New-York tribune., 1884-02-02
THE SCHUYLER MANSION.
RELIC OF COLONIAL DAYS AT ALBANY.

.x oco ,sroS.L CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
a,p,Ny. Y. Jan. 17.-When Burgoyne, on the
owe of the battle of Saratoga proudly boasted 'ha'
he would eat his Christmas dinner in Albany DO >"
far relied on the aid Of General Clinton "h" was
slowly hat surely creeping up the hudson WIN
strong force that he intended the dinner shouo We
one 81 rejoicing. and that they should partake ol IL
aseonanerors with tho American forces u"G''
cotos broken and defeated. He little tho ught,
,oxcver that the fortunes of war would ma MS
INV surrendered with Clinton hastily retTeating
down the river and himself eating his Cihher III
Albany sometime before Christmas, not as con-
oueror. but as prisoner and guest at the table
Of General Philip Schuyler.
The old mansion in which this dinner took place
!; sill standing in the lower part of this city IL
ms huili w Mrs. schuyler in 17Gl, while the "eh
eral was in Europe from Whence many articles l'r
the furnishing of the house were sent, and was
their town residence. The mansion at Schuyler
vile which with the Generals mills, was burned
1v Burgoyne in I777 vas their country seat. and
far surpassed the Albany house IN point OF grand
eur and costly fittings.
The Schuyers were famous for tier hoSll'"hy
on both sides of the Atlantic. }. Ii. Kogart wrote
of their home in 1865 The hest people mat Ing
lad plsccd in her army were found here. II was
the abode Of taste and refinement not universal
IN that day and the British officer fouudin the par
lors of Madame Schuyler grace of manner ana uls-
nitv and appreciation of cultivation which
reminded him Of the polished society he had ieit
bevond the sea-" The history of Albany is closely
connected with many of the leading events IN colo
NAL davs. but most of It's historical landmarks
have disappeared and now il is Tumored that the
oN Schuyler mansion is 10 be torn down III the
spring. .....,.
The bouse stasds on a high ominence, and IN Its
s...1l. do sTfh nj "A
.lopinc toward the river. To-day the city streets
have encroached on all sides 10 within short dis
lance of the house and the grading has necessated
The bnidine of high wall Of masonry along one
side. In this wallis a small door opening upon
short fight of stairs, up which passed 10 galu
access to the building. The house Is hmlt entirety
of brick two stories high, with eabled ROOF ana
tormer windows, but has nothing OF the massive
appearance of the Van Rensselaer, manoi-house
which was built in 1863 four years later, and ell
tirely of stone The yellow painted weather.
stained structure shows remarkable state OF pres
ervation. In front, steep Bight OF wooden steps
leads ND to il from the street below; and the en-
trance is made through an octagonal vestlbnle,
which, with its four large windows, much resem-
bles the pilot house of river steamboat only 1t is
about twice as large
Massive doors with heavy brass lock and chain
open into the main hall, which is As long as an or
dinary city house of to-day, II is lighted by tYo
high windows one on each side of the vestibue.
Opening into the hall on either hand are the spa
cious parors with their wooden cornces, high
mantelpieces aud wide, deep fre-places The
wanscot around each room is nearly as high as
mans head and the windows reach almost hom
the floor to the ceiling. They are set deep into the
wall and are just high enough from the toor to
make comfortable seats III the recess and one could
imagine that with the heavy tapestry curtains IN
place they would make delightful ncOks for quiet
chat Strong wooden blinds with the old-fashion-
ed cToss-bar of iron protect each window on the III
side The rooms have connection with each
other except through the halls, and the narrow
doors all have enormous brass locks with giant
TIE ToMAHAwK'S MARX.
In the rear of the main hall is an archcd doorway,
with background Of glass, much resembling that
of church window, opening into a smaller hall
leading TO the dining and sitting rooms and to the
servants quarters. In this hall is the broad wind
ing staircase with Its SCARED railing made famous
i'm history by the tomahaUk of an Indian The
mark is to-day scarcely noticeable unless attention
is called TO IT, being only about an iuch long and
an eighth Of an inch in depth Ii is on the outer
edge of the railing where II curves al the very foot
of the stairs toward tao rear of the building, SHOW
ing that the tOmahawk must have been thrown
from that direction. and not, as some illustrations
nave H. iItih AooN 81 Niit "NhiAn ~ WV 4i3-'H
girl wlo had already gained the first landing.
The story is so well known that brief outline will
here suffice H. the sumner of 1881, a band Of
Tories and Indians SocTctcd themselves in the
yonds near the house and watched for q favorable
opportunity 20 capture General Schuyler and carry
HIM OF 10 Canada as prisoner. Schuyler had Tor
some time hccn suspicious Of such movement, 80
when, on a certain afternoon he was told thai Il
stranger wished 10 set him AT the back door ho
smmiScd hs erand. aud Scllng hls EIc-aTlnS haN'-
fly gathered his family about him IL an upper fcoh
Here II was discON cred that IN the cXCtemenJ OF
the mouent, the Generals youngest child an m
fant had been left below asleep IN IFS cradle;
of STEPHEN Van Rensselaer,. the last and wcalthcSt
of the Pa1ioons. rushed down stars sI.atched the
child from its cradle and started back through The
hall lust as the Indians and To-
nes came in through The servants
quarters in the rear. The, foremost saw
age. catching q glimpse of the flying gTi, huIled
his tomahawk al her head, which barely missing
her. struck tho railing at the foot Of the stairs Ihe
Tory leader; SURPRISING her to be one OF the ser
wants, called out "a know where hei master Wi",
when, with wonderful presence OF mind, size called
back that he had gone 10 aiaIln the town Schuyler
leaning from open window, tired his pistol IA the
air and shouted to imaginary friends. Come on,
my brave boys, aud we've got thcml" wLcrcupnn
the iutU0CTS beat q haSty retreat.
MEMOIslFs or COLONIAL 1IMfs.
The upper bah Of the house is about the same
tizo as the lower one. and the rooms bear The
resemblance 10 those On tho first door. From the
windows q magnificent view may be had of the
Hudson with it, background of hills while directly
beneath lies the city. Standing here amid the his
toric surroundings, strange pah0rama Of colonial
events seems to arise before one Grim forts. on
either hand, protect The quaint Dutch city from in
vasion. The narrow streets arc filed with English
officers aud men together with the sturdy provin-
cals AbeTcrombie and young Lord Howe are
leading army Of thousand regulars and
nine Thousand proyineials against MOntcalm and
his tIeaeherous Indian allies IN tho north; while
the young Nirginian. Colonel Washington is Law