Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-29
Gen. Hanoock's residence.

We will 90 over to the residence Of Gen.
Hancock, place now famous, both in
military and political sense. 1t Is stu
ated over on the Brooklyn side, and can
not be seen from Castle William. A
| shady walk leads down to it from the
port headquarters, which is but few
steps from the ferry landing, and on the
lett side as you pass down are the resi-
dences of Gen. Hancock and officers of his
staff and of the port. The headquarters
building is nearly half a century old. and
was originally the hospital. When Gen.
HancOck-noYed over from the city of New
York in 1878, he had it repaired from top
to bottom, though it had not been used
for a hospital for several years, but the
hospital drug store is still kept in the
basement, and Mr.. Robinson, the hospital
steward, as well, has been there tor 80
years. He is afine-looking, jolly English
man, and looks as though be were well
turned into the fifties. He is the oldest in
| habitant on the island. On the first floor
is Gen. Whipple, Adjutant of the Depart
ment Of the East, and a most soldierly
gentleman in his bearing, but most con-
| siderate and accommodating. On the
second floor, in a back room on the left
side of the hallway, is the Office of Gen.
! Hancock. did not see guard or sentry
/ anywhere about the building, but a harm
less looking messenger took in my card
just about as unpretentiOus and democrat
tic looking fellow as stands at the door
to direct visitors who call on President
Arthur. / shall not report an interview
with Gen. Hancock nor describe his
personal appearance further than to say
| he has thinned out very much since his
recent illness, and has not now the deeply
cOlOred, rosy cheeks and aplomb that
made him an exceptionally fine-looking
Presidential candidate four years ago,
and which turned the caricaturists into
green despair. His naturally light hair
is now almost entirely gray, and that
splendid imperial is as white as the i'm
maculate snow. Gen. Hancock has that
frank, bluff sort of manner that makes
one feel at perfect ease IN his presence,
and which makes every one that meets
him his friend and admirer. What is so
often fault in the personal demeanor of
military men is not a fault of his: he does
not carry that stiff reserve which one
may often painfully discover even in the
humble pOssessor of no greater position
than a Lieutenancy. Gen. Hancock's
room is large, square, plainly furnished
one. An ordinary summer mating
covers the floor, and things look as if it
might still be none too good place to
receive the miscellaneous callers that
fiocked to see him in 1890. Looking out
OF the rear window one gets an easy view
of the city of Brooklyn and the narrow
strip Of water called ButtermiIk Channel
so named because the wives and daugh-
tiers OF the old HOllaDders, who used to
to live on Long Island, brought their milk
and butter and garden truck that way
when taking it over to the New York
market. 1t is too pretty piece of water
to bear so homely a name. 1T was the
day of the meeting of the Republican Con-
Yehtion at Chicago, but the General was
not deeply concerned about it, and said
he would read the papers when he got on
the boat that afternoon on his way to
West Point, where he was going to at
tend the annual examination. 1t is a
pity that so gallant. eminent and we'll
positioned a soldier should ever have Teen
made a martyr Of by a political party, but
it is pleasing fact, and one that every
body feels and acknowledges to be true.
that no defeated candidate in a Presi-
Dental race ever came out of 1t with
more unblemished name and carrying
with him a more profound respect from
both political friends and enemies.
His residence, as | have said, is at the
upper end of the long shady walk near
the boat landing. 1t fronts to the south
west and has a most hospitable-looling
old portico at both front and end. 1t is
after the manner of the better class of
plantation houses one sees in Louisiana
and the far South. There is a leafy Crane
vines have been trained to grow up the
sides Of the house and about the lattice
work of the portico till the covering is
almost complete, giving a delightfully."-
cool and charming aspect to the site of the
residence next to the waters edge. There
is wide lawn and parade ground in
front, and music stand, to say nothing
of park of brass field pieces mounted on
carriages. The General and his wife live
a merry, peaceful and happy life here.
Their only daughter died five or six
years ago, and Mrs. Hancocks mother, a
most accomplished old lady, died year
since, but the children Of their only son,
Russell Hancock, are there much of the
time, and Miss Foster, a niece, is also
often a guest, so that there is some COM
pensatiOn for the severe family losses they
have sustained. 1t is needless for me to
speak in praise of Mrs. Hancock, for she
is well known to be as charming a woman
as ne is a man. She takes deep interest
in a little Episcopal congregation that
has been organized on the island, and
whose pastor is under the direction of
Trinity church, New York. A neat
chapel has been built. and every Sunday
Mrs. Hancock and the General may be
seen there, she playing on the organ for
the choir, made up of officers childen, to
sing by. The Catholics hold religious
service on the island twice month, a
priest going over from New York for that