The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10

tinued Monday and Tuesday. the'day of the
battle and the entry of the invaders. Mrs.
Madison remained at the White House un-
til the afternoon of the oath, when about
o'clock James Smith a colored servant,
came riding in from Biadensburg calling
out: Clear out, clear out. General Arm
strong has ordered retreat" The day be-
fore Mrs. Madison had received a note
from the President TO be ready to enter her
carriage at a moments notice and leave
the city. One carriage had been filled with
own and accompanied by two servants she
was driven rapidly to Georgetown Heights.
With her she took the family plate and
painting of Washington, which was hastily
torn from its frame.
The President and the members of his
Cabinet all of whom had left Bladensburg
before the conclusion Of the battle, on hear
ing of the disastrous result crossed the Po-
tomac into Virginia at Little Falls, recross-
ing ii at the Great Falls. Mrs. Madison
spent the night Of the oath at Mrs. Lowe S,
two miles beyond the Potomac. The next
night she stopped at Mrs. Minors. few
miles farther on.
During the several days spent away from
Washington Mrs. Madison Joined by
the President. Their reception at several
places during their flight was in number
of caves far from hospitable, and some OF
their experiences were most unpleasant
One night was spent in a hut In wood,
and they were drenched in two transforms.
The British stayed but twenty-four hours
in Washington, leaving on the night OF the
II.
burned and otherwise destroyed by them
Having applied a torch to numerous build
ings, it thrown by the British into a
dry well, in which the Americans had pre-
viously thrown large quantities OF gunpow-
der and other military stores In the eXplo-
sion which followed nearly 100 British were
killed and wounded. On the heels or this
came a tornado such as washington mas
never known before or since: Great dam
age was done. IL is not unlikely that the
explosion and the tornado had much to do
with the British retreat, the disasters serv-
ing to prey upon their superstitious fears.
With the departure of the enemy, Mrs.
Madison and the President and members
of his Cabinet returned TO the city MRS.
Madison went to the home OF her sister,
Mrs. Cuts.
The Taylor house was then rented, and
the executive office again established. Here
President and Mrs. Madison lived ABOUT a
year. afterwards removing to the house at
the northwest corner of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Nineteenth street, which had
previously been occupied by the Treasury
Department.
1t was to 1.-THE Octagon'' that the news
of peace came six months after the night
from the White House, and 1t was there
that the treaty of Client was considered by
the President and his Cabinent, and signed
on Dec. "a 1914. The treaty was ratlhed
by the Senate Feb. 49, 1915. During the oc-
cupancy of the building the presidential
state functions OF those times were held.
The wanton destruction of the White
House, the Capitol and other Puplc pulId-
ings was before two weeks had passed
avenged by the death of the British COM
handing general. the repulse of the Eng
lish troops at Baltimore; their defeat at
Platt.burg. and the surrender Of their fleet
on Lake Champlain. To the credit of the
English it may be said that the outrage
was stigmatized in Parliament las an en-
terprise, of all recorded in all the annals
OF war, which most exasperated the people
and least weakened the government"
The cornerstone of the White House was
laid Oct. Is, 1892, and when occupied by
President John Adams upon his arrival in
the capital, Nov. /, 1900, was not quite
completed. 1t was modelled after the pal
ace of the Duke of Leinster, and after the
fire was rebuilt upon plans furnished by
Captain Hoban, the architect of the orig
inal building.