Evening star., 1901-02-16


had commenced the day before.
I'VE Immediately went to packing up.
and Mr.. Burch went out in search Of
wagons or other carriages for the trans
portation of the books and papers. Every
wagon and almost every cart belonging to
the city had been previously impressed into
the service of the Unified States for the
transportation Of the baggage of the army:
the few he was able to find were loaded
with the private effects of individuals, who
were moving without the city; those he at
tempted to hire but, not succeeding, he
claimed right to impress them: but hav.
ing no legal authority, military force to
aid him. he. of course, did not succeed.
He then sent off three messengers into the
country one of whom obtained from Mr.
John Wilson, whose residence is six miles
from the city, the use Of "a cart and four
oxen;. it did not arrive at the Office until
after dark Monday night, when 1t was i'm
mediately laden with the most important
books. and papers, which were taken, on
the same night, nine miles to a safe place
in, the country. We continued to remove
as many of the most valuable books and
papers, having removed the manuscript
records, were able to do with one
cart:' until the morning-of the day of the
battle Of Bladensburg, after which we were,
unable to take away anything further
Everything belonging to the office to-
gether with the Library of Congress, we
venture to say, might have been removed
in time. if carriages could have been pro-
cured; but 1t was altogether impossible to
procure them, either for hire or by force. <
The Papers Lost.
'The most material papers which have
been lost are the last volumes of the man
uscript records of the committee on ways
and means. claims and pensions and revo-
lutionary claims The clerks were engaged
in bringing up these records previous to
the alarm. and as it was not certain that
the enemy would get 20 the city, and being
desirous to have them completed, they were
not packed away with the rest. but were
kept out that they might be finished bv the
meeting of Congress. but. with the intention
of taking them to a private residence if
such removal should be found necessary
After the defeat of our troops at Bladens-
burg Mr.. Frost removed Them to the house
commonly called Gen. Washington's, which
house being Unexpectedly consumed by fire
these records were thus unfortunately lost
Mr.. Frost was secre5arYlof the Columbia
fire company for many years. In the fire.
mems convention in 1857, when the uues-
ton of the seniority of the volunteer fire
companies was being iropsSdered. a letter
from him was read stating: The books
papers, etc, We're destroyed in the confla-
grafton of my dwelling in the attack upon
the city in August, 1S14'
Tradition states that the buildings were
left a shell-the bare walls only standing
and the fact that they Remained intact.
and having been underpiHned to the depth
OF two stories, now form a part of the
Kenmore. is tribute tort the thorough work
of the mechanics of that day
In the partition suit between the heirs of
washington che property was decreed to be
sold. 1t was owned and occupied by the
late Admiral Charles Wilkes, who also
owned much of the adjoining property in
the square, and it now belongs to Mrs.
John Tally.
The Elliot Building.
The Elliot building on the south, though
rot so old as the Washington house, Is
quite an interesting one. The elder Elliot
(William). with his family, sttled in the
cottage above described. The grounds were
further improved by him, and they made a
most charming spot. 1t is needless to say
that he took a pride and interest in every
effort tending to the welfare Of the city
Possessing much literary. ability he wrote
many articles for the Inteliigencer on politi-
cal, scientific and local subjects, but being
a strong anti-slavery man, and pro-sIavery
sentiment then being strong, he ceased his
regular contributions
Probably the first observatory in the Dis
trlct was the one he. erected on the brow
of the hill in the rear of his residence, prior
to 1920. and 1T was here with Father Cur
ley and others of the faculty of Georgetown
College, who were accustomed to walk to
ana from the college, he spent much time
IN the observation of the heavens. Though
not of the faith of the priests, there existed
the most friendly relations till death sew
cred the ties. With his friend, DR.. Thorn
toii, IiiC eloeE EIliiOl ola muCn TO develop
the patent system, and no one, perhaps, did
more toward the establishment and build
ing of the patent office than did he and his
sons. Numerous publications, including the
early city directories, emanated from him
and the family. So 4 .-
When the erection of the patent office
was contemplated one Of the sons-William
r.. then but twenty-one,years of age-pre-
sented plans for the building to the Presi-
dent, Gen. Jackson The general declined
to appoint him the architect because his
youth and inexperience were in the way.
The young man thereupon asked when ex-
perlence could be gained IL opportunity
were not afforded to make practical the
knowledge He suggested that the mind
capable of producing such picture should
certainly prove competent to create reality.
Attempts have been made to deprive the
son (Will!am P) of the credit for the plans.
but the question has been settled by the
patentees, and tribute paid to the orig
inator of the design, for the building. His
picture and that of his father hang together
in the hall of the building of which they
were justly proud. Z
Surveyor of the City.
Mr.. VIM. Elliot succeeded Mr.. De Kraft
as surveyor of the city in 1892, and con-
tinued as such till 1887 when he died. His
son. William p, succeeded him and filled
the Office till 1846. The lifelong friend of
the Elhots. Mr. Hadieldi died but a short
time before. A granite mQnument to Mr..
Hadheld, having the Capitol carved upon
it, while being en- rotitfeg to the Congress
sonal cemetery drawn byisixteen horses)
slipped from the wagon and was broken in
front Of the Elliot residepee. The pieces
were gathered and placed in the center OF
the garden, and the aahfnf6fmed supposed
that MIR. Hadfield was biirfed there
The old home was bought by Mr.. VIM. P.
Elliot, the son, and ile, later erected the
present building, or the three upper stories.
with attic, and 1t was said to have been
the handsomest in the city. Unfortunately
he enjoyed his new home but short time.
dying at the age OF forty-six. Shortly after
ward the grade was lowered. leaving the
buildings about six feet above. The late
Stephen A. Douglas a staf1ch friend of the
family, styled this act a species Of vandal-
ism and in the interestIaf the government,
and as a measure for the relief Of the
property owners attempted1he extension OF
the grounds to north apdrsouth C streets.
He died, however, before he could secure
the passage of the measure.
In 1871, under the board of public works,
the grade was further lowered-to the
present point-and, the houses left still
higher above the level of the street. rhe
only way to save the buildings, then left
on the edge Of an embankment of thirty
feet, was to excavate beneath and UNDER
pin the wallis. This made It necessary to
no ~