Evening Star Newspaper, June 18, 1933, Page 72

W hen the Eclipse of 1811 Was Ob- served From Pease’s Summer Garden, in the Triangle North of the Commerce Building—An Old Newspaper Office and Some Veteran News- pa pc’r Men. BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. HE flatiron plot of ground bounded by Fourteenth, Fifteenth and E streets and Pennsylvania avenue, Wwhere formerly stood such well-known build- ings as Albaugh’s Grand Opera House, Grand Army Hall and a num- ber of business houses—but which now is a public park, and, incidentally, off the tax books —was a very interesting block in its time, and was surrounded by other squares perhaps of even greater historic significance. For instance, the Willard Hotel and its predecessors, just across the way, and Lovell’'s Hotel, a little west of the Willard and about in the middle of the block. Old Newspaper Row, formerly on the east side of Fourteenth street between E and F streets, played an important part in the history of the country for at least 30 years subsequent to the beginning of the Civil War, and the old Ebbitt House, which stood so many years where is now the National Press Building, had its beginning when Washington was more of a village than a city and when travel by rail was only in its infancy and when at least a few of the old timers wore short pants, as it was customary to do in Colonial and Revolu- tionary times. The Apollo Hall, an early landmark on the site of what was formerly the Southern Railway Building, on the south side of E street between Thirteenth and Thirteen-and-a-half streets, was there until June 6, 1855, when it was com- pletely destroyed by fire after having been se- verely scorched upon s$wo previous occasions, although the Franklin fire engine house was but a block away, at the southeast corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Fourteenth street. The proximity of a volunteer fire company did not seem to matter much in the early days, for several other notable fires occurred in this neighborhood before the paid department came into existence—the National Theater burned in 1835 and again in 1845 and 1857. But the inefficiency of this plan cf protection is best demonstrated when the Treasury Building was destroyed by fire about 2 o'clock on the morn- ing of March 30, 1833, just 109 vears ago. There was evidently a depicscicn in the coun- try at that time and a need for strict economy, since we are tcld that there was but one watch- man on duty in the building at the time, and even he was allowed to sleep after he had made a round of the building at 10 o’clock, and must have been in dreamland when the fire started, since the discovery of the fire was made by a citizen passing within sight of the building, who saw the flames and, being familiar with the practice of the fire company, went to Fuller’s Hotel (site of the Willard) and got the key of the engine house and aroused the volunteer fire laddies, who were sound asleep. But, like the stuttering boy drawing his first mold in the blacksmith shop—who did not strike until the iron was cold—so it was with the fire com- pany, since by the time it arrived at the fire it had sbout burned itself out. However, & greater fire than this occurred in 1897, when the power house of the Capital Traction Co, where is now the District Building, was com- pletely destroyed, although the city had at that time what was regarded as an up-to-date fire- BAghting force. One can hardly realize what this neighbor- hood was a century and a quarter ago. David Burnes was still farming what had previously been his land, and only discontinued doing so upohh the demand of the ccmmissioners to de- sist. Blackberry bushes were growing in pro- fusion along the banks of the Tiber, and it is even recorded that the berries were gathered along Peunsylvania avenue several years after it was laid out. Hines records gathering and eating some ‘‘beautiful red berries” near the avenue and Seventeenth street about 1797, which he said were something like cranberries, but which he never saw in later years. When the Government moved here, in 1800, there were many sycamore tress growing along Tiber Creek, and there were evidences every- where of the forest primeval. And here again THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, JUXE 8, 1083 South side of Pennsylvania avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets in 1930. Large building to right, Grand Army Mr. Hines tells us that: “I have many times waded across the creek (Tiber) at low tide, and in crossing I sometimes found a few middle- sized logs imbedded in the mud pretty near the channel. I would mark a place on the shore opposite to where I discovered them, so that when the tide was high I swam over to them, dived down and pulled them from the mud and rolled and floated them to the other side, and when the tide fell, we cut them up and hauled them home. * * * These logs or trees must have lain there for many years, for when we cut them they were very hard, with- out limbs, and of a dark or black color.” Years afterward, in 1871, when the grade in front of the Treasury Building, on Fifteenth street, was being established, pieces of the roots of one of a group of three sycamores, which grew near the southeast angle of the Treasury, were uprooted. Indeed, it has been relaied by J. Goldsborough Bruff, that these trees were “hale and green many years after the original Treasury Building was destroyed,” which, as the writer has said, was in 1833. But when remains of these trees were unearthed in 1871, they were remembered by Mr. Bruff and by Fielder Dorsett, the latter a veteran of the War of 1812-15. ANVERNME of the Republic Hall. THE discovery even made Mr. Bruff so enthu- siastic as to break out in verse, and his lines on the subject are probably printed here for the first {ime. He said: “They were of the primeval grove, And sheltered oft the deer; Now dears pass daily where they grew When there were things to fear! Wild Anacostias ‘neath their shade Did rest from war and chase, And S. P. Chase has often passed Over the very place. And when they flourished hale and green, Now mary great men have Gone by or stood beneath their shade, (Long resting in the grave!) And even Washington, no doubt, Has ’'neath their umbrage stood And scann’d the rustic avenue Reclaimed from the wood! The change since thou wast fell'd, old tree, Now ancient sycamore: Is very great—and in two years— More than thou knewest before.” Mr. Bruff was a native Washingtonian and was one of the original Forty-niners and as- sisted in organizing a company of 60 or more men from Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria and the surrounding country to go to Cali- Groups of employes of “The Capital,” 1420 Pennsylvania avenue, in the early eighties. Left to right: W. Hennessy Smith, foreman; T. Leonard W ade, book- keeper; George R. Clarke, clerk; John E. Jenks, Dr. Frank T. Howe, James E. Harper, Miss Kate E. Thomas; the man on the extreme right, not identified. fornia. They were drilled as a military corps; the armament of each was a rifle, pair of pis- tols, bowie-knife and a pair of blankets. Each member paid in $300, and with the entire capital the expedition was completely fitted out. Mr. Bruff was made president of the organ- ization, Gideon Brooke, vice president; Ben- jamin- B. Edmonston, treasurer; A. H. Parish, secretary; Henry Austin, surgeon; Alexander Garrett, ensign; James Foy, blacksmith; Wil- liam H. Deitz, George A. Young, John Cameron of Georgetown, William Jewell of Georgetown and Edwin D. Slye, board of directors, and the following privates: Thomas Williams, John M. Farron, H. J. Queen, George Byngton, J. T. Coumbe, John T. Donn, Washington Lewis, W. N. Barker, David Fowble, J. M. Marden, Stephen Culverwell, Joseph Murphy, William H. Lloyd, Robert Slight, Thomas J. Griffiths, Oscar B. Queen, Richard J. Culvelwell, L. A. Iardella, Henry Vermillion, Columbus McLeod, Thomas P. Kingsbury, Charles G. Morley, Laurel, Prince Georges County, Md.; John Bates, Stephen J. Cassin, Georgetown; William Truman, James A. Ennis, William Pope, Richard Washington, Westmoreland County, Va.; J. H. Barker, C. G. Alexander, King George County, Va.; H. Carter Dorsey and F. P. Windsor, Alexandria; W. P. Hilleary, Charles Bishop, F. N. Magruder, John V. Ennis, J. 1. Ennis, James Shaw, Josiah B. Hills, Thomas B. Scott, Isaac E. Owen, D. R. Wall, Charles Fenderich, James Wardell, Georgetown; Augugius S. Capron, Laurel, Prince Georges County, Md.; William Pranklin, Charles Reed, Josiah C. Willis, B. F. Burche, Joseph C. Reily and Matthew M. Tapprell. An account printed at the time says: “The ccmpany left here Monday afternoon, April 2, 1849, and were escorted to the railroad depot by the Washington Light Infantry, their departure being witnessed by a multitude of friends. The National Intelligencer published an account of their departure the day follow= ing, saying ‘The scene was in a high de- gree affecting’ The ‘pioneers’ proceeded to Pittsburgh, where wagons, tents, &c., were pro- cured and a steamer was chartered to take them to St. Louis, the cargo having been in- sured. An odometer was purchased at St. Louis and attached to the wheel of a wagon, by which the traveled distances were measured. A diary of events, meteorclogical observations, &c., was kept by the commander. Numerous Indians were encountered on the route; among them were the Pawnees, Sioux, Cheyennes, Crows, Shoshones or Snakes and the Piutes, or as they term themselves the Pi-u-tahs. “Thirty mules were pufchased in Missouri and driven up to St. Jcsejby land. They cost on an average of $70 per ‘head, and nearly all of them had to be broken] to use at the depot camp at St. Jose. The c¢ompany transported in two detachments, different steamers, several days apart, from St. Louis to St. Jose. Strict military rules were observed, and guards main- tained at the rendezvous and throughout the march. The Indians took them for United States troops, hence the exceptional unmolesta- tion by them, whilst others of the great exodus suffered considerable, particularlly in stock and persens killed. It was a dual association, civil as & mining company and military for the long, wearisome march. Those who were able to do so, had riding horses or mules (some 25). The commander made sketches of all worth draw- ing, from St. Jose to the Valley of the Sacra~ mento, in scope of view from the trail or near it. After long and weary marches, during which they had many experiences, crossing the Missouri River in a tremendous freshet, they arrived at Grant Island, on the Platte, and stopped near Fort Kearney. The officers &% that post were Col. Bowneyville, in commands Maj. Chilton and family, Capt. Van Vied Lieuts. Davis, Boates, Ogle, Donaldson and Dr, Hammond. July 8 Mr. Bishop, a member, died of cholera, near Chimney Rock, on the Platte, and was buried with military honors. Anocther, an elderly man, Mr. Culverwell, was taken siek at Grand Island (Fort Kearney) and furnished with means to return, but, contrary % the