The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-26
AARON BURR'S HOUSE
An OLD LANDMARK IN NEW YORK
TO BE DESTROYED.
IL Is Vow Owned by Tom Pistt. the
Republicans Bo~s-where the Chai-
Ienge To Hamilton Was Written

portant relic in New York OF one Of the
most bold and unprincipled political In
trigues Of the early times OF this republic.
II is the building in which Aaron Burr
schemed those enterprises which have
left his name dishonorsd. and IL Is an in
teresting fact that the building Is now
and has been for some time the property
OF Tom Plat, the Republican boss of
New York. against whose Vaccinations
the citizens Of the new greater city are
now in fair way Of winning a famous
victory. Burr's old office in Reade street.
near Center occupies part of the land
chosen and condemned by the municipal
ity for the site OF the new hail Of records
the structure which Is 20 accommodate
the finance. tax. law. surrogate. register
and county clerk departments OF the city
government. | don't know whether Mr.
Plat is superstitious- but IL is reckoned
by those who disagree with his idea OF
politics and government that II viii be an
appropriate ending of the reform admin
istration to destroy what Is al once re-
minder Of an old-time. disgraced political
trickster and plotter and pet possession
of the men who IL held TO be in a remark
able degree the counterpart OF that 'evil
genius OF the century"
All that remained OF Col. Aaron Burr
the brilliant man of letters. the dashing
soldier. the forceful lawyer. the indul-
gent friend. the generous, kind-hearted
father and the gay. beloved beau. has
disappeared. With the passing of his
office at No. II Reade street a pulpit
prophecy uttered at the time of his
death will come true THE memory of
the unrepentant murderer and traitor
said this prophecy, whose hands are
stained with the blood of Hamilton. lives
now only to be execrated; and before
the end OF this century the last land
mark which will recall his actual being
will have passed away. and he will live
only in history as the traitor who tried
10 disrupt this republic in its infancy"
There stands. however. across the street
from the Burr office. one of the water
tanks which recalls one of his craftest
successes. This cannot he torn down
until the charter OF one of the largest
of the Wall street banking houses is
revised by the legislature How this
bank came TO he operated under the
charter Of water supply company is
an interesting story. In 1893 there was
only one chartered bank in New York
As IL was controlled by Hamilton and
the Federalists Burr's opponents) and as
its managers prevented the establish
ment of any rival some Republicans
called Aaron Burr toFhelp them start a
bank. Burr drew up a seemingly inno-
cent measure Incorporating a company
10 supply the city with pure water OF
not observing. any more than congress
did in the recent Dingley bill. that there
was a clause in Ii at variance with its
apparent intentions. This clause pro-
vided that the surplus capital Of the
water company might be employed in
any transaction not inconsistent with
the laws Of the state. Immediately a
capital of 100000 was forthcoming for
the founding of a bank. One or two els
terms were built. and some wooden pipes
laid, and by maintaining the tank at
Reade and Center street the banking COM
pany pretended to be able TO act UP 4.
its charter as company supplying New
York city with water
Burr's office is at this moment occupied
by plumber. and the family of a police
man. Another tenant is a barber, who has
frightened the front OF the house with his
red and white poles. as If. by attaching
them TO the building. 10 make some amends
10 the colorS against which Burr turned
| traitor. II was in the room now used by
the policemans family in entertaining com
pany that Burr wrote his challenge to
Hamilton. plotted to disrupt the republic
and first met and determined to marry the
charming widow. Jumel. She. if remem-
Der rightly. came from Rhode Island and
claimed 10 he a descendant of Hugh Capet,
the founder of the royal house of Bourbon
in France Burr already had been the hus-
band Of the Widow Provost" whom he
met when a young. gallant. loyal officer of
Washinston's army. To her he had been
faithful. but his chicanerieS had meanwhile
changed his nature, and the widow Jumel
regretted marrying him in the days after
the change.
He charmed all women and most men.
| in love he was irresistible. and I'm war he
was the admiration OF Montgomery and OF
Washington. II is remarkable that he
81 hoe vrH4 no
suit o. planning. Birth aided him little.
and good luck not al all-indecd. bad luck
| seemed 10 be busy continually thwarting.
the cunning which he expended 70 make
| himself great Through study of Chester
| field ne became 4 fascinating gentleman:
| through study OF Talleyrand he became a
wizard In politics. and 1t must have been
through his contemplation OF Napoleon.
then in glory. that he conceived the bold
scheme Of conquest which might have
made him ruler OF "A vast empire. but
which. by falling. brought about his down
| fan and lett him a traitor more wretched
| than Arnold.
He took the Office at No. II Reade
| street. just back Of the present city hall
after loss Of health had driven him 70 re-
| sign from the Continental army. What
| a man he was at that rimei His mother
| was the daughter OF Jonathan Edwards.
| the Puritan preacher who made men
| tremhe At the very word hell and his
| father was the frst president of Prince
! ton college. one would expect a boy 81
| such parentsge 10 be OF a disposition 10
run away 20 sea. and 10 cause alarm bv
| his resistance 20 religious iniuence-Since
| the sons Of the stay-at-hcmes and the uu-
| asSsilahly good often go to the contraries
But the firm fiber OF New England was
| woven IN his character. and I like 10
| fancy that il vas that which helped him
! luxurious as he was 10 be content TO sat
the flesh Of dogs and I'll last the leather
| Of his 81 ces in order % follow on with
| Arnold in the expedition against Quebec.
| When Princeton men praise Burr TO you
| as they always viii you must bel eve mar
| they have "a vision Of him as he was then
| Montgomery made him his aide after see
| ing jhe Eentility Of his manners ami
| Washington heard Of his bravery q, the
| memorable assault on the Canadian cita-
| del and opened place for him ~ hts
| headquarters
81 many legal operations arose from
| the Conh>cAtion ~ Tory estates that
| Burr and Hamilton received most OF tb-.
| cases nearly an Of tho Troy lawyers
| having been disbarved Burr was suhti.
| Hamilton As eloquent They were soon
/ active rivals Presently with Mss prac-
| tiCc and the wealth brought 10 him liz
| the widow Provost Burr was embed
| % tuy splendid mansion where ne en-
/ ter;ained superhly having as guests
| TaUeyrald NoIuey. jerome Bonauarfe
! Incurred WaShtnEton's distrust an
! Washington as president. refused TO con
siter Burr appointment as minister IN
! France. Hamilton was blamed rs Burr
| for this misfortune 70 a cherished am
/ hiton for Hamilton Rad The presidents