The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-31
The Number Thirteen

IN d recent number Of an English maya
-ihe l ma some remarkable incidents oT
'iIe IdldI results following the ill-omeDed
thirteen at table. Nowhere is that III
omened number so carefully avoided as in
Paris. - ~
was conVersing a few DAYS ago with
| an old friend, who related an incidenr of
the late Mr.. w. w. COrcoran's belief in
The generally recognized superstition Of
thirteen AT table During the time Mr.
| CorCoran was making d struggle 10 retain
even representation in the board of a.
reclorS OF Oak Hill Cemetery. A meeting
at his residence had extended until nrct
" late IN the evening, and he invited rbe
gentlemen 10 supper, and on being seated
l. was discovered there were thirteen AZ
table. Mr.. COrcOIan Immediately arosa
ana ordered the servant to serve him at
an adjacent table and thus relieved tba
spell. one Of the guests expressed mis-
astonlshment that a gentleman of Mr..
COfcoran sense and information should
&c governed by such a superstition Mr..
Corcoran replied he had no defense 10
make 1or the belief, but he had witnessed
most painful result from a dinner in
that very room, where thirteen were at
table A day CT two before the fatal ex-
N.
occurred on February %, 1874, he had is
sued invitations TO dinner, and on tn,
afternoon Of the day of the dinner ne re-
ceived from Mr.. John Tyler. jr., a no5a
saying Gov. Gilmer had arrived on the
southern boat, and he would be Dleasen
If Mr. CorcOran would allow him to briny
him 10 the dinner, il 1t would not disturb
Ills arrangements. Mr.. COrcoran repted
saying how gratified he would be TO have
Gov Gilmer IS his guest, put If he came
he would make thirteen, surprising Mr.
Tyler would decline and allow Gov Gil
nler 10 take his place. Both the gentle
men came, however and IL was too I2ta
10 make any change, and the dinner with
It's thirteen guests went on 10 the end
The next day Gov. Gilmer. Secretary of
the Navy, was killed on board the Prince
ton.
NY first knowledge OF that suDerstition
occurred on the occasion of dinner given
10 a recently returned Minister ana his
wife from Paris. When the dinner was
announced this lady begged not 10 pro-
coed to dinner as she discovered there
would be thirteen at table expressed
some surprise that one so practical IS she
las should Dc influenced by ! foolish stI-
perstitiOn. She said: 1T NAV be foolish.
but l have lived so long ia Paris and
heard so much of the fatalities which
have attended that fatal number that I
have unconsciously inbibed the dread OF
it, which is almost universal there. The
fourteenth was obtained. however. By the
presence Of a near relative and her sur,-r-
stitiOus fear was allayfd
The result Of this fatal number was IL
lUstrated Il an entertainment given by me
10 my dear friend, Gen. James s lack
son, on TIE eve Of his departure TO take
command OF his regiment during the war.
After the first course had been served IL
vas discovered that there was thirteen
az table. | arose Immediately, and The
fourteenth was obtained in d few min
uIes by the presence Of a relative s1e
feet. however, led 10 discussion Of the
superstition, ano somehow IL dampened
the good cheer that usually prevailed tn
those days at the festive board Jackson
himself prOf=ssed not 10 Re influenced by
H. but the leave-taking was q sad one
Within very short time The news OF the
battle Of PerryViHs reached US. and with
the announcement that our friend. Jack
son, had beer killed JOHN F. COYLE.