Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-20
THE EARLY MAYORS.
Some Exciting Municipal Contests in
This City Years Ago.
YOUNG BLOOD EXCITED,
Recollections Of the weightman-Lenox Cam
paign-More About the Authorship of
"Ksthleen Mavourneen''-Storieso of Alex H.
stephens-Gems From Census Once Letters.
Written for The Evening Star.

been for SO many years located ON the corner
OF 10Th street and the avenue, it was stated
That MIR. John Boyle, "once mayor of WASH
lngton, resided on 10th street near Col. Peter
force's residence and library. Mr.. Boyle was
one OF Washington's most respectable citizens,
helo In universal esteem, but was never mayor.
In 1913 Col. Force and Col. Seaton
were both in the field for the mayor
atty, under circumstances which gave
our democratic citizens a hope that be-
tween these two wings they might elect
democrat, and they put up the strongest and
most unexceptionable democrat to be found in
the city, Mr.. John Boyle. The wing party was
largely in the ascendancy, SO the unfortunate
complication by which two such men as Col.
Force and Col. Seaton were both in the field
arose from the obstinacy of Col Force who re-
Iused TO withdraw or to submit his claims to a
meeting OF citizens called for the purpose OF
making nomination. To the COM
Force his only reply was as he was first
IN the heid he proposed to remain there until
the polls closed on the day of election. Mr..
seaton said he was entirely in the hands of the
meeting, either to nominate or reject HINT
was matter of Indifference to him. SO his
friends disposed of him as they deemed best
The result of these reports to the meeting held
at the city hall was the denomination of Mr..
Seaton. Col. Force continued in the field,
however, and Mr.. Boyle was nominated by the
democratic party. Mr.. Seaton was elected. re-
ceiying more than 1.609 votes, Mr.. Boyle be-
tween 500 and 900, and Col. Force little over
400 votes. With this small number of votes
the contest was a very bitter one, and the Ma
tiOhdt InteHtgencer next morning announced
the result and said: "Mr. John Boyle, one Of
our most respected citizens. received the full
vote OF our political opponents"
THE NORTHWESTERN CONTEST.
In 1850 Gen. Weightman was placed in NOM
ination by letter addressed to him from
sixty respectable wings" We, the young
wings of Washington who were not included
In this respectable list, protested against this
mode OF nomination, and besides we had
grown tired of the qualification OF age being
deemed a prerequisite for all official prefer
ment. We had submitted long enough. we
thought, and called a meeting of the young
wings and nominated Walter Lenox. The con.
test was very bitter and personal one; Mr.
Lenox and his friends were denounced, but
made no reply. A pamphlet was issued
aps sg Gen Weightman by Mr.. Chase
barney, but Mr.. Lenox repudiated any
connection with 1t except an effort to prevent
and Mr. Carlisle and Mr.. Joseph II. Bradley
made reply through the press OF the day in be-
half OF Gen. Weightman, but both said they
should support Mr. Lenox. At this time a let
ter was addressed to Mr.. Seaton asking him to
".
but he declined and supported Mr.. Lenox, who
was elected. The direst calamities were pre-
dlcted to follow his election. the idea OF a
young man being mayor of Washington was
such an innovation. The election of Walter
Lenox mayor, succeeding the appointment by
Gen. Taylor OF Richard Wailach as United
States marshal for the District of Columbia
was too much for the gentlemen who had here
tofore absorbed all the honors but SO admira-
bly, were the duties OF these important offices
nGr. fn cd fha%a s1z. a.
In acknowledgement of the merits of these two
gentlemen. The infusion Of young blood into
the municipal Office produced q healthy con-
dition In its affairs, and during this term of
ONCE the movement which led to the railroad
connections with the south was begun. It was
an era. The young men had come forward
and proved that age was not an indispensable.
qualification for official preferment. When the
administration Of Mr.. Lenox was organized
john w. Maury was president of the board of
aldermen and Maj. B. B. French president of
the board Of common council Mr.. William r.
Dove and Maj. Thomas p. Morgan, who
represented the first ward in the councils
alone survive OF that administration and
Mr.. John +. Ennis and Charles S. Jones
are the only two whose names appear as promi-
nent In that Canvass The late Silas H. Hill was
Tor some years president Of one of the boards
OF council Mr.. Hill married Miss varnum,
whose family owned the row beginning at the
bank Of Lewis johnson d Co. 1t was then
called "varnum's row" after the owners of it,
one OF whom was an early Speaker of the House
row, believe.
THE BOYLE FAMILY.
Mr.. John Boyle was for many years chief
clerk Of the Navy Department and his sons
were prominent in official positions under the
government. Capt. Junius Boyle and Eugene
Boyle were in the United States navy, from
which the latter resigned, and at the battle of
Monterey commanded the COMPANY from
Washington and led the assault on that forth
hed city, In the capture of which they shared
the honor. DR.. Cornelius Boyle was for years
previous to 1861. and subsequently from 1865
until his death. practicing physician here. He
was provost marshal in the confederate service
after the first battle of Bull Bun. l find he
was nominated for the board of aldermen in
1850, but declined the nomination. Nicholas
Burke Boyle was consul for years at Port Mahon
Franklin Boyle was the owner of the howitzer
the famed "Baby Walker" of which Mr. Amos
Kendall, when Postmaster General. complained
in the columns Of the Globe that in celebrst-
ing the victory of Gen. VIM. Henry Harrison.
the wings, with this howitzer. had disturbed
his family. The name was painted on it and it
was brought out on every occasion when a
victory was celebrated. Before Mr.. Davis
was born the brick house on the
southwest corner Of D and 18th streets, which
was built by Mr.. William J. Stone, was occu-
wi oACO, VIII tucTe puDllSneQ
the National Journal and subsequently,, in the
year OF cholera, it was the principal hospital of
the city. John T. Towers, years afterward
mayor Of Washington, was q medical student
with Dr.. Burrows. and in attendance at the
hospital. was small boy at that time. living
In the row on ID street between 18th and 18th,
and remember the terror which peryaded the
city. watched with awe the many dead who
were hauled from this hospital
One OF the oldest houses in Washington Ia
on the southwest corner Of 18th and ID streets
When Gen. Van Ness was first married he re-
sided there until the mansion, now, alas. in
ruins, was built. There is q well-authenticated
ghost story connected with that house. Years
ago MIR. Richard Gibson the artist. resided
there and had large school of drawing and
painting. After his death the most remarkable
demonstration took place-unearthly noises
slemming OF doors and windows and the
usual demoniac freaks these visitors play
The house became uninhabitable, and the widow
OF Mr.. Gibson appealed to her pastor a Catho-
lie priest, to exercise the ghost. Father
told me there was no doubt Of the remarkable
events he witnessed. He would close and &C.
curely fasten, as he supposed, the window and
shutters and Immediately they would be thrown
open and the windows raised violently, The
folding doors between two parlors were burst
open In the same violent manner. He exercised
the spirit or whatever it was and the house was
restored to its usual quiet.
MORE ABOUT KATHLEEN MAvoURNEEN.
Some weeks ago in The EVENING star I made
some allusion to the authorship of the famed
and beautiful song Of Kathleen Mayourneen.n
and have from Mr. % d ~ 1.xX-- I: