New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-03
LOOKING FOR A RAILING.
THE ONE AGAINST WHICH WASHINGTON
LEANED MAY BE LOST.
FEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN CONSIGNED TO
JUNKsHOP-ITs JOURNEY TO PHILADELPHIA.

FEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN CONSIGNED TO A
J,,NKsHoP-ITs JOURNEY TO PHILADELPHIA.
What has become of the iron railing against
which George Washington leaned. on the steps Oh
the Sub-Treasury at Wall and Nassau sts'
when he delivered his inaugural address! 1hs
railing taken 10 Bellevue Hospital many year ;
ago and was converted into balustrade on the
rear balcony of the first floor OF the hospitai. IN
1875 the city authorized the removal OF the raihs
TO Philadelphia for exhibition In 1876 at the Ceh'eh-
NAL Eposltion Since then all trace OF the railing
seems 10 have been lost
What emphasizes this mysterious disappearance
Of the railing is the fact that the stone upon when
Washington stood when he delivered his inaugural
address was removed TO Bellevue Hospital at inc
same time that the railing was transferred u VIVA"
was then known as the "almshouse OF 'he ci'''
This stone which was some ten feet IN leheth ny
five feet in width was placed mural tablet IN
the wall on the north side of the main hall OF the
building. The city, acting through the oo"h',s
sloners OF Charities and Correction. granted periis
sion in 1873 for the transferrence OF TINS STONE "o
to Philadelphia for purposes of exhibition at inc
Centennial Exhibition. This stone, however, was
not taken back to Bellevue he p:.a', but was re-
placed on the steps Of the S Treasury
After all these vicissitudes of lis history the
stone on which Washington stood IS now pelhs
removed because of disinte51&'ion from 'ne
weather to be placed mural tao'st III 'ne
south wall of the Sub-Treasury just OUTSIDE 'he
Sub Treasurer's door. 49,,
There are those who looking around ior 'he
IRON railing with view restoring It 70 us olu
nost,on win they find 1t? This seems 6oubuul
in view Of the statement that the railing Is sun
at Bellevue Hospital. and therefore may oe seculeu
BELLEVUE Hospital wardens come ana t'i'd ,ttar
know they q historic relics one OF ~ - " ie7t
nfScers However. who has been there since 10
knows good deal about this particular supJr;H'
He is Michael J. Richard. the deputy supei IN IN
tendent. who through long ana carei9i ,rSa
I'm ISIS the Board Of Commissioners OF Chariuss
and Correction wrote to Warden James r.
O'Rourke directing that the stone ana ra,.ins
should be delivered to the Centennial commute
They were so delivered The stone. which was
some ten feet long by five feet broad nau Den
placed in the wall on the north SIDE OF tnr NAN y,
corridor The railing formed me rear rb raiIin9
had large shield in the centre and on each sue
of 1t was collection OF arrows. thlhA '"e'e
were five arrows in all on each side , . 49,.
Centennial Exposition The stone uhut s Siih
was subsequently placed in the steps at the SUD
Treasury If tn railing is 20 be foEnd hd
ing somewhere. The railing was about SIX feet long
Nv three feet high 1t of iron. There was scrOH
work AT each side of the central shield.
raiiing hack hut the Commits sioners favored the
Fedaral Building. If the railing Is not down there.
II isSimpossib,e TO say where it is. -, -,
a sub-oficer of the Sub-Treasury, VINO mas heIu
sired that his name should not be used sad yester-
day: 1.-THE Washington railing is not mere we
would ike to find out where 1t is. we had neafn
that IL was up at Bellevue Hospital; but II IT mas
disappeared from there, it is difficult TO say where II
can be- There is a possibility kat II has peen sOin
for old iron That would be Va conclusion OF NE
matter. Perhaps those in charge OF the Centei h
Exposition might throw some light upon the sub
tepf