The Hickman courier., 1877-11-23
PRESIDENTIAL POISONING.
The Terrible Tragedy Of Buchanan's
Inauguration DRy-IhIrty or More
Dead victims Of Poison.

Among the most prominent of the
Nationals late arrivals are Senator Ben
Hill and wife 'of Georgia. They occupy
the suite Of rooms known as the Presi-
Dental parlors. if the walls had tongues
they might discourse of people promi-
uent in the past, and. perchance, tell
tales of private life never suspicioned.
But the tall mantel looks blank under
its modern ornaments, the brass mount
ing- of the fender reflect new faces, the
heavy curtains shut in the secrets never
voiced, and in the room sits a little,
dark-eyed, prim woman and a blue-eyed
man, iron away down south in Geor-
gia"-s man mild az May, velvety,
broad faced, and uDassuming as field
dandeIion. These rooms where Senator
Hill now lives, on that fatal fourth Of
March which witnessed Bnchanan's in
auguration, were occupied by the new
president. Twelve hundred guests were
crowded in the house. In the evening
nearly all were seized by similar sYmp-
toms of poisoning, and thirty or more
died. The dead bodies lay in rows in the
parIors, the sick and dying were moan
ing in the halls; a gloom hung over the
city, and extended TO distant homes,
from whence had come guests to witness
the Inauguration. The house had just
previous to this been entirely refurnished.
It was the grand hotel of the capital,
and built in a style of magnifcence
rare IN those times. The National
hotel poisoning is remembered
with horror by old people, but
many Of the younger ones have never
heard of it. The affairs was investigated
and the house examined. No positive
clue has ever been found. Some said
detective drainage, some poisoned rats in
the well. some that the sugar was poisoned
to ruin the business Of the hotel. II is
generally, / think, believed now that the
/ poison was mineral poison, and was in the
sugar-for the reason that persons not
stopping at the house, who took fancy
drinks at the bar were also seized by
cramps Doubtless the new presidents
death was meditated. but Mr.. Buchanan
never touched sugar, nor ate 1t in any
thing, 50 that he almost alone escaped
the peril. Some of those beside his eX>
cellency, who escaped, have been inter
rogated, and all those whose address
could be found after the lapse of years,
replied that they did not partake Of sugar,
even in coffee The house was closed,
tbespendid furniture was sold at auction.
For wears the hotel was uninhabited.
People locked at the barred windows
something as visitors now pause before
Ford's theater, where President Lincoln
vas assasinated. Strangers stood in front
Of it aud related to each other sad Incl
dents of the inexplicable death which had
overtaken thirty persons in night.
Twenty years ago a gentleman from New
Hampshire, visiting in Washington, asked
to 90 through the house. People had
been afraid to enter the walls otter the
manic. The gentleman, upon eXamina
| tiou. Immediately leased the building
threw open the windows, had the house
| eleansed. one hundred and fifty loads Of
dirt taken from the cellar, put one hun
dred thousand dollars worth OF tuniture
in the hotel and was called crazy by his
friends. 10 December. every corner was
| filled by guests, and the QUAINT, low
rooms, wheJe had danced the bellies oi
ouarter ofsa century before, were again
| filed with life and beauty Washington
| ~ 0btc1oo 7 fy3es