The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
TOWN WAS ONCE PROSPEROUS
In the DAYS When the Eastern Branch Was
Came To Bladensbars Famous Dazzling
Ground Afterwara-The Celebrated Bat
ihe Many Noted Dueis Fought There.

EDcS dk Il WHAT at the ADp( OF MdlH cli%fA
and returned laden with fragrant, rich
hued tobacco. The town, named for Gov.
Bladeh. OF Maryland. is built within
basin. its picturesque houses. many OF
which possess real historic interest. show
ing prettily upon its sloping sides. Near
II 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 upon
which, on August q. 1914. the American
militia encountered the British regulars
and endeavored 10 prevent their disastrous
advance upon the Capital Among those
who hurried TO 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
Sznners. were mercilessly twitted with
their defeat.
Yes" replied one of them who was
wag. ''the British got the better Of us al
first. but we beat them in the long run" ="
Before the engagement President Mad.-
son. with number Of officials. and Fran
els Scott Key, who so soon afterward
wrote "The Star Spangled Banner" re-
viewed the position of the troops. Mean
while the immortal Dolly, from her van
tdSC SIDulAL dA al upper w AitC 1ipAoN
window, watched through a spyglass for
their return. refusing. when the British
poured into the city and danger was i'm
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
occasionally unearths some trophy of the
battle, while here and there is an object
named in eommem0ration of some one Of
it's 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. native of England, who mar
-. I l.., g fH~.v q Mo-
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 174G, and which
contains, in addition 70 several broad
halls, seventeen spacious apartments, is a
splendid structure Of the apartments,
that known as the banqueting hall re-
quires 100 yards of carpet to cover it.;
among its features being a carved mantel
seven feet high and a fireplace before
which an OF might be roasted. After the
battle of Yorktown, when lafayette pass
ed through I;ladensburg he was entertain
ed at Bostock at brilliant ball. and the
supper was served in this room.
Rlenheim. a 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 il to the Domestic and Foreign
Missionary Society Of the Episcopal
Church. servant was established in the
rear building to protect II. but fire orig
mated in a defective fiue and ii was burn
ed to the ground.
Lord BnI;imore's Estate.
The estate of Lord Baltimore, once
known as Riverdale. and now the River.
dale Park Company, has passed out OF
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 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 ii 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 embIaz-
oned with two American eagles. Here
Washington stopped; and here those who
were TO meet upon the field OF honor
spent what often proved their last night
upon earth. The spot, selected as acces-
sible TO the Capital and yet beyond the
jurisdiction of the District. lies between
two Mills. The apple trees fanking II are
Of subsequent planting. but the field itself
has never been brought under cuItivat ton.
and is clad In It's native yerdure
OF the fifty-odd duels fought upon 4,
that between Gen. Armistead Mason and
Col. John McCarty. OF Virginia, said 20
nave been instigated by Andrew Jacks9n.
was the first 10 attract general attention
They met on the 6th OF February. isls
Mason wearing an OYercOat while Nc
Carty appeared In his shirt sleeves with
arms barred 10 the shoulders A binding
snowstorm was falling. and as they fac.
each other the muzzles Of their long mus
kets almost touched. AT the word .'dre,p
both fell, Mason with the life blown ,ut
OF him, while MeCarty was terribly maa-
gled. He recovered and lived for nun,-
Der Of years afterward. but ne was al
ways prey 10 remorse.
Famous BIaden-burg Duei.
Gen. Robert Williams, Of Washington
fought duel At Bladensburg with LIegt
David Bell. 'the affair ending" A. hi.
wife tnee Cults and afterward Mrs
stephen a. Douglas) cace said "as all
such affairs should ead-without blood
shed"
The most famous duel which ever oe-
eurfsc there. however. was that between
stephen Decatur and James Barron The
achievements OF the former during the
war With Barbary. involving the Interests
Of the whole civilized world. made him
the most brilliant and conspicuous figure
IN the American navy. and eulozfzed at
home snd abroad. ne was the idol Of the
hour The TWO officers had been warm
friends. the difficulty between them aris-
Ing from the position which Decatur az
samed In regard 10 neglect Of duty on
BsrroE'a part. resulting in hia suapenslou
from the service. Their meeting occurred
on the pa Of March. ls3G. when. placing
themselves eight PAGES apart and taking
deliberate aim. oOfn fell az the FIRST Gre
Barron gss dangerously ard Decatur
fatally wounded. ;he flnt-lock pistols
which dli the bloody work-dlseOlO~el