Fergus County argus., 1890-02-20
THE SEWARD HOUSE.
A Long List of Sad Events That Have Made
the House Historic for Misfortune
Troubles OF the Blaine Family.
New York Sun.1

New York sun.
When Mr.. Blaine's friends heard hat
he had taken "A lease OF the Seward
mansion with the intention of pur-
chasing II, many of them felt n sort OF
>uperstitlous chill creep over them.
so many times have misiortunes and
tragedies repeated themselves here
that this house l. considered by many
to he Inflated. 1t was occupied by
sanaer was Gansed to the sG: yardarn ,9i'n
OF the vessel 10y Sliiell for his supposed
connection with "a mutiny on board
the ship. It was occupied again by
Phillip Barton Key when the trouble
occurred between him and Gen. Slckles
and, later. 10y Secretary Seward when
the attempt WIS made on his life, and
1t was here, soon af;erward. that his
wife and daughter died. When Secre-
tary l'rlknap brought his brilliant and
handsome wife bride to this home
1t was supposed that the gloom and
lll-repute of the place would surely be
di>pellrd; hut Mrs. Belknap lived only
IA few months. The house. doomed a.
IA private residence 10y such II series of
disasters. was then rented by the GOV
ernn.nt for the commis-ary generals
office. and during his occupancy the
genial Gen. McFecly kept the somhre
Atropos with her fatal shears from the
door. The removal oi the olii,t, OF
this department into the new bull ling
of the war department lett this lousr
again for rent, witlnoapplicnnt brave
enough to tempt the fatcs. When Mr..
Blame became secretary of state he
found that he had previously bound
hl4n>cli to "a long !c..st oi l.i.. lai4.. on
Dupont Circle. and so was Obliged to
look about for n suitable and con
venientiy located residence.
The seward mansion, rs it has al
ways been called since SECRETARY Sew
ards occupancy. was Offered him at ~
very low rent. The house WAS exam
med by architects and plumbers and
pronounced IN good repair. Walker
Blaine WAS especially pleased with the !
old house, and suggested many of the |
changes that have made it more com |
and attractive. 10 dispel |
he association oi the Seward tragedy |
I he partitions IN he front rooms ON |
t he second floor, formerly used as bed |
rooms, were removed and the apart |
nent : We're transformed into II charm.
Ing drawing room filled with exquisite
and breathin. an atmos-
phere oi welcome to all. As one en-
cred the room ON the first and only |
reception day of the Blaines. Wednes-
lay, Jan. :, with Walker Blaine to
greet and present one to his fat her and
mother, with Mr.. Blaine's warm and
hearty welcome in ones ear, one feIt
hat at last the sadness OF the place
lad fled and that n new light and
warmth had been let into the old
house that must make the dread sis
-ers turn aside. With the remem-
prance OF that first call and the pie
ure OF this family happiness still
warm IN one memory came the news
Df Walker Blaine's illness and death
ike n sudden chill
And now once more, with the sad
ieatn OF Mrs. Coppinger, the dearly
owed daughter of the family, the
bread has been cut and the pail of
orrow hangs over the house. One
nay lausl at what we are pleased to .
all late, but there are strange and in
Nplicable fatalities connected with
One houses, and the old Seward man
ION seems To he one.
DogoTIIy JENKINS.