The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-05
A LANCASTER, PA, LANDMARK.
The Residence Where the Famous
spy John Andre Lived.


One of the most notable and historically
interesting houses in the city of Lancaster
is a fine specimen Of colonial architecture
on the east side of North Lime Street II
was for many years the home of the late
A. Herr Smith. long time Congressman
from this district, and Is nov the property
and residence OF his sister. Miss Eliza e.
Smith. a woman Of large beDevclence. 1t
was probably built a century and halt
ago. and was occupied during the revolu-
ton by Caleb Cope. the Quaker burgess OF
Lancaster. In those days. when the Eng
lish element largely predominated here.
many men OF influence and high social and
business position warmly sympathizei with
the British cause. Caleb Cope was born in
Chester county in 1875, and removed 20
Lancaster to practice his profession Of sur
veyor. After the revolution he removed 10
Philadelphia and died about 1880. His son,
Thomas p. Cope. became leading citizen
and merchant of Philadelphia. one of The
chief patrons and early presidents of the
Mercantile Library Association, end mis-
portrait now hangs above the central desk
of the librarian Of that institution on Tenth
Street, above Chestnut. IL IS Thc picture
of keen. sharp. fresh complsXioned, be-
spectacled Quaker face, and it is hard to
realize that the figure dressed in snuff
ccIHrad raiment was that of the boy, grown
to manhood. whose initials are cut in the
bricks of the Smith mansion on the alley
side, thus: st. P. c., 17s2.'
When John andre afterward the fa-
nous spy and victim of the most notable
tragedy of ire Revolutionary War. was
captured by General Montgomery in Can
ada in the late fall of 11I5. he was brought
to Lancaster. then noted station for the
lodging of prisoners of war. He was
paroled on paper written by Jasper
Yeates. 1fterward justice OF the Supreme
Court OF Pennsylvania, and the original is
in the possession OF Simon Graft of Phila-
delphia. Thus privileged to lodge privately.
he found shelter under the roof of Caleb
Cope in this house, which gave such Of
fence to the populace that the mob smashed
out all the windows of the Cope residence.
While here Andre INDUCED his tast, and
talent for landscape painting. and there
has been preserved in colored Autograph a
reproduction of dainty sketch which he
made for the Copes of an old place-prob-
ably his homestead-in England. Thomas
p. Cope, writing of Andre as a guest of
this house, remembered him as one Of fine
manners who sported with the children OF
the household, played marbles and other
boyish games with them. Young John
Cope. another member of the family. re-
ceiyed every encouragement and instruc-
ton from Andre in the art of painting, for
which he showed great fondness He ex-
pressed great interest in his young pupil
and both at Lancaster and after he left
Tor another prison station at Carlisle.
Andre offered to sell his army commission
and return TO England. taking young Cope
with him 20 perfect his art studies Only
the steadfast opposition of Caleb Cope to
Andres plans for his son Influenced the
attractive young British officer to remain
in America and but for that he would
probably have been spared from the sad
fate which awaited him.
Another historical incident connected
with this house is that with Andre there
was lodged in it Lieut.. Col. Edward Marcus
Despard. Irish by BIRTH whose fate was
somewhat coincident with that OF Andre
Being exchanged. he returned to the army
and served in the Revolutionary War until
1873, when he was transferred to Jamaica.
Despard aided in wrestling some possess
sions on the Mosquito Coast from Spain.
and was invested with considerable execu-
tive power in Honduras. He seems to have
exercised it in such Il manner as to create
popular dissatisfaction. and in 1890 was re-
called 10 England. Ie demanded exami-
nation and preferred some claim against
the Government. 1t was not needed: he
became seditious. was arrested and re-
leased. and in his frenzy of rage and dis
appointment he headed mad conspiracy
TO murder MS hlns ana seize the Dank, tne
Tower and the Government. With nine of
his crazy associates he persisted on the
scaffold in 1903.
The house is still In an admirable state
Of preservation. Its walls are sound and
its present mistress keeps it in the best
repair so that 1t bids fair TO stand for
many day. not only as a monument OF
colonial architecture but as a landmark
OF Lancaster history during the Reyolu-
tionary period.