The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-27


The army crossed over the western end
of the First Ward" and followed a mere
trail out 20 where 10th street strikes the
boundary.
This was more than half a century be-
fore steamship plowed the waters of the
Potomac; and three quarters OF a century
before relays OF horses drew the cars over
the Baltimore q Ohio Railroad from
Washington To Baltimore and its western
branch.
Gen Braddock's march, after he left the
stepping stone" OF the Potomac, was
weary one over mountains, fording rivers,
through boys and mire; Washington even
gave up his horses in his anxiety TO help
on the baggage trains.
How little did Washington dream that
the future would bring him back to the
spot where Braddock landed, or that he
would there establish the Nations Capital,
bearing his name!
a little to the east of the rock above
mentioned, stood the humble home Of John
Lucas, whose father, Ignatius Lucas, in
troduced the immense pivoted "ducking-
gun" upon the Potomac, which was i'm
ported from England.
One pleasant Autumnal morning We
strolled over this historic ground and
found the pleaSant-faced, intelligent wife
OF the present owner ready 10 tell us all
she knew OF the early history OF the place
The house was at first built on squat
tiers lot" This came exactly in the mid
die Of street. Another lot was purchased
from the Commissioners and the house
was moved 10 it.
Among numerous pieces OF antique fur
niture that had been brought from Eng
land we noted ciawfeet tables, sideboards,
antique mirrors, and Swiss clock. The
latter three feet wide and massive i'm
build had barely room To stand beneath
the ceiling, and had a mechanical CON
struction by which eight tunes were playetl
and which brought figures with from bone
and fife 10 the front.
All these were reminders Of DAYS gone
by, each Il golden link in the chain OF
memory that united the past and the
present. Though the heart OF MANY an
antiquarian OF today would be gladdened
by their possession. the most fabulous
price offered for them had no value in com
parison with the associations connected
with them
vertable "ducking gum" with the old flint
lock. This gun was fully II feet long
The sweet faced woman within told ms
that her mother said she had known Mr.
Lucas often 10 take that gun and a skin
and before breakfast bring in a skiff full a
ducks; but" she added mournfulIy. oh,
noise Of city and river improvements j.
hard on ducks"
In the rear Of this old place. and over
looking ii, was the house originally buii
Dy lt1c Jdtc tEdiicS w. IOldSD borough for
merly Chief Clerk OF the Navy Department
and father OF the late Rear Admiral Loui,
NJ. GOldsborough, who married q daugbte
OF the celebrated William NJ. Writ Tb,
house referred 10 stood upon a plateau now
Observatory Hill. In the DAYS when !;
was built il was beautifully located AN,
was elegantly finished and furnished
Ascending in an easteTiy direction fran
the Goidsborough house, YOU reach In.
top Of Observatory Hill. From the war q
1872 this hill was known as Camp hin
Upon the level OF the summit there was
very old cemetery, originally an India,
burying ground. An old resident told ~
that when child he was fond Of cul,ip
wild flowers on the brow of. this hill an,
often with other children would PLAY hide
and-seek ian the grassy hollows Of In
sunlken graves.
Rough, moss covered powders n,arlse
the heads OF the graves, and a few free
stone slabs were scattered about .rpba;
names, their years spelled by the ,,nIe,
tered muse, the place of fame and euJop
supply"
There WAS one complete stone Of NOR
recent date, and, perhaps, the grave of IN
last person buried there. Ii was there i
1917, and inscribed To John Pollock a
Englishman. He built the two bricl
houses known as the Round Tons
square, two stories high with pyramids
roofs, close together on the northwest sid
0f Washington Circle
These were constructed for The