The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-06
"OLD DEFENDERS
Instructive Interviews With Three
of the Old Heroes of Baltimore.
Nicholas Brewer. Joshua Dryden and
Jesse L. Hiss.
THE w AR OF 1912.
Centennial "reminiscences Religion Travel
and Morals, A. D 1900.
COLONEL NICHOLAS BREWER.

BALrIxoRE, May 4 1879
Colonel Nicholas Brewer, the secretary Of the "Od
DeGenders Association" OF Baltimore, eighty seven
years old Sunday March 81 1876 He does not look TO
DO moro than seventy. To be his hair is white
Ihe driven snow but his voice strong his eye is keen
md bright his nerve is perfect, his step quick and
plastic and his Short thckset body gives person that
idea Of strength which rather TO prefer an
other antagonist, should discussion degenerate into
hard knocks He talks with tho ease and vigor OF
Of forty, and would be hard TO dnd peasanter
vacomtes~ withaL when asked what were his views
upon
APPROACHING CENTENNIAL
be said -.u think they ought TO celebrate II John
Adams said about the Fourth OF July, with the firing
81 guns tho beating OF drums the waving Of flags the
ringing OF bells and addling, singing and dancing
was glad to see Congress move in the matter. We ire
ierrng to his association Of the soldiers Of the of
1912 have been talking about making arrangements 10
60 on 10 Philadelphia Yes, sir; heartily
there approve OF II and expect to DO
II should live long. Our members arc very
few now. ana when reach my time OF life they do
wish to look far ahead but It would DO disgrace
TO nation II this celebration should fail Why
str, when consider that but 100 years ago there
were only 100000 Americans in the United Stntcs and
that now spread from ocean TO ocean and are the
equal Of any nation the globe, tho thing seems in
rrcdbIe-a miracle, sir, miracle and one that should
be marked by just demonstration as Joan Adams
recommended"
'As OLD AS THE PRESIDENCY"
When asked give rccolccions Of his early lie,
the rnanucrs and customs then prevailing, tho amuse-
Incnts in vogue &c, he said .'I was born the city
Of Annapolis, IN the month that George Washing
his as President Of the United States for
The first time that old as the Presidency It.
SELF Annapolis at that timo pretty much as II Is
nova finished city. People in joke used to talk OF
running a fence round It. The State House, where
Washington resigned his commission, was really fine
building, and there was handsome church and col
icgc and the old ball room back OF tho hotel in which
Washington has danced many night, was tho nncst
Of its kind in tho country Tho ball room still
remains pretty much in tho same condition as when
Washington honored it with his presence. Al
this tlme old John johnson, Reverdy Johnson's
lather, and old Mr. Kelly both distinguished law
ycrs. / rem. mbcr Luther Martin we'll He
Of wondcriul talent, but very peculiar in his manner
At times he sociabe and familiar with everybody,
while at others he and distant and very
uisagrceablc. l think nc PROFESSIONALLY the
greatest lawyer that Maryland produced, though
he mover would plead unless he under tho
influence OF hquor.
BALTIMORE l. 1890
II never saw Washington, but knew of him, Of
course while he living, and his death Is indcliby
impressed upon my memory by the profound sorrow
which seemed 20 ovcrwhclm tho people, regardless OF
class sex. Annapolis wrapped in gloom as
though pail hung over it, moved to Baltimore
shortly alter lsoO The city then had about 900 In
habtants. Whore Colonel Brewers house
is Jefferson street. about half milo from the water
and at least two miles from tho nearest boundaries OF
the ethyl there a burying ground. We used to
shoot right back oft We had theatre In the
CITY and gardens all round the suburbs where had
fireworks and plays Sundays, and the citizens
Aocked there by the thousand and drank their
milk punches. There old fellow by the
name of Durang who used to have his
pany here. and the cdgo OF the city,
about quarter OF milo from here. wo used
10 have chicken fights, bear fights and bull
bats. On the Fourth Of July there always gen
eral parade and a salute fred Though the city was
small at that time ns07) had 5000 in
Uniform II was during this year that the Leopard
nred on the Chesapeake in our own bay. mover saw
anything like the people in my lfe They stark
mad In less than year 5000 troops were uniformed
and equipped. The excitement increased, and in 1909
Captain Pryor arrived here with three pipes Of gin
board his vessel, which the British had compelled
him TO pay tribute. We took tnom out and burned
them on IAndenslager's HILL Captain Pryor, then
prominent merchant led the party.
THE RIOT or lSl2
.You ask me II / remember General Lngan's death
IN 1872 Perfectly, as though il were yesterday.
Lingan was a Montgomery county man, but he got
mixed up with party Of fellows hore who published
paper called the Federal Republican which opposed the
war and INDUCED in the most scurrous abuse OF the
President and everybody eso except themselves. Tho
people rose up and toro down the building Tho pro-
prctcrs took their paper up TO Montgomery and issued
Il from shere spreading broadcast through Baltimore
n they had remained there they would have been
moIcssed, but they had tho temeriiy TO back TO
Baltimore and rent house on Charles street from
Mrs White. They collected number OF men together
and barricaded themselves while printing this OBJ
uoxious sheet heard OF II and, mounting my
horse rode to the Office. ! found tho people
in state Of terrible excitement Tho newspaper
men from behind their barricadc had fred the
people gathered in front OF tho Office and had killed
citizen named Gale. George P Stevenson, our brigade
majors thorough going fellow he was too-drectcd
no 10 20 nner Captain Hanna's company Of Felrs
Point Dragons 70. the purpose Of taking the out
Of the house and carrying them over to jail. OK
scuted his order, aud they were safely removed, In
spite OF the Of the mob but when night camo
. great oversight committed No guard was sta
toned At tho jail walked up there with Adjuiant
Bias shortly after nghtfall There were few rowdes
about and great many lookers.on. turned to Bias
and said that the Iookerson only encouraged the row
acs, and We were setting bad example With twenty
men could have taken caro- Of the jail and driven
OF tho rawdcx We turning away when tho
mob made rush on the jail with axes and crowbars
aud burst In tho doors. | Immediately rushed In with
them, but the prisoners unfortunately, attempted TO
make their way OUT General Lingan was beaten 70 a
shapoicss mass on the stops, and George Winchester,
prominent then and afterward, got cut across his
forehead which he carried 10 his grave
WORK OF REscrx.
~ very indignant at the ou,rases and intcrfercd
IN time the life OF man, but my friend badc
me 10 careful would DO identified with the prison
rrs. as mob cared much who the victim was
30 ha; their Internal malice could be gracd Tnomp
son. an Engshman by birth. hut at that time prom-
n.ut merchant Baltimore seized by tho mob.
rey ,arrcd and icashcrcd him. having stripped him
he VAST ami stuck al least nity pins him. Hc was