The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-04

Throughout the slave holding States the
old ST. Charles Hotel was known, and 1t
did large business during the days of
trading in human flesh. Slave traders
and slave owners were In constant fear
OF their negroes escaping. and the guar
antee that they would be safely kept at
this place caused the hotel to be the most
popular resort for this class of people
in Washington. These dark and gloomy
cells, where hundreds of slaves have been
confined before being shipped to Southern
plantations, are located under the side
walks on Pennsylvania Avenue, Third
and 3 Streets, the sidewalks on the two
first-nan?ed measuring thirty-two feet in
width. OF these cells there are eleven,
each one built to hold twenty-five grown
men. Light and ventilation was furnished
through the bars OF the heavy iron doors
and by means of iron manholes running
IN through the center of each cell to the
sidewalks. Thees air-givers were closed at
night and locked to prevent escape of
tha slaves, but even had one OF the unfor-
Inmates succeeded In reaching the street
the chances are that he would have been
riGdled with shot, as armed guards were
constantly on duty. and the number in
creased after nightfall,
A STIFF GAME OF CARDS.
1t was the custom to give the slaves
exercise at meal times by permitting
them to walk around in the areaway
which separated the cells from the base
ment proper. After exercising for twenty
minutes or half an hour the prisoners
were given their meals and again locked
up In the cells. This was kept up until
tho owners We're ready to depart with
their human property to their planta-
lions or the slave markets OF the South.
There were slave barracoons In Wash
ington, but none OF them did larger
business than the St. Charles Hotel.
Some OF the older citizens relate inter-
esting stories of slave-trading scenes
New Orleans slave-trader lost 200 'like-
" negroes" In game Of poker with a
man representing Franklin &. Armfleld.
barracoon managers, OF Alexandria. and
who had sent the man over to Wash
ingtou to procure some good held hands.
AS the price couldn't be agreed on, they
settled the trade at the gaming table.
This recalls the statement, too, that the
proprietor had given 1t out as stand
Ing rule or order OF the st. Charles that
gambling at cards would not be per-
mitted, but III you indulge In O game.
let 1t be gentleman's game; no cheat
ing; and every wager goes, even II it
takes the last negro In the cells"
Not only was the st. Charles a favortte
with the slave traders, but IT was tho
Washington home Of the leading men of
the day, taking first place with statesmen
and politicians, and especially those from
the Southern States, 1t was the home Of
General Andrew jackson, Daniel Web
ster, Robert Toombs. Presidents Van
Buren, and Johnson, and other men Of
equal note Being near the Capitol. pub
lie men found 1t convenient to stop there,
and nowhere In the city could there BIO
found cafe and saloon which surpassed
the st. Charles. Some of the marble TIL
ing is yet in the basement room which
served as cafe. and the room wherein
was sold liquid refreshments is now a
plumber room, being filled to the ceilings
with boxes books, documents and papers,
left at the hotel by congressman of long
ago. There are tons OF interesting old
documents, which the present proprietor
says were handed down to him as a leg,
acy and which will increase in Value as