Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09

SHOT BARTON KzY-rHE LAFAYETTE PARK FENCE.
The announcement in Wednesdays STAR Of
the fact that Mr. Blaine had made arrange
ments for renting a home in this city has
called attention to the historic character Of a
large number Of residences in the immediate
vicinity Of the famous No. IL Lafayette square,
which viii shelter the Blaine family for some
years to come. Within the limits of that
square events have been shaped which swayed
the nation, and intrigue has been plotted and
contaminated which ended in the taking of hu-
man life and the destruction Of the happiness
Of more than one individual.
NIB. BLAISE's NEW HOME
Like the residence of Senator Don Cameron,
which it sdjoins, Mr.. Blaine's new home will
be thoroughly adapted to the uses of society.
It is one of the historic houses of the city, and
could its walls speak they would tell stories of
mirth and sadness, love and hatred, diplomacy,
wit, wine, women, and murder such as would,
hardly be dreamed Of The property
which Mr.. Blaine has leased through
the firm of Thos. J. Fisher Co.,
was recently sold to Mr.. David King by the
heirs of A. B. Stoughton. When it was pur-
chased by Mr.. Stoughton, some time in the
nfties, IL was used as a club house. Commo-
house some years before and made his home
there until his death. BY Mr.. Stoughton's
hands the mansion was converted into a FASH
ionable boarding house, and from this it soon
resolved itself into a clubhouse. To one of its
rooms Barton Key was borne after being shot
by Sickles in the street nearly in front of the
house and from one OF its upper windows
Key signalled with his handkerchief to Mrs.
Sickles across the square and in the same man
ner the fair dame replied
IL Is q singular and not very widely known
fact that President Buchanan had donned his
hat and coat for the purpose of calling upon
Mrs. Sickles, and was about to leave the White
House when the news came to him that Gen.
Sickles had shot Barton Key. or course Mr..
Buchanan was not afraid of Gen. Sickles, but
IL has been satisfactorily established that he
took of his hat and overcoat and remained in
the White House for some hours afterward.
SECRETARY Stewards REsIDENoE
It was IN this old clubhouse that Secretary
Seward resided and it was here that the at
tempt was made to assassinate him on the night
Lincoln was shot. The late Chief Justice Cart
ter had fund of interesting anecdote regard
ing this neighborhood He lived lust around
the corner, on II street, and was on most init
mate terms with Mr. Seward, and they two.
with Surgeon-General Barnes, of the army, and
one or two other congenial spirits frequently
met at Mr.. Stewards house to spend pleasant
evening.
Il wen remember the night on which Sew
ard so narrowly escaped death" said the chief
Justice, in telling one of his stories. 1T was
An awful night. Gen. Barnes and were sit
ting In my parlor when q messenger came to
the door, asking il Gen. Barnes was within,
and saying that he had been to the generals
house and had not been able to find him I
said the general was with me, and then the
man said he was wanted at Mr.. Stewards; that
Mr. Seward had been attacked and almost
murdered. We didn't wait to hear anything
more, but started around Iknow went with
out my hat. When We got there we found
the secretary In very bad condi-
ton, and IL he had not fallen down behind
the bed he would have been stabbed to death.
You must remember that Mr.. Seward was, at
the time, confined to his bed by injuries he had
received when thrown from his carriage but
short time before, and could offer scarcely any
resistance to the powerful man to whom had
been assigned the task of dispatching him.
well, the doctor commenced to bind up his
wounds, and rendered what assistance could
and when we had just about finished a car
rage drove up to the door and an officer, I
think it was Col Hosmer (who was then con-
nected with the udge-advocate-general's ofice)
came in and told US that the President had
been shot That was the first intimation we
had OF the attack upon President Lincoln. Col
Hosmer had been hunting for Gen. Barnes
and said that Mrs. Lincoln was anxious to have
him come at once to her husbands bedside.
OF course he was ready to go, and I went to
the door with them, intending to return to Mr..
Stewards side, but when we got to the carriage
the driver, darkey, said he was afraid to
drive back to the house on 10th street, where
the President had been taken. He said the
soldiers wouldn't believe he had any
business there and would arrest us all
i stepped into the hall and took a hat off the
rack Then / told General Barnes and Col.
Hosmer to get into the carriage. They obeyed
and then pushed the darkey in also, mounted
the box and drove to 10th street myself A
Gordon Of soldiers had been stretched across
the street, but was not delayed for / shouted
that 1 had the surgeon-seneral of the army
inside the carriage"
IN RECENT YEARS
the Seward house has been occupied by the
Offices Of the commissary-general,b but it was
vacated when the State, War and Navy Depart
ment building was completed. No. II is not
at present in as good condition as it ought to
be 70 receive such stylish folks as the Blaine
family, but IN q few days the house will be in
the possession Of an army of painters, paper
hangers, upholsterers and plumbers. and there
VIII be no end to the renovating and repairing.
Just how much Mr.. Blaine will spend on the
interior no one knows, but il he only invests
10 much money as Mr.. Letter pays him an
nually for the big Blaine mansion on Dupont
done.
THE SEIGHHoRHoop
ispretty thickly sprinkled with houses that have
histories Of national importance. Next door to
No. II is the residence of Senator Don Cam
eron, one Of the most conspicuous social CEN
tiers in Washington The Senator's home is
known a. the old Tayloe mansion. 1t was built
by Ogle Tayloe in 1923, and in its rooms have
assembled the great men of this country from
that day to this. For forty years Ogle
Tsyloe dispensed lavish hospitality
to men of political. military, and
naval prominence, and such men as Daniel
webster, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams
and Gen. Jackson were his frequent guests.
In later days the visitors have been hardly
less conspicuous in national history. the feasts
have been as numerous and as magnificent and
the reputation Of the house has been consid-
erably enhanced. The Tayloe house was the
last place visited by President William Henry
Harrison before he was stricken with the
malady which caused his death. The old
fAshioned mansion is but little changed. SO far
as It's exterior Is concerned. and il old Col.
iayioe, who was one Of the few native million
aires OF the early part Of this century was to
come back to hive he would recognize the prop
erty ct once. but he would be mystified as soon
a. he got inside for there have been many i'm
provements In the interior arrangements
On the corner above is the Cosmos club
building, another place Of interest for here
Dolly Madison held court for years after the
death Of her husband-President Madison.
Here the wit and beauty of the nation gathered
ct the widows receptions, and no more bril-
liant assemblages have graced later days than