Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-26

3ce0es In the Streets and On the
Wharves q Old GeOrwetown.

AN EXTRACT FROM sEN: PERLKY rooRx's
NEW DooK-rHE OLD UNION rAvKRN-PRcsr.
DENT WASHINGTON AND DAVID BURNS
MAJOR = ENfANr AS CLAIMANT.
The book OF "Periey's "Reminiscences" by
Major Ben: Perley Poore will have special In.
terest for residents OF Warrington, in which
city the scenes q most Of the events recountsd
are laid, and where the author has spent nearly
sixty years Of his buay life. Major Pooee's
years Of experience here o. . newspaper oorres-
pendent. the various olncial stations he has
occupied. the friendly intimacy he has enjoyed
with the public men and celebrities OF the
last half century, his journalistic training.
tntmitable style a. Q roesNtesr and accurate
memory, endow him with peculiar fitness for
the literary undertaking upon which he has
entered. and the results have not been at ell
Disappointing.
The following Interesting account Of old
Georgetown 10 taken from the "reminiscences
composing the work:
Georgetown, nov called "West washington"
was originally laid out Is . town In 1851, and
camille houses, whose vessels came annually
70 its wharves. They brought valuable heights
OF hsrdw dry goods and wines. and they
carried back tobacco, raised In the surrounding
country, and furs, brought down the Potomac
by Indian traders There were also lines OF
e ss
Two principal articles OF import were sugar
and molssses, which were sold at auction on
the vharves. Business i'm these staples has
been entirely superseded by the coal and hour
trade.
The main streetof Georgetown was generally
nlied every weekday with the numbering
Conestoga six-horse wagons, In which the
farmers ol Maryland and Central Pennsylvania
brought loads OF wheat and OF corn. taking
back dry goods, groceries. salt, and, during the
FISHING season, fresh shad aud herring. Another
source Of trade was the Potomac river. which
Cumberland In long, fiat-bottom boats, sharp
NJ both ends. called ''goudolas." These boats
were poled down the Potomac TO the Great
canal with locks was constructed, running
around the falls back TO the river. The same
plan OF avoiding the rapids was suggested by
George washington, who was also president of
the company. The canal was finished in l793,
but IL never yielded sufficient revenue 70 pay
expenses
"THE 0oND0LAs"
brought down considerable quantities of -four,
corn. pork and iron, much OF which was
shipped ut Georgetown TO other ports. During
the year 1912 several hundred hogsheads of
Louisiana sugar were brought by the way of
The mississippi. the Ohio and the Potomac
rivers To Georgetown. THIS was a realization OF
Washington idea that the city which he
founded and which bore his name would be-
sippi valley destined Tor shipmen, abroad. He
displayed his faith ia this belief by the pur-
chase Of wharf lois. which would not to-day
The Union tavern nj Georgetown WAS q WELL
patronized and fashionable inn during the first
quarter !u. Of the present century. Among the
distinguished men who were its guests were
Louis Philips, Count Voney baron Il humboldt,
Fulton lthe inventory, Talleyrand, jerome
Lorenzo Dow (the eccentric preacherl, francis
S. Key .author Of the ''ntar Spansied Han.
ner'0, with John Randolph and scores OF other
congressman, who used to ride to and from
the Capitol in u large stage-coach. with seats on
the top and called the" Roy al George w hen my
neighbors were startled by the repealed firing
OF y heavily charged musket beneath the
window OF her mothers room. II was q vel
Yarrah," a very aged Mahometan, Who had
been brought as slave from Guinea 10 George
town sown' where my grandfather had shown him
after the custom OF his own people.
GENERAL WASHINGTON
used to pass through Georgetown on his Jour
ueys between the north and Mount Vernon,
and have heard my grandfather describe the
interest which he took when the Federal City,
was located. On one occasion he rode over 70
visit David Burma who owned q farm on which
now stand. Washington agreed with the com.
misSioners that what ID now Lafayette square
should he u reservation. but Burns disliked To
good. Finally Washington lost his temper aua
lett, say ing, AZ lac crossed the porch: "Had not
tue se s,s city 1esa .aid GU, here you would
S
retOrted Burns, In broad Scotch. IAN Lad We
nae married the widow Custis wi a. her
nagurs, you would haze been Q land surveyor
to-day, AN u mighty poor ane at that" Uiti-
mately, however, the obstinate old fellow do
mated tbe desired square VI ground.
MAJOR LENEANr IN GEoBGErowN.
When Major 4 Eui3nt came 70 Georgetown
to lay out the Federal District he brought let.
ter OF Introduction 10 my grandfather. who had
Y great deal OF trouble In endeavoring to adjust
the difficulties between the fiery French officer
aud Tie commissioners appointed TO govern the
inperiOus claimed yuprrme authority, which
the commissioners would not submit u. On
one occasion u Mr.. Carroll had commenced tue
erection OF u large brick house, which Major
posed streets. Summoning his chain bearers
and aXtnen, he demolished the trespassing
structure and filled up The cellar, against Mr.
CARROLL earnest prote>ts. He was u Iavorite
with Washington, but jefferson disliked him
on account Of his connection with the society
OF the Cincinnati, and availed himself Of his
dimcutty with the commissioners " discharge
him.
The Major then became an unsuccessful ueti.
TONER before Congress for a redress vi his real
aud fancied wrongs. aud he was 70 be seen al.
most every day slowly pacing the rotunda. OF
lie Capitol. he WAS = tall, Thin man, who wore,
t'ut coat, butloued close to the throaL with u
tall. black stock, but no visible signs Of linen.
dis hair WAS ptsStered with pomatum close 70
Ills head, aud he wore . napless high beaver
carried \ roll Of Papers relating u mis- claim
upon the government and In Ills right hand ae
swung formidable hickory cane with . large
silver head. A strict Roman Catholic. he re-
Washington. In whose garden his remains were
A'''s''A we. ~ 1.e1:
Transfers Of Real Estate.