Minister to Germany, and here he remained until his death in 1889. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, OCTOBER 11, 1931, 1315 Sixteenth street northwest, home of George H. Pendleton when serving as United States Senator from Ohio. It was while he was serving at this post that Mrs. Pendleton and one cof her daughters made a trip back to this country, where on May 20, 1886, she met a tragic death, of which The Star makes announcement in its columns on May 21, as follows: “DEATH OF MRS. PENDLETON. “The Wife of Our Minister to Germany Killed in Central Park. “While Taking an Afternoon Drive the Horse Runs Away, and Mrs. Pendleton and Her Daughter Jump From Carriage, the Young Lady Injured. “Mrs. Alice Key Pendleton, wife of George H. Pendleton, United States Minister to Ger- many, was instantly killed about 5 o'clock yes- terday afternoon in Central Park, New York, and her daughter, Miss Jennic Frances Pendle- ton, was severely, though not fatally, injured. Mrs. and Miss Pendleton were enjoying a drive through the park in an open Victoria, which had been hired, and Hugh Reilly, an inexperi- enced driver, was on the box. They were going up the center drive and were then within 300 feet of the Webster Statue when the horse became frightened at some rumbling noise in aid of water and other restoratives brought her back to consciousness. Mrs. Pendleton's body was lying some distanc® off, and when the officer examined her he found that she was dead. A call for an ambulance was sent out, the coromer notified, and Driver Reilly was placed under arrest. “At the hospital Dr. Sherman examined the young girl's wounds and found that they were serious, yet would not prove fatal. There were slight contusions of the h=sad and face, the skin slightly abrased. There was more to fcar from the results of shock than anything else. The last accounts from Miss Pendleton were that she was not in danger. - “At the coroner’s inquest the driver said he thought the ladies jumped from the carriage at distances of about 150 and 155 feet from the statue. Other testimony was taken and the case was given to th: jury. “The jury brought in a verdict declaring that Mrs. Pendleton had come to her Yeath through a ocompound fracture of the skull, concussion of the brain and cons2quent shock. The ccach- man was exonerated frcm all blame. “Mrs. Pendleton was born in 1823. Her maiden name was Alice Kcy and she was the daughter of Prancis Scott Key, the author of the national baliad, ‘The Star Spangled Ban- German contingent in the parade incidental to the unveiling of the statue of Baron Steuben, Lafayette Square, December 7, 1910. the distance and ran off. The driver, pulled suddenly forward by the start, tried to balance himself, but failed and was pulled over the dashboard, thrown to the ground and dragged along the driveway. The horse dashed along until he was within 150 feet of the statue. The two ladies screamed for help and were beside themselves with fear. All this time the horse was dashing on, and no one was visible to check his course. Miss Pendleton stood up on the seat of the carriage and, after calling to her mother to follow hcr, jumped over the side and landed on thz lawn which borders the roadway. There she' lay unconscious. Mrs. Pendleton, when she saw her daughter spring out, followed her, but siruck the pavemont with terrific force. She was hurled by the speed of the carriage against the curbing and was un- doubtedly instantly killed. " FFICER HILL of the mounted police appeared on tne scene of the accident. Miss Pendleton was unconscious, but the officer produced respiration artificially and with the ner.’ She was also a niece of the great Chief Justice Taney. She was a sister of Philip Bar- ton Key, who was killed by Gen. Dariel E. Sickles. She had threce children, Sallie and Jennie and George H. Pendletcn, now of full age. For 25 years she was the leader of socicty in Cincinnati. The ola Pendleton mansion at the head of Main strect on the slope of Mount Auburn in Cincinnati is still pointed out as a landmark to all strangers In the few years before Mr. Pendleton was appointed Minister to Germany the old residence was abandoned and the family maintained a Summer residence in the suburb of Clifton and a Winter home downtown. When Mr. Pendleton became a member of tiie House of Representatives she made her home with him in this city, where her entertainments and reccptions were one of the features of the society of the Capital.” EGARDING the funeral of Mrs. Pendleton The Star of May 25, 1886, said: “The simple Protestant Episcopal services were read today at Zion Church over the re- mains of Mrs. Alice Pendleton. * ® * The services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Tiffany, assisted by Rev. William A. Leonard of Wash- ington. The immediate family of the deceased assembled at the residence of Frank K. Pendle- ton and accompanied the remains to the church. The only ficral offerings were a wreath of red roses at the head and another of white roses at the Yoot of the casket and a cross between the two wreaths. There vere no pall- bearers. While the procession moved up the aisle the choir sang ‘Thy Will Be Done.” The casket was made of s-lid walnut, covered with black cloth, and had six heavy silver handles. A simple plate on it bore Mis. Pendleton’s name and date of birth and death. Among those present were Secretary of State Bayard, Pen- dleton Schenck, Walter Schenck, Badeau Schenck, Mrs. F. H. Potler, Erastus Corning, Peter Marie, Camille Marie, Gen. Newion, J. S. Slawson, Stanley Matthews, Mrs. Noah Hunt Schenck, Elliott Pendlcicn, F. K. Pendleton,’ Maj. Howard and J. S. Barton Key. Thz2 body was taken to Woodlawn C.metery for tempo- rary interment, but the fin2l interment will be in the old family plot in the Cincinnati Cemetery.” ‘The chances are that Mrs. Pendletcn was born in the Georgetown home of her father, where he resided at the time he was called upon to secure the re'ease of Dr. Banes from the British, resulting in him writing our most popular patriotic cde, and the probabilities are that she also lived at 303 C street northwest, where her father maintaired a residence up to the time of his death, which took place in Baltimore at the home of his eldest daughter, Mrs. Charles Howard, on January 11, 1843. ‘The C street residence stood within the area upcn which are to be erected the buildings for the District government, and some of the old structures cn this street are now fast dis- appearing. The Key house ws:s considerably remodeled and modified some years ago. Originally it was built by Henry Weightman, brother cf Gen. Rcger Q. Weightman, along about 1835, and Francis Scott Key occupied it for scme years subsequent to that date. Here Mr. Key also had his office in what was prob- ably an addition to the west side of the house, as so many lawyers combined their homes and offices in thcse days. FTER Mr. Key's death, we find his widow still occupying the C strcet house, which, however, she had sold to John A. Smith in 1846, for at that time she was living at Bighth and G streets northwest. The Key family seems to have had an unusual amount of bad luck. Indeed, the first serious sadness to come into the household of Francis Soott Key was when one of his sons was killed in a duel in 1836. Of this unfortunate en- counter Mrs. Myra L. Spaulding says: “There lived in Washington two midshipmen who were fast friends. They had sailed together on the same ship and were on their way home from a long cruise. They landed at Norfoik, Va. Here a dispute arose between them as to which of two steamboats could sail the faster. ‘The more they argued, the more unreasonable they waxed; and the more unreasonable, the angrier they waxed, until their anger rsached a white heat. “Argry, passionate words followed, when young Key challenged Sherburne, the result of the quarrel. “Sherburne replied: ‘We've both been away from home for some years. I'll accept your challenge at Washington after I have seen my family and spent a day or two wiith them.” “A few days after the two midshipmen arrived in Washirgton Key apprcached Sher- burne on the steps of the National Hotel and, in the presence of seveial companions, de- nounced him as a coward for not having accepted his challenge. Sherburne at ence accepted it. “The next morning, Jure 22, 1836, they met near Good Hope, across the Anaccstia Bridge, where the duel was fought. “It is related that on the dueling grownd Sherburne said: *“‘Mr. Key, I have no desire to kill you.’ “‘No matter,’ replied Key, ‘I came to kill you.’ “‘Very well,’ seid Sherbourne, ‘I will kill you.' “Key fell at the first fire, shot through the body. and expired almost immediately.” “Key's cdead body was conveyed to his father’s house. The first intimation the family had of the affair was the sight of their son brought home dzad. The frantic distress of his mother was indescribable and almost in- conceivable.” HARLES F. WOOD, almost 25 vears age, in giving his recollections of C street, referred to the Key home as follows: “The localities to which you have referred are closely identified with the days of my youth. My father and also my uncle, George Wood, were residents of C street for many years, and I remember distinctly the house that sat back from the street, at 308 C street (next to Dr. Jones’ residence) which was occupied at that time by Francis Scott Key, Esq.,, the disiin- guished district attorney, and I well remember the day his young son was brought there a corpse, having been killed in a duel by Mid- shipman Sherburne. “The excitement caused by this tragedy can hardly be imagined at this day. The two fami- lies were so well known, and the youth of the two midshipmen increased the interest in the affair. Dr. Thomas Mattingly, then residing here, was Sherburne’s second and also the sur- geon. He attended Key.” Then came the tragedy of February 27, 1859, when Gen. Daniel E. Sickles killed Philip Bar- ton Key, the district attorney, in a jealous rage. Fortunately for the father he at this time had passed on to his Maker, leaving only the remain- ing children to grieve for their murdered brother. Straigh tened Out Doctor—Did thrt medicine straighten your tusband out all right? Wife—Yes, we buried him yesterday.