The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-01
BLAINE's WASHINGTON HOME.
He Will Occupy the Old Seward Man

He Will Occupy the Old Seward Man
sion, Where Sickles Shot Key.
Washington Special to Chicago Tribune.
Mr.. Blaine has at last secured the ST.
dence which he is to occupy as Secretary of
State. 1t is the old Seward house, as it is
generally known, a large ohl-faShione
three-stJry aud attic house at the east end
of Lafayette square, about forty rods fir m
the executive mansion. 1t has gable roof
and huge double chimueys built outside the
walls, in the sou hern STYLE It i, diugv-
looking place, but has good deal of room
and its parlorS while not magnificent, will
do quite well for ceremonial purposes.
There are servants quarters in the rear of
the house, which materially add to the
room which the family may use. This
house Mr.. Blaine has leas d for ten years at
an annual rental of 81 700, the owner pay
ing the taxes. About $4,000 will have 10
be spent in repairs. Mr. Blaine had hooed
to secure the Corcoran mansion, which
Webster occupied while Secretary of State
under Harrison the first, but the executors
wanted Mr.. Blaine to buy the house every
year, which was the true Significance of
the rental placed on it by them. 1t was
tue modest sum of $4,000 year. 1t is
fine old mansion, but Mr.. Blaine did not
care TO pay so large sum for the privilege
of living IN it.
the scene OF many vlcissitude5 and TRACE
dies. 1t IS one of the oldest houses in WASH
ington and one of tue most famous. 1t was
built half century ago by Commodore
K gers for his own use. After his death it
became fashionable boarding house and
then a club houe. Il the old DAYS there
were many revelr es in the SO old walls, and
1t was from an upper window of this club
house that Philip Barton Key carried on his
hand k6rChiaf Irritation with 81 ,F
Daniel Sickles, who was living in the
equally famous Stockton-Sickles house on
he west end of the square. The trees in
Lafayette square were not then grown SO
tall as to interfere with he pastime which
Q ded in tragedy. II was a most IN front of
Mr. Blaine's new house that Sickles shot
Key, ald into the club house the wounded
man was carried. Tue trunk Of the tree
against which Key fell still stands LITTLE
way from Blain9's door.
The site OF this house was formerly n
graveyard, and it Las had more than it.
share Of tragedies. Here Sec etary Seward
lived for eight years and dispensed elegant
hospitality. Here he aud his son we're
stabbed by Booths co-conspirator, Payne.
Ate the recovery of the father and sou,
Mr.. Stewards only daughter, "a lovely and
brilliant girl, who had been her fathers
conidante and cunsellor, and who had wit
messed the attack upon his life, sicSened and
died
But the old house has never grown lonely.
The next winter after the death of NJ iss
Seward had darkened its parl RS and left
Mr.. Seward Wireless and daughterless.
Gen. Belknap took tee place AID made it
the scene of social gayety. This was for
but single season. Then Mrs. Belkuap. a
young wife aud mother, passed away after
a saort Illness The home has never since
been gay. 1t next becane boarding house,
but It's keeper sunk into bankruptcy. The
government has used it as "a sort Of commits
sary store houe aud the rats ha, held high
carnival for many a yelr.
Mr.. Blaine acquits himself of the charge
OF superstition in taking house hlu ted
by so many ghosts He will have for his
next door neighbor Senate Don Cameron,
VINO lives Ia another famous house, the
Taylor mansion. That Mr.. Blaine snoul a
lind 1t necessary to take up vita such
an old dwelling, devoid of all modern con-
veniences aid luxuries, shows the scarcity
OF really desirable res dences in Washing
ton.