The Indiana State sentinel., 1885-07-29
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
The House in Which the Lincoln Conspiracy
Was Incubated.
Meetings in the ''Dreadful Jug at the School
Kept by Lewis j. Weichman as De-
seribed by One of His Pupils to
the Sentinel Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, July 25.-"I have had curious
experience in that edifee," observed Washing
on man TO me as we were passing an antiquated
structure Nineteenth street, between and H.
We were enjoying a pedestrian expedition ''for
two" one evening about three months ago. Walk
ing is not only heathful but highly agreeable for
able-bOdied and well-calved people, and at no
time is man more communicative. The same
holds good, as am reliably informed, in regard
women.
During the early spring of 1855, q was boy
ten years old, that building was used as a school
house. and was enrolled among the pupils my
friend continued. The name of the fellow who
taught was Lewis ]. weiehman, and more cruel
tyTannical person have certainly never known
He is the only preceptOr ever had whom failed
TO love, but in common with all the boys. hated
him most cordially He was object of positive
aversion, believe, to all. He delighted in an
nOying the boys and punished, l have not the
shadow Of doubt for the pleasure u
villainly recently within the last few years
recalled TO my mind by CHANGING upon volume
containing the proceedings OF Mrs. SuTatt. The
school closed the morning after the assassina-
ton Of President Lincoln, and never knew what
became OF the teacher.
happened 10 open the volume at this point in
the proceedings MY name is Louis /. welchman.
am school teacher by profession: The last
school / taught was on Nineteenth street. between
g and II. in this city" did not care 10 read fur
ther. THAT opened to me a train of reflections
disagreeable that closed the book with shud-
der, for il gave me new light to what hitherto,
in ny mind, bad been vague and much like
1reifi. 4 1iiih picture IN hiy memory as
Sir, ] believe the ''' treasonable Violence
that eliminated in the murder of President Lin
coin, was planned in that house II Is as plajI as
not long ago, told the story 10 ifn and he heard
it through inquiring into all the details with the
keeDest interest. Think of it! This was school
few Of the boys verging on manhood. That would
be a strange place for cOnspiratOrs 20 meet
wouldn't il? but stranger than that. exactly
the street several companies of soldiers were sta
toned. The devil, it is said, frequently finds a
church, good place in which TO do thriving
The boys called weichman "Old Dragon and
that is all anybody seemed 70 know about him.
But he had frequent visitors. There were four
people who came TO see him-one Catholic priest
another a lady in black, invariably with her face
completely hid beneath a veil deeply folded, an
ether man, not particularly attractive and still
another. of whom we all spoke as the handsome
man. He wore heavy black mustache, was
fresh, and always dressed with uncommon neat
ness. These people never came together. not even
in twos- Ihey would pass through the school
house directly 10 Ne1chman's private room, which
the boys knew as the dreadful Jug" They gave
il that name for this reason: On no other Occa-
sion was the door ever opened, and
alley. was always eurtained. Weichman
would appear to take no notice OF his visitors as
they passed through his room to the dreadful
Jug until the handsome man came. He usually
brought up the last OF the procession. Then
Weichnan wOuld leave the sch0Ol-rOOm and join
his company in the dreadful Jug" But several
times j remember the handsome man followed
the veiled lady, who came first Weichman would
join them al once, and the other two would come
in after while.
During the eonclave the school would have &
high old time.
Twas the only boy, feel quite sure, that eve
saw the inside Of the dreadful Jug" This is the
way il happened: j had a top at school some
thing Of curiosity. The toy ins theI
did yacht twould be to-day. weichmaI
took Thea top from me, and as the handsOmemaI
came moment afterward. .he carried itwith him Z
in my ecstacy Of grief ran home. Ny mOthe
partly quieted me, and wrote note to the teach
or, which carried back. Oar home was less thar
two squares away. Armed with this authority
broke into the schOOl-rOOm like flash and plunges
into the center of the dreadful jug" crying, M
top; mother says please give me my top, and shall
keep il at home" Weichman at once gathered m
arm, but not urgently, picked the toy from the IA
BILE gave il into my hand and led me quickly q
the door, through which was discharged Nor
than delighted with the restoration OF my proper
ty, did not realize thdtI was hero until TN
school gathered about me asking: What did yol
walls were covered with flags. which / though
we're rebel flags. / thought il al
awful room. but that was largely
no doubt. my childish imagination Tn
priest and the ordinary-l0oking man were sittin
facing the handsome man and the veiled lady
who were also sitting the handsome mans han
resting on the shoulder OF arm of the vailed Lady
whose vail now aside revealed that she was u
longer young. The teacher was standing. NJ
presence seemed to interrupt the whole party
The handsome man have since recognized in tn
Likeness of j. Wilkes Booth. the ordinary -lookin
man a. John Suratt The woman, have though
WIS Hrs. SurGtt"
Eugene Jewel is the name Of the gentleman VIII