Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-03-29
4 HOUSE OF DOOM!
The Residence ia Which Watker Blaine
Rid. a

about the place Could these walls
speak they would tell stories of love,
hate, intrigue, wine, women, and MUIR
der that would make the listeners
blood run cold. From the time Henry
Clay swapred the lot on which the fate
full residence stands for an Andalusian
iackass mysterious ill-fortune has chung
TO the locality. The iackass in question
vas one of four of peerless lineage |
brought over from Spain by Commo-
dore Rodgers. Coming as pay for the
luckess land it brought no good fortune
to Mr.. Clay, who Immediately lost the
long cared beast over a gambling table.
Subsequently, however, he redeemed
it, and sent it to Kentucky, where 1t be-
came the progenitor of what is now the
most remarkable strain of mules in this
country. On the lot thus purchased
the Commodore built the house OF
doom.
He died in it soon after it was COM
pleted, and it was then turned into
a fashionable boarding house, which
failed swapping the finances OF the
proprietress. Thereupon it became the
home of the Washington Club, which
included in its membership the most
distinguished men of the time. From
its exclusive precincts were directed
national affairs, and in its penetralia
great political schemes were formulated.
Then camo the great tragedy which has
passed into history as the chief event
marking the year 1858. On it at the
time was conferred the interest of the
whole country. Sickles and Barton
Key were both members of the club and
the closest friends; both were promi-
nent in politics, had been in Congress,
and had held important public places.
Mrs. Sickles became fascinated by Key,
who was an unusually handsome and
accomplished man, and according to
the story Key took advantage of his
! friends confidence. 1t was said that
Key was accustomed to signal with his
handkerchief from the club window to
Mrs. Sickles across the square, on the
opposite side of which she lived, in the
house now occupied by Washington
Mclean. At all events-not to rake
up painful story at unnecessary length
-Sickle5 saw Key passing by the house
on the historic afternoon and FASTENED
to put on his hat and pursue him. Key
strolled around the square on the side
that is opposite to the White House,
and when he had reached the club
house was overtaken by Sicllles, who
shot him dead. Key fell against cot.
tonwood tree on the pavement in front
of the club and was presently carried
corpse-into what is now Mr.. BlaiEe's
reception-room-the perlor on the right
as you enter Tbs cottonwood tree was
afterward cut up to such an extent by
relic hunters that all the bark was re
moved from the trunk and it died. The
facts about Sickles subsequent tria
for murder and his acquittal are alread,
sufficiently familiar The Washington
Club went to pieces when the war came
because of the withdrawal of Southern
members, and the house of doom wa
: taken Is residence by Secretar
t Seward Of Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet.
: was on that dreadful evening of Apr
1 II. 1865. almost at the moment that tn
. President was shot to death by the as
+, sassin, Booth, at 10 p. m, that a ma
Of gigantic stature and enormous mus
: cular strength appeared at the door {
4 the mansion and demanded to see M
q Seward. who was at that time in be
l. helpless, having had his jaw aud ar
: broken by being thrown from his ca
n riage. He pushed by the reluctal
man-servant, saying that he had pac
n age of medicine from the doctor to d
liver to Mr. Seward. At the tC
V of the first flight Of stairs he m
4 Fred Seward, the Secretary's son, al
F." told the same story, exhibiting lit
n bundle. Fred told him that it was il
possible for him to see his father WI
i was asleep. For a moment the
truder seemed on the point of abando
20 ing his intention, and even took a ST
- downstairs, but his resolution sudden
~, came back, and, turning about,
d, rushed past Fred like a mad bull, sna
=. ping his revolver, which missed fire,
him. Fred grappIed with him, a
the man beat him over the head wi
~ the pistol until the weapon was smash
al all to pieces and Fred was render
rs nearly unconscious. Then, eutcri
y, the room of the Secretary he ran to
~ bed and stabbed ferceIy with a Boy
g. knife at the sick man, who would Z
e7 doubtedlv have been killed had he j
rolled of the bed between it and
's- wall. by this time Fanny Seward q
ret a hospital nurse named Robinson, v