Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15

I. u. c.. SATURDAY, !
start were never forgotten. When the war
came, which so disrupted the social life of
Washington. James Wormley came forward to
aid those whose abrupt departure placed them
In the most embarrassing position.
Gen. Floyd. Secretary Of War, left here 80
suddenly that he had no time to arrange his
affairs and left everything he had in charge of
Wormley and received from him the means
needed for his departure. When Gen Robert
Ould left Washington Wormley took possession
of his household effects. his fine stores of Wines
silver plate. &C., and through the war preserved
it as his own.
In q conversation with my old friend, Mr..
John F. Ennis, he related to me an incident of
his devotion. The late Hon. James T. Brady
was employed to defend Jefferson Davis and
had written Mr.. Ennis to accompany
him to Richmond as an assistant coun-
sci. The case. as all remember, was
postponed indefinitely. While at Richmond
dinner to meet some of the most distinguished
residents of Richmond. The dinner Mr. Ennis
says, was faultless. The table was embellished
with handsome silver service, the wines I'M
exceptionable. After the other guests had re-
tired, and the three old friends sat down with a
bottle Of brandy and cigars to talk over old
times, Mr.. Brady said: Excuse me, Bob Ould.
but came here expecting to find Richmond in
ruins and you fellows on the verge OF starva-
ton. and you give us q dinner such rs have
your delicious viands, your really wonderful
wines and such brandy and cigars as we have
here could not be duplicated in New York.
Will you tell how you have been able to do
this?'
Bob hesitated a moment, and with much
feeling replied You are indebted for what
you have enjoyed tonight to nv old friend
James Wormley of Washington. When left
Washington hurriedly Wormley came to nv
house and took possession of all there was
transfer to do with it what he pleased.
Three days ago he came here at
his own expense, bringing me all my household
effects, my service of silver, my wines my wine
glasses, to the very smallest of them, and these
viands you enjoyed. That brandy, those cigars,
for them all you are indebted to my good friend,
James Wormley.
During the war no dispatch boat left here for
exchange OF prisoners but WOrmley accom-
panied 1T with baskets of needed supplies for
those friends on both sides of the Union, Nor
was he less devoted to the cause of the Union
The friend of Mr.. Sumner and MIR. Hooper of
Massachusetts,, he was esteemed by them, and
lost none of their confidence and esteem by his
devotion to his old friends.
Just about the breaking out of the war Col
Forney and Hon. John Hickman of Pennsylya-
MIA went to Wormley's, then on 1 street, for
supper. Over the mantelpiece there was hung
q large portrait of Gov. Floyd. and Hickman
who was almost fanatic in his denunciation
OF the south and its leaders, swore he would
not eat in a room where that id thief was
hung, and called on WOrmley to remove it,
Wormley quietly replied that Gov. Floyd was
his friend, was no thief, and it should hang there
as long as he had home. Forney cooled
Hickman down and said: "Wormley, give
us a bottle of wine, and what can you give us
for supper" WOrmley said: Il am sorry, col
onel, but my son, who is out, has the key of the
wine closet and have nothing in the house |
could give you," and for the first time in the
hungry and dry. James Wormley was the only
man Col Berret told OF the expected raid on
Washington, and obtained his influence with
his people to stay home that night.
ISAAC n. CARY.
The other, whose name desire to embalm in
the columns Of The STAR is Isaac N. Cary. He
was man Of education, gentleman in man
ners and appearance, and for years his barber
shop, on 9th street, was the resort Of such regu-
lar customers as made it almost club: Richard
Wallach, Walter Lenox, Frank Taylor. John W.
Maury, Wm II. Gunnell, DIR. William Jones,
DIR. John b. Blake, VIM. b. Kibbey, George w.
Philips, Hamilton &. FAINT, Buckner Bayliss
and others of that period. Subsequently he was
steward of the Washington Club, when on Lou
isiana avenue. After leaving here, before the
war, he went to Canada and lived in Windsor
opposite Detroit. Our lamented friend, Bev-
erly Tucker. for whose arrest the reward of
:25, 600 had been offered, was making his way
from Canada to the south, disguised as much
as he could be as an Englishman, and about
to Detroit, and the first person he saw on the
boat was Isaac Cary. He gave him
self up as lost. Isaac might deem
it his duty to have him arrested
and the 925 900 he feared might tempt him.
Preserving his presence of mind, he walked to
n tha fri tn inLr hat no
should dc. when he heard a voice behind say:
"Mr. Tucker, you are in the greatest danger;
where are you goi~r? The cars and boats are
searched before the are allowed to leave. Tell
me where you want to go and will get your
tickets and come for you at dusk. Go to the
hotel. stay in your room, let no one see you I'M
til come"
As dear old Bev. told me this his voice grew
husky. He said, however, as he turned and
shook hands with Isaac he hid his emotion
in: Lets get cocktail, Isaac" He went to
the hotel designated by Cary. and at o'clock
that evening Cary Came for him, took his bun
die. umbrellas, canes and other impedementa
which distinguishes the English mi lor'," an
went to the train, sat with him as the soldiers
passed through and bid him goodbye when the
train moved out of the depot, and Bev. was
safe. Am not right in saying men of such
fidelity and sterling worth would redeem a
race?
If those who have come here since the time I
speak OF desire TO confirm what / say of those
good people, who were our friends in the long
past, let them go to the churches they have
built. Augustine's and others, and the schools,
and they will see the few who are left and their
descendants and inheritors of the virtues and
goodness OF those who have gone before US to
the other shore.
GOV. AsHLEYs "REMINISCENCES.
Gen. Ashley's memory was full OF the Incl
dents Of that period when he was member of
the House Of Representatives and when the
vote on the thirteenth amendment was before
the House. 1t was defeated when first voted on
and he changed his vote that he might move a
reconsideration, but it was not until the fol-
lowing session he made the motion to recon-
slider. The 3lst of January, 1865 was the day
fixed on to take the vote. He recalled with
great pleasure the men then in Congress,
both those who opposed and those who
supported that measure, and at that
time, last March, of those who were
with him in Congress and who took
an active part in the debate of that period
Especially he spoke of the border state men
who favored the passage of the amendment,
and then only George II. Yeaman, Green Clay
Smith, John A. J. Creswell and Gov Frank
Thomas We're alive, and since then Gov.
Thomas died at an advanced age. Then there
were only one hundred aud eighty-three men,
bers Of the House and now there are nearly
double that number.