National Republican., 1873-10-06
THE OLDEST INHABITANTS
ANOTRsR LOOKTHRoUGH ITS ARCHIVES
Rcmin'sccr ccs OF tho Early Day. Of wu.t,

Rcntin'sccr ccs Of tho Early Day. Of ynsi-
ingion -somc of the Ancient Landmarks
Intervening Facts Broughf Out OF the
shadow Of the Past irto the surshi.e Of
tho Present.
We resume to-day our researches among
the archives of the Oldest Inhabitants Asso.
citation.
Mr.. John Underwood presents
AsKErcH OF TuR POTOMAC IN 1916.
looking up the river from near the mouth OF
the Tiber. A prominent figure In the picture
Is gunner In pursuit Of flock Of sand
snipcs, and within sight Is the farmhouse Of
Daniel Burns, one Of tho original proprictors
Of tho land on which the city was built. His
daughter Marcia, well known IA the wife Of
Gen. John p. Van Ness, one OF the mayors Of
Washington, was born In that house. When
the General erected the stately mansion occu-
pied as his dwelling, close to the old farm
tiquity and the many tender and interesting
"reminiscences connected with II. Near the
mouth Of the Tiber and close TO the water,
stood square pillar designed TO mark
TBE CENTRE OF THE DISTRICT,
and In this vicinity, quite near the site OF the
present unfinished Washington Monupent,
was the cabin OF sold Jack, who had been
one OF the servants Of Daniel Carroll, Of Dud-
dlngton. Old Jack was well known TO all
the young folks, who used to engage him to
fiddle at their social parties, each family CIV
ing at least one party during the season.
Poor Old Jack, many years ago, met an un-
timely death. While returning to his home
at night, In endeayorlDg to cross the creek at
4. assa h. l.t N.Ilt la.
the water, and was drowned. His grandson
Aus" who had lived with him, and for
whom the boys had great regard, died Of
the cholera In 1892 while employed In Pear
sons mill, at Cazenoyia.
As houses could not be had In Washington
city for the accommodation Of all the Clerks
transferred from Philadelphia by the Govern
ment In 1900, many OF them had to rent
houses In Georgetown. In June, 1908, Mr.. Dun
laps father, who was clerk, moved from
Georgetown TO one Of the three story brick
houses on Grccnlcafs Point erected by Morris
Nicholson and Greenlcaf, who supposed that
they mad selected the most eligible part Of the
city for their improvements. But they failed,
leaving several Of their houses unfinished
some OF which went to ruin. At that time d
was common thing 10 see the Potomac aud
ducks while feeding, and when they were
aroused by $40. Jnhnson's" little packet, OF
some passing long-boat, the sound Of theii
wings on Using rcsembled heavy thunder
and the atmosphere was darkened by the
cloud which they spread around. The ducks
were comparatively tame, and could be easily
shot from the bank or tree or bush at the
waters edge. Alexander's Island, on the
Virginia side, was then famous ducking
ground.
The canvas-back fed on the root Of the
rdilignerid spfrdiis called tape grass or duck
grass which grows In great abundance In the
Potomac. 1t is said that this food gives the
flesh of that duck Its peculiarly delicate
flavor.
and when sailing-yessels began to Increase,
and professional gunners, with their long
guns, multiplied, and especially after the In
PRODUCTION of steamboats,, the canvas-back
and other ducks were driven away from this
ancient haunt, so that for many years past O
small flock Of them within sight Of Washing.
ton would have been regarded as q rare
sight
For several years
10. JoussoS's LITTLE PACKET
afforded the only direct regular conveyance
between Washington and Alexandria. Jo.
made one or two trips day, as wind and tide
permitted. He was also great hunter In his
day, and used to supply some Of the tables OF
leading families with game.
In 1903 that part Of the city east OF Seventh
street from the old Centre market 10 Virginia
avenue Oncludlng what Is now known ~
Armvry square) contained a great many for.
est trees, and In several portions dense
growth Of oak and other shrubs, besides con-
siderable marsh, and was filled with game
OF various Kinds. On the opposite side OF
Seventh street was the farm oi Motley Young
Tho
MANSION HOUSE OF Mr.. YOUNG
stood near the river, two or three hundred
yards from where the Long bridge now is
and was torn down some thirty odd year,
ago, In opening one Of the streets which
passed right through 1t. This mansion was
ut one time the residence Of Robert Brent
| the first mayor Of Washington. II was very
capacious and substantial, built Of brick,
which had been brought from Holland.
The west side of Seventh street to the Po
meadow larks and other birds. Grasshop.
pers, on which the birds fed, were exceed
ingly numerous, and so fat were the plovers
that when shot on the wing the fall would
| often burst them.
In those early days
THE TrHER ~
was clear, beautiful stream, about two hun
dred yards wide Mt Its mouth, and perhapi
one hundred yards near the Centre market
The tide used to cover much Of the ground OF
which the present market stands, and severa
Of the squares on the south side Of c street
between Ninth and Eleventh streets. "Goos,
creek, as II was originally named, was famed
for geese, swans and ducks; hence Its name
afterwards changed to that Of Tiber. A,
Moore hath it
"what was Goose creek once 10 Tiber now
When the Capitol was commenced wharf
was made about where the creek was inter.
sected by Third street west, for the landing
materials for the building called 'the Capito
wharf" The large blocks Of frecstone fol
the Capitol, brought from Aqua creek, were
landed on the Potomac at the wharf known
as Brent's wharf; but much Of tho materia
for the Capitol was brought up the creek Il
the Capitol wharf.
Mr.. R. W. Clarke, In presenting a marble
| stone from the
OLD CAPITOL BUILDING,
accompanies 1t with an interesting memoir
The Old Capitol was built In 1916, and wa
| temporarily occupied by Congress after IN,
burning Of the National Capitol by the Brit
ish. The building was erected by priyat,
subscription at cost Of $4,000. Congress
met the year after the burning Of the Capito
In Blodgett's hotel, afterwards the Post 0flc,
occupied as" the Washington City College.
In subsequent years, and previous to 1861, /
was used as Congressional boarding house
and kept by u Mr.. Hill. II is well know
that during the rebellion, this famous build
| Ing was used rs q prison for the conflnemen
of disloyal persons. Among Its most noto
rious inmates was the rebel spy Belle Boyd
Capt. Wirz, Of Andersonyille memory, wht
was executed there; and Capt. John Eilwood
who committed suicide. The building, aftel
the close OF the war, was purchased by Geo
L. Brown, sergeant-at-arms of the Senate
and has since been converted into hrst-clas
private residences.
Mr.. J. Carroll Brent, In paper read befor,
the society February %, 1858, presents series
| of
LETTERS FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON,
thirteen In number, copied from the Novem
Der QS6D number of the Catholic World O
New York. Prefacing the publication Of tn,
letters, the editor remarks 1.-TWO years ag,
Count Neuri de Chastellux gave to the world
through the pages Of Le Correspondent O
Paris, u translation of thirteen letters O
| Washington never before printed. They wer,
addressed to the Marquis de Chastellux, that
gallant and accomplished French nobleman
who fought with the patriot army during oul
Revolutionary war, serving as O major gen
eral under Rochainbeau." The letters rur
through period Of eight years, the first be
Ing dated at New Windsor January 2S, l7Sl
aud the last at Mount Vernon, April 25, l7ss
Mr.. Noah Brooks contributes u venerabl,
RELIC or INTERNAL REVENUE,
being the license certificate granted In 1917
for tho use of a fOur-Wheel carriage