The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
TOWN WAS ONCE PROSPEROUS
In the DAYS When the Eastern Branch Was
Deep Ensash for Navisatisn Commerce
Game 70 Biadensburg Famous DueIinx
Ground Afterward-The Celebrated Bat
tlefeId as It Appears To-day-some of
the Many Noted Daels Fought There.

goes at wharf at the foot OF Main street
and returned laden with fragrant rich
hued tobacco. The town, named for Gov.
! Bladeh. of Maryland. is built within a
| basin. its picturesque houses, many OF
| which possess real historic interest. show
| ing prettily upon its sloping sides. Near
it is the famous dueling ground where
more affairs of honor have been settled
| than upon any single spot in the world.
Another contiguous point is that upor.
| which. on August "a. 1914. the American
militia encountered the British regulars
and endeavored to prevent their disastrous
advance upon the Capital. Among those
who hurried 20 the scene was a company
of Baltimore society men known as the
silk Stockings" They left the city elat-
ed with hope, and returning with dropped
banners. were mercilessly twitted with
| their defeat.
yes" replied one OF them who was a
wag, the British got the better of US at
first, but we beat them in the long run"
Before the engagement President Mad
son, with a number Of officials, and Fran
els Scott Key, who 81 soon afterwarG
wrote "The Star Spangled Banner" re-
viewed the position of the troops. Mean
while the immortal Dolly. from her van
window. watched through a spyglass for
their return. refusing when the British
poured into the city and danger was int
minent. to leave the building until the
safety of the painting of Washington.
now in its East Room and of the Decla
ration of independence had been secured.
The Old Writ Home.
About the field the plowshare even now
| he NJ 10
battle, while here and there is an object
named in commemoration of some one Of
| its leading events Among these is Bar
ney Spring, where Commodore Barney ;
horse was shot from under him; and
where, covered with wounds. he fell into
| the enemy's hands. The wounded British
were carried into the Writ house, the
| quaint old building (now occupied by
negroes) in which William Writ, the At
| torney General of the United States and
! prosecuting counsel In the celebrated
Aaron Burr case. was born. The porch of
| the house has fallen to decay. but the
main structure is well preserved. while
| the heavy brass knOcker by which the Wis
| itor gains admittance. and for which relic
| hunters offer tempting amounts. is the
! same which summoned Wirt's attendants
| to the door, Among the British. a Col
| Wood, who was afterward knighted was
| particularly appreciative of kindness
making handsome provision for a black
| smith who found him wounded upon the
| field and wiped the blood from his face
| When convalescent he mingled freely
| With the townspeople, and became inti-
mate at the house of Christopher
| Lowndes a native of England. who mar
| ried daughter of Gov. Tasker, of Mary
| land. and was the first Of his name TO
settle in Bladensburg. Mr.. Lowndes was
| extensively engaged in foreign commerce.
| by which he amassed a fortune, and Bos-
took, which he built IN 1746 and which
| contains. in addition to several broad
halls. seventeen spacious apartments. is a
| splendid structure. OF the apartments,
| that known as the banqueting hall re-
| quires 100 yards of Garnet to cover IL;
among its features being a carved mantel
seven feet high and a fireplace before
which an OK might be roasted. After the
battle of Yorktown, when Lafayette pass
ed through Bladensburg he was entertain
ed at Bostock at brilliant ball. and the
supper was served in this room.
Blenheim. seat near Bostock, was the
| home of Mr.. Lowndes' grandson, Benja-
min Ogle Lowndes; and at his death.
which occurred three years ago, he be-
queathed it to the Domestic and Foreign
Missionary Society Of the Episcopal
| Church. A servant was established in the
rear building to protect it, but fire orig
| mated in a defective fiue and it was burn
ed TO the ground.
Lsrd Baitimore,s Estate.
The estate OF Lord Baltimore. once
i known as Riverdale and now the River
dale park hog
the hands of his descendants, although
one of them. Charles Baltimore Calvert,
still lives on a tract of land adjoining the
place. 1t IS now owned by a New York
corporation, and has been sub-divided
into building lots, upon which neat dwell
inGs have been erected. and the electric
car which passes through IL is the finest
running out OF Washington
The most interesting OF the historic
buildings, however is the George Wash
ington House" an ancient inn, whose
swinging signboard bears a weather
beaten representation OF the Father of
His Country. and whose front Is emblaz-
| oned with two American eagles. Here
| Washington stopped; and here those who
We're TO meet upon the field OF honor"
spent what often proved their last night
| upon earth. The spot. selected as acces-
sibe to the Capital and yet beyond the
jurisdiction OF the District, lies between
TWO Mills. The apple trees flanking Il are
of subsequent planting, but the field itself
mas never been brought under cultivation.
and is clad In It's native yerdure.
or the fifty-odd duels fought upon 4.
mat between Gen. Armistead Mason and
Col. John Mccarty. OF Virginia, said IN
nave been instigated By Andrew Jackson.
was the first TO attract general attention
| They met on the 6th OF February 1910
Mason wearing an oyercoat. while Nc
| Carly appeared IN his shirt sleeves win
arms barred TO the shoulders. A blindins
snoUstorm was falling. and as they faced
each other the muzzles OF their long rnus.
kets almost touched. At the word 40re,.,
both fell, Mason with the life blown ,n,
OF him. while McCarty was terribly roar-
gied. he recovered and lived for a nun
Der OF years afterward. but ne was al
ways prey 10 remorse.
Famous Biaden.burR Dvel.
Gen. Robert Williams. Cf Wasbingso,
| fought duel Al Biadensburg with IIen-
David Bell, ''the affair en4lns, " e IT.
wife nee Cults and afterward Ms
stephen A. Douglas) once said. 4as An
such affairs should end-Without blsod-
she'd"
The most famous duel which eyer oc
CURED there, however. was that betweso
Stephen Decatur and james Barron. The
achievements OF the former during the
war with Barbary. involving the interegts
81 the whole civilized world. made nm
the most brilliant and conspicuous aeure
In the American navy. and eulozized AZ
home and abroad. ne was the idol or the
hour. The two officers had been warm
friends, the difficulty between them arls-
Ing from the position which Decatur az
sumed in regard 20 a neglect Of duty on
Sarror's part. resulting in his suspension
from the service. Their meeting occurred
on the I'D OF March. 100. when. pssclng
themselves eight PAGES apart and taking
deliberate aim. both fell at the nrst Ere
Barron Has dangerously ard Decatur
fatally rounded. the fiini-iock pistols
which DID the bloody work-dlseolo-ed
with rust end perforated By lnkects-De-
ing now owned By Mrs. Heth, OF wash.