The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-02-23
THE TALE OF PEGGY o'SEAL.
A Young Woman Who Had Much to d
With American History.
IRON, tho PHILADELPHIA Press.

1
Iron, tho Philadelphia Press.
WASHINGTON, January 27.-This
week l have learned something new
about the most remarkable episode of its
kind in the history Of this countryside
trials and triumpbs Of Peggy O'Eeal, the
protege of President Andrew Jackson.
The full history of the extraordinary
event has never been printed; in fact,
most of its details are still unknown, but
T have this week talked with two gentle.
men who were prominent figures of Gen.
Jackson's time, and who revealed to me
some interesting particulars "confden'
| tally"
called yesterday on Woodbury. Blair,
bright lawyer in the Corcorau building,
who has in his possession whole car.
load of papers which his grandfather,
Francis P. Blair, received from the hand
of Jackson 10 his old age. They have
never been used or even assorted, and
only a portion Of their contents are
known, Some day, Mr.. Blair says, he
and his brother will select for pubfica.
ton.
When the popular idol Of the West,
Andrew Jackson, was a member of the
United States Senate in 1923, he boarded
at the tavern at I and Goth streets, near
| where Secretary Whitney's residence
| now is. kept by an Irishman named
William O'Neal. He had taken ape.
| cial liking to Mrs. O'Neal, the efficient
! landlady, when he was member Of Con.
gress years before. Major John 81.
Eaton, the other Senator from Tennessee,
boarded at the same place, and together
| they petted and surfeited with candy the
! daughter Of the O'Naals, Peggy, q girl OF
12 or Is, who grew during the years of
their presence at the tavern into an un.
commonly handsome, dashing, intelli.
gent, and lively young lady. 1t was
! about the worst possible place to bring
up q virtuous girl in, for 1t was the spe-
cial rendezvous of the gay and dissipated.
Henry Clay, during his fast days, was
continuous guest. Growing up among
such men and the strangers who frequent
the average inn, with all the familiarity
which such position implies, she lacked
refinement and delicacy, but she had,
besides the inevitable chic and cheek,
that vivacity Of speech aud voluptuous
beauty which characterize so many maid,
ems of the north of Irelard.
She vas thoroughly unconventional
and defiant of properties, and became
audacious, willfnl and reckless. She
Airted good deal, had nodding
acquaintance with most Of the good.
looking travellers, arranged twice TO
elope, and, finally, about 1922, she some.
what accidentally married Purser Tim.
berlake, of the United States navy. She
disliked the sea, and rewained most of
the time in Washington among her old
associates. Three children we're born 10
her during the next FIVE years, one.
it is alleged, after too prolonged
absence of her husband. In 1928, the
very year of "Old Hickory's" election,
Timberlake, then on duty in the Medi.
terrauean, cut his throat in ct of mel.
ancholy, and left a most attractive and
handsome widow to mourn his loss more
or less.
She vas not wholly incousolable, for
she had wonderful grace and matchlcss
beauty and thousand admirers. Dolly
Madison, the Presidents wife, had pub.
licly crowned her at ball as "the pref
tiest girl in Washington. She vas bril-.
liant and superficial, courageous and
capricious, vain and yacillating, afec.
tionase, generous nd.quick tempered.
To her Edward Coates Pinkney had
written the poem, still famous, begin
ming:
I6ll this cup to one made up
Ofloyeliness alone,
| A woman of her gentle sex
The seeming paragon;
To whom the better elements
And kindly stars have given
A form so fair that, like the air.
'Tis less of earth than heaven.
As soon as The sad news of Timber.
| lakes death. could make its way home,
Senator Eaton said to Jackson: "Gen-
eral, I've O good mind to marry Peggy
myself"
"Do, by all means, you love her and
she will have you," was the reply. "It
will restore Peggy's good name"
| So merrily rang the bells and they
were wed. And there was great time
in Washington. Peggy was ambitious,
and she made the most Of the occasion.
jackson, calhoun, and nall Inc oenate
and the army and navy we're present at
| the wedding. But the ladies tabooed the
arrangements on the ground that Peggy's
character was altogether too notorious.
/ In the tavern she had lost the frat
bloom of her reputation. She was voted
east" and given up to the inevitable
!! associations of her kind. Men talked
about peggy" and women ignored her.
Mrs. Jackson iervently disliked her snd
declined to spelk TO her, and when she
and Senator Jackson went home 10 Ten.
nessee abe reioiced, opposed his election
to the Presidency b. every means in her
power, and always said: "Andsew, l
don't want to 60 back to Washington
again on any account
In spite of her prayers and tears and
gentle opposition the heio Of New Or
leans was elected at 60 10 be President Of
the United States. And when he went
to Rachel with the news she said: "I. is
not as wished il! 1t ia not as wished