The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-03-30

ingten which uesry Clay
"swapDedv fer = saeknaa.


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Attorney General Griggs says that
the new building for the department
OF justice, erected according 10 the
plans already accepted, viii cost half
million dollars more than was expect
ed, the total expenditure required be-
ing sl,5oo,0o0. Fortunately. the gov
ernment owns the site, plot of
ground opposite the treasury. respect
ing which, with It's immediate sur
roundings. some very amusing stories
are told.
Commodore Rogers a generation ago
brought to Washington from Spain
four Andalusian jackasses, no ordinary
animals, be IL understood, but jack
asses of high degree snd pureat line
age. At that time such beasts we're
greatly wanted for breeding purposes
in this country, and the long-eared
quartette excited q vast deal Of ad-
miration. Henry Clay saw them, and,
being himself interested In the rear
ing of fine stock, was most anxious to
possess one, so much so, indeed. that
he offered as a swap" q large lot OF
land near the corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and Madison place, valued to-
day at about 100000. The commodore
accepted, and Mr.. Clay. having thus
acquired title TO one Of the jackasses.
Immediately proceeded TO lose II over
a gaming table.
This did not end the matter, how
ever, for Mr.. Clay afterward redeemed
the jackass and sent it to Kentucky,
where it became the progenitor Of
what is now the most remarkable
strain of mules in the United States.
AS for the lot, Commodore Rodgers
built on 1t dwelling, which In later
years obtained the uncheerful designa-
tion Of the "House Of DOOM" because
of the series of tragedies and misfor-
tunes connected with II.
Between the lot in question and
Pennsylvania avenue was rectangu-
lar patch, making the corner, on a
portion of which was put up the build
ing occupied in later days by the
Freedmen's bank. The rest OF the
patch had been held up to the present
time as government reservation, and
beds of pretty flowers in the midst of
a well clipped lawn have made
charming bit of park opposite the
grim old treasury. Now, however. 1t
has been torn up and the bank build
ing has been pulled down in order to
erect large and imposing structure.
for which congress last March appro-
priated $1,000,000. The edlfce Is to
be the home Of the department Of JUS
tice,
Henry Clay's loss OF the Andalusian
jackass at the gaming table reminds
one of the remark OF Mrs. Clay when
somebody asked her If her husbands
gambling habits did not cause her
deep pain. She laughed as she re-
piled:
mot at all, assure you. He nearly
always wins"
Commodore Rodgers built house
on the land which he received from
Mr.. Clay in exchange for the jackass.
1t was large and imposing mansion
of brick, and its history from start TO
finish was made up of q series Of
tragic occurrences. The commodore
died in 1t soon after its completion.
and then it was turned into fashion
able boarding house, which failed.
swamping the finances of the propri-
etress. Next it became the home Of
the Washington club, which included
in its membership Barton Key and
Daniel E, Sickles. 1t is said that Key
signaled to Mrs. Sickles with hand
kerchlef from window of the club:
but, anyhow, 1t was directly In front
of the clubhouse that Siclles shot Key
to death, and the latter was carried
into the club in dying condition.
When the civil war broke out the
club went to smash. and Secretary
Seward leased the mansion for his
residence. 1t was there that Seward
and his son, with three other people.
were butchered nearly to death by the
assassin Payne.
Undeterred by its tragic history.
James G. Blaine bought the "House Of
Doom in 1890, and from that time on
he had nothing but misfortune. lie
lost a daughter and his son. Walker
Blaine, died in the house. Finally he
himself died there. and then the man
sion was torn down, to be replaced by
theater, which now occupies the site
once snapped for jackass Of Anda-
lusia--Cincinnati Enquirer.