Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-07

Archer ,AsbaryI Dickins, Dr. Henry HUNT,
Charles Pryse, Charles Lyons, George Craadell,
Nicholas Callen. James H. Causton. J. N. Love-
joy, Charles L. Coltman, John p. Pepper,
Charles Pettit Jacob Hines, Alexander Nc
Donald. James Moore, Samuel NJ. Mexican. All
these witnesses were present at the fire and
aided in removing the books and papers and
tell what they saw.
The fire department was in striking
contrast to that of the present day. The Bank
OF the Metropolis had an engine Of its own and
MIR. Callen tells how il was brought into requisi-
tiol. and Mr.. Pryse tells how Azeriah Fuller
hitched pair of horses to one of the engines
and hauled it to the fire. There was of course
an attempt to make political capital out OF the
fire. Gen. jackson came into the presidency
in 1888. and the extreme democracy charged it
was the act Of an incendiary to cover up whig
defalcations, &c.
ARRESTED AS INCENDIARIEs.
Three years after the fire two men named
White were arrested for setting fire to the
building. One, who was named Richard II.
White, was acquitted under the statute of limi-
tations, as he was not arrested until 1886. The
other, II. II. White, was convicted and SEN
fenced to the peniteutiary for seven years.
There we're several trials-in one the jury
failed to agree, and new trials were obtained
by the prisoners. William l. Brent was the
counsel of the Whites, and with his son.
Robert j. Brent, who was for years
practitioner at our bar and at Baltimore,
ranked among the leaders OF the Washington
and Baltimore bar. MIR. William l.. Brent l
remember as an active and influential whig
politician. He represented louisiana In the
House of Representatives for six years as a
whig member and at the conclusion of his third
term settled here, and as a lawyer was regarded
one of the best at our bar. which at times
could boast of some very eminent mem
bsrs: Mr.. Francis J. ~ Key WIS as district i,t
great vigor. The commission appointed
by the President reports. among other actions
taken by them. that they rented the houses on
the south side OF the avenue occupied by
Messrs. Randall, Cox and others. l find the
the commission strangely omitted IN all Its
forty or fifty pages, the date of the fire. 1t was
Sunday, the Both day OF March, 1888.
RESERVOIR THAT WOULDN'T HOLD WATER.
While tine present Treasury Department was
being built. or rather a very small part of it,,
large reservoir was constructed by Mr.. Robert
Leakey pronounced Lackey), and after it was
finished it would not hold water. This circum-
stance gave Ned Myer an opportunity of get
ting of lieu desprit:" How could such
man make reservoir that would hold
water-his very name forbids tit must be
leaky. While that reservoir was in existence
a shock of an earthquake was felt here and
startled the quiet of the town and various
theories were propounded through the columns
ham in a communication said the morning of
the earthquake ne had occasion to examine the
reservoir, and 20 open 1t had to strike with
crowbar the manhole and the jar of
his blows produced the shock which was
felt throughout the city. and said the
frozen ground and the frosty atmosphere had
conveyed the shock. The captain was laughed
at u good DEAL and was lampooned as Vulcan,
the maker of thunderboIts. In that primitive
age of Washington a little incident like the
above served to amuse the city for a week. The
list OF names called as witnesses before the
commission have left descendants here-I re-
member most of them-and they were all
prominent in their day. When the Post Office
Department was burned, subsequent to the
burning of the treasury. all sorts of charges
were made against the officials by the opponents
OF the administration.
The death of Miss Mary King Lenthall re-
moves the oldest iuhabirant of Washington
Miss Lenthalrs father was one of the archi-
tects of the Capitol, and was killed by the
falling OF an arch. He ordered the supports
to be removed and the workmen hesitated 10
obey, when he said. III you have built the arch
according to my plan it will stand" and struck
the support away and the arch fell and killed
him.
THE OLD HOUSE on THE CORNER.
/ have been requested to tell what know
about the old house on the corner of 9th street
and Pennsylvania avenue. but, like Canning's
knife grinder. l have no story to tell. The
fanciiul histories of the old temple of fortune
have been evoked from the Imagination of the
writers. lneyer heard of murders or tragedies
of any kind in connection with it. Ever since
can remember the upstairs WAS used as a faro
BANK, and. as early as 1874 have visited it by
invitation of Its occupants, Col. James Long,
Isaac Winston. VIM. Whi.lock, Sam Caughey
and others. 1t was the resort of many OF the
distinguished men of that day, and when rae
ing Was one of the attractions of Washington
II was a turf resort Of celebrity.
The house, as long l knew it, was con-
ducted upon the principle of fair play. The sup
pers and dinners were admirable, and the wines
the best that could be obtained. The partners
in the house retired with fortunes, and Messrs
CauShey and WInston's heirs owned the prop
erty until sold to the railroad company now
making the Improvement. One OF The last of
the proprietors / remember with a good deal
of pleasure William Whitlock. He
was from Petersburg, and was a
man of wealth. inherited and accumulated.
and was the Bean Brummel of the day-a very
handsome man, and one of the best dressed
men who graced the avenue He aiways an
peared at the theater and concerts in full even
ing dress a custom which In that day was not
so universal as now. The restaurant was cele-
brated for serving its viands in the very best
style and for the wines and liquors dispensed
Snow Walker made the reputation Of the
house. for at that time. some forty years ago,
the house had to compete with Lataurna, Bou-
LANCER and others. Snow was driven from the
city by mob for some remarks he was said
to have made about some ladies. He barely
escaped hanging. Walker Il Shad succeeded
him, and then the house was closed until Mr..
2. NJ Dubant opened ii. and for years it MAIN
tanned the reputation of the best eating house
In the city and was the resort Of the lovers of
good living. The yarns about murders, &C.,
never heard of until recently. In all the years
knew the house the only pistol firing l ever
heard was on one occasion when Emmett Hooe
of the navy. quitting the faro table with
his pocket book depleted. in his mild, gen.
tlemanly manner asked Col. Long il he had
any objections to his discharging his small
arms Certainly not" said the colonel when
Emmett drew his pistol and fired into the fire.
place, to the CONSERVATION OF the crowd of
players. JOHN F. CoYLE
TUE