The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-03
4 WASHINGTON LANDMARK.
The David Burns Cottage Torn Down.
It's Historic Associations.

The David Burns Cottage Torn Down.
It's Historic Associations.
Was hiucton Letter in Chicago Record.
The oldest lanGmar in Washington,
the most hallowed historical structure in
the clty, was torn down this week by
Vandals inorder that the mem bers Of the
Column bian Athletic Club might have
more room to play games 1t stood be
side the Van Ness mansion at the foot of
Seventeenth street surrounded by high
brick wall The grounds were leased by
the club this spring for an outdoor gym
uasium, and finding that the cottage was
in their way the boys had it pulled down.
il was buill Of imported brick, and was
the home Of a Celebraoed character, an
eccentric Old Scotch farmer and fisher
man named David Burns, who owned a
large part of the territory upon
which the city stands, and for more
than sixty years lived by the river
side behind the Presidents house,
treating all men alike, and that grutly.
He was positive Old fellow, aud annoyed
Gen. Washington very much, as we know
from the records in the latter's diary.
when he sought to locate the capital of
the United States upon Davy Burns
farm. Burns bowed to no one, and treated
his teloW-hSherlneu with quite as much
respect as he PAID to the famous Wash
ingUOu or uhe ceremoul0us John Adams,
on any of the other dignitarieS that he
knew.
When the committee from congress
wanted to buy the place for capital they
had TO cool their heels at the door of his
cottage until he had finished cleaning his
fish, and the conditions he eXacted of
them were pronounced ridiculous and
prep0sterous by Washington aud the rest.
but the old ScoJchmau finally had his
way.
Burns had a daughter, Marcia Dynamo.
who stands in the annals of fashion as one
of the most beautiful and accomplished
women ever seen at the capital, and who
was the leader of society here for third
of century. She was mOtherleSs from
childhood, but the old man brought her
up with great care, and used the first
money he got from the sale Of mis- lands to
CONGRESS to send her to school at. Phila-
delphia, ana fit her to appear properly
among the fine people that were expected
settle uron his former farm. When she
came home with her airs and accomplish
meuts and her native beauty she was the
belle of the now city that was to make
her crusty old father historic. and as she
had prospective fortune in the town lots
that the Old man had reserved for him
self, there was an active contest for her
I hand which the greatest swells in the re-
CAROLS and the Calverts, the Living
stones and the Lees, and representatives
of other Of the proudest families in the
/ land were her lovers, but young con-
gresham from New York city found the
the most favor and became her husband.
His name was Van Ness, and he was the
scion of an OLD Dutch family. His father
was q Judge, and Que OF the most devoted
adherents of Aaron Burr. aud acted as
his second in the duel with Hamilton. 1t
is said that young Van Ness sent Col
Burr, then a United States senator, and
the most persuasive man in public life, TO
secure the old ScOtchman's consent to
the marriage, which was finally given,
and the ceremoneY took place in the little
cottage thai was pulled down this week
/ Van Ness had money, and shortly after
the wedding commenced the erection of a
mansion. which, for almost half a cen
tary, was the finest private residence in
| Washington, but Dayy Burns declined to
! leave his cottage, and from its windows
/ watched the gaietles tdat his daughter
! led When he died his daughter built for
him the finest mausOleum that has ever
/ been known here, and it cost $34 coo,
/ which was lot of money in those DAYS.
! She endowed hospitals and asylums, and
/ did mucn good with her wealth in othor
! WAYS, and for years her husband was the
! commander of the local MALTA. But the
next generation did not keep up the glory
/ of the family, and its living representa-
! tive here to day is a dude.
! The Ven Ness mansion was the scene
! of one Of the boldest conspiracies that
/ was concocted during the war, and but
! for the loyalty of an old colored woman
! and the shrewdness of Allan Pinkerton il
might have been successful. The house
was hired by party of sympathizers
who planned TO kidnap Mr.. Lincoln some
| night while he was passing between the
white house and the war department, as
/ he often did alone and at late hours.
/ Sometime while battles were in progress
/ ne remained al the telegraph instrument
in Secretary Stanton's room until or 3
O'Clock in the morning, and it would
/ have been easy to seize and gag
him and carry him down to the
/ Van Ness house. There We're no build
ings and no watchmen and very few
/ street lamps on the way. The house was
! surrounded by high brick wall as it is
to-day. and heavy oaken doors covered
| the gateway. The plan was to impIison
him in the cellar until the conspirators
could exact from him liberal terms for
therecoguitiOn OF the southern Confeder-
acyas an independent government
Somehow or another Mr.. Pinkerton got
wind of the plot. / believe an OLD colorod
woman who lived at the Van Ness place
overheard something and gave it away
| Those concerned were arrested, but there
was no evidence against them and no bnc
was punished. .., .,
a FORTUNE IN THE STREETS.