davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

with a voice OF great depth and power
He has been with St Pstricks choir az
soIoist for a number OF years, all his
experience being along the line Of
Catholic music. Many musical critics
in the city consider him the possessor
of one Of the finest natural voices ever
heard in a Washington church.
Swelling Strains of the Organ.
Armand Gumpreeht. organist and di-
rector OF the choir Of st. Patrick's,
has been at that church for six years,
during the past four years has been in
charge of all the music He is also di-
rector and organist at Georgetown Uni
versity During Mr. Gumprecht's re-
gime at St Patriclcs the repertoire of
the choir has been increased and i'm
proved to an unusual extent. Besides
the addition OF seven new masses the
vesper service has been changed from a
chanted TO a figured service. The masses
OF Beethoven. Haydn. Mozart, GOunod.
lie Provost. Mercadante, Mario, Ponia-
towsld, and Gumprecht's masses No. l
and No. 2 are sung. Upon special occa-
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

president; w. II COchrane, recording
secretary; Joseph P. Shillen. correspond
ing secretary, and F. A. KIopfer. treas
urer. The names Of these old veterans
OF a great war are well remembered and
cherished by not a few Of the old Wash
ingtonians of the present age.
Well-KnOwn Dancing Instructress Re
tires.
A somewhat notable event Of the week
vas the retirement from her position
as instructress in dancing of Madame
Blake Many of the elderly folk were
taught to trip the light fantastic toe
under this lady's tuition, and there was
genuine regret when she retired When
she published a card in the newspapers
announcing her withdrawal as a teacher.
Mrs. Blake recommended to the favor
able notice Of her friends and patrons
Monsieur J. Cochean. who in his turn an
noUnced he would commence his lessons
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

Miss Mary Grant. contralto soloist,
entered the choir of st. Patrick's as a
soloist four years ago. Her voice pos
sesses a rare quality, with rich low
notes. 1t Is full and sympathetic. and
is marked by a peculiar magnetic quail
ity. Miss Grant has an extensive roper
toire and ranks high among the con,
tralto soloists of Washington. She Is
also a pupil of Symonds
Pupil of Noted Artist.
Miss Elizabeth Tyler, coHtralto, is a
pupil of Mrs. II. H. Mns-Johnson. of
this city, and of Madame Anna Hold
berg. of the Paris Conservatory, who
spent several seasons teaching in Wash,
ington. She has been contralto soloist
in Epiphany. Church Of Our Father, St.
Matthews. and St Stephens. Las.
autumn she signed a contract with st.
Patricks for a years work during the
absence Of Miss Grant. She was re,
engaged this year and is dividing the
contraIto work with Miss Grant At the
coming Christmas celebrations Miss
Tyler viii sustain the solo work at :
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

graces the Smithsonian grounds, de-
lvered a lecture in the large hall OF the
insritute building. The lecture room was
densely crowded by distinguished com
pany Of statesmen scientists. and citi-
zens generally. The learned lecturer
answered queries as to who was James
SmithsOn?" What was his bequest and
what was the plan TO carry out the will
of Smithson," and What had been the
results" In the course OF the very able
rendition OF the great scientists remarks
and in the course of them and in illus
tration of the discoveries made IN open
ing the great mound at Moundsville, Va.
a painting of the mound was exhibited
Mexican Veterans Organize.
In the coursa of the week a number
Of citizens who served in the Mexican
campaign organized as a beneficial so
ciety. electing Col William H Emory,
president: Capt. Joseph f. Stuart. vice
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

sions, such as Christmas, Easter, st.
Patrick's Day. and the visit of the car
dinal, the organ is supplemented by an
orchestra Of twenty pieces
A Composer of Distinction.
Mr. Gumprecht is pupil Of Anton
Bilse, of Boston; John Singenberger. Of
Milwaukee, the head of the Sicilian
movement in this country. and of s. b.
Whitney. of Boston. In addition to his
masses Mr.. Gumprecht has composed a
beautiful 20 Salutaris." which he dedi-
Gated to Mrs. Fugitt, and Ave Maria
are "Veni Creator" for alto. all of
which are sung at St. Patrick's.
A few Sundays since Father Stafford
took occasion to thank the organist and
the members Of the choir publicly for
- great service they had rendered the
church. He expressed his gratitude and
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

and many statesmen Insignificant by
comparison would not. as now. have
their names perpetuated in printed col
umns"
Charming Weather Conditions.
Skies were clear and blue. a pure and
invigorating atmosphere prevailed, and
all were lavish in their encomiums
upon the weather It was topic of
interesting talk. Two of the oldest in
habitants who lived here before the
city was laid out declared that never
in their recollection had the city been
blessed with such weather as prevailed
then and had ruled during the entire
autumn Just ended.
Prices of living were high, though.
The washerwomen Of the tovn-there
were no almond-eyed CeIestiaIs then
to ruin the citizens shirts-met and de-
cided that it was necessary to raise
prices for their work. The dairymen
also took notice of the cost Of living
and resolved not until the first of May
10 sell milk for less than 10 cents a
quart
Interesting to Churchgoers.
An industrial fair opened at Baptist
Church on Thirteenth Street Thursday
night, fifty years ago on the coming
Thursday. and the Rev. DIR. Bowling
delivered a lecture on Marie Antoinette.
The Fletcher property in e Street. be-
tween Sixth and Seventh Streets. was
purchased by Joseph c. G. Kennedy,
acting on behalf Of the general assem-
bly, of the Presbyterian Church eold
school. for $4,000.
In fact, about the only untoward Oc-
currence of this beautiful week was
that a young man. whose name the
papers were generous enough to with
hold, was arrested for squirting tobacco
juice on the beefsteak of his next door
neighbor in one of the boxes OF a
prominent Washington restaurant.
Orange Blossoms.
Ferdinand Butler, who has not been
dead so many years. and is well re-
membered as a restaurateur of note.
was married to Elizabeth c. Abbott;
Charles Miller welded Elizabeth A l.
Marshall. Robert Thompson was Joined
IT. the holy bonds of matrimony TO Mary
a Kemp and William warder took TO
wife Mary c. Davis
MortuaIy Notes
The Intelligence, announcing the
death of Mrs. Elizabeth Ellicott, in the
ninety-second year of her age, said:
cit is due to the memory Of this ven
cradle lady to add that in letter
signed with her own hand a fortnight
ago she RENTED her hfty-fourth years
subscription 10 the National IntelH-
gencer' in advance"
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

was a mixture OF rain and snow fall
ing. Peter Force was mayor then, and
his house was on the east side Of Tenth
Street. several doors above The Times
Office. He and his wife worked all night
getting things for the firemen 70 eat
and drink. They had great pots of cof-
fee and plenty o. sandwiches and other
things After awhile the coffee ran out
and the mayor opened his wine closet
and got out whisky and wine to take
the place Of the coffee. OF course one
or two OF the boys got drunk, like
men generally will when there are free
drinks going around, and the next day
the temperance people took the matter
up and abused the mayor for all they
were worth for giving whisky to the
firemen. The way the mayor had acted
did him a deal more good than harm,
though. even if free liquor was more
than some of the boys could stand
In 1885 the General Postoffice. which
stood about where the Postoffice De-
partment now stands, was burned, and
in 1910 the Medical College. on + and
Tenth Streets, went to the ground.
s"There has always been a lot Of talk
about the time the Congressional LII
brary caught on fire. IT happens that /
was one Of the first TO find out there
was a fire there. 1t occurred on Christ
mas Eve, 1851. We had been up all
night at the Bakers restaurant fire, the
night before, and were pretty well worn
out That was not much OF a fire. but
II broke out late at night and kept us
going for several hours. Although I
lived just north Of the Capitol. on what
was then called Capitol Square. l be-
longed to the Northern Liberty Com
pany, whose house was where the Car
negie Library now stands. 1 was an ap-
prentice in the machine shops at the
Navy Yard and was just starting to
work on Christmas Eve. when l looked
over at the Capitol and saw smoke COM
ing out. I ran back TO my house and
threw my lunch basket into the door
and called to my mother that there was
a fire at the Capitol and that I would
not Pc to work that day. In the mean
time somebody cried Fire and turned
in the alarm. l ran over to the house
Of the librarian, John Heehan. who lived
nearby, and told him the library was on
fire Then / lit out for the engine
house When / got there there was only
one member Of the company on hand.
In a few minutes a couple more arrived
and we started out with the engine and
reel. II had been very cold the night
before and the engine had frozen up at
The Washington times., 1903-12-06
FAMOUS FIRES THAT STARTLED OLD WASHINGTON :
Interesting "reminiscences Peabody Volunteer

TOHN J. PEABODY. president Of
the Volunteer Firemen's Associa-
~ ton Of the District. is the recog-
nized authority on ali matters per-
tanning 70 the history of the old volun-
teer fire companies. He spends a great
deal Of time looking through the flies
Of official documents and old news
papers, and has amassed many interest
Ing facts in the support Of traditions
Of the firemen. Mr.. Peabody was first
a member Of the Northern Liberty Com
pany. which ne Joined in 1850, and later
a member of the Columbia Company
Previous 10 that time, as a boy, he at
tended nearly every fire he could get
20, and what he does not know Of the
great fires Of Washington In the volun-
teer days from personal experience. he
has heard from the lips Of those who
worked in the fire companies before he
was born. From 1910 TO 1870 he attend
ed every fire Of any Importance During
the last few years OF his service he
was a sufferer from rheumatism. and
could not run 10 the fires, but so faith
ful and valuable had been his services
up to that time that fl was a standing
rule with his company that II he reach
ed the engine house in time he was 10
be taken out with the engine, riding on
IL. and being drawn by his fellow-fre-
men and friends
The Fire at the National Theater.
1.-The first big fire I remember dis
tinctly." said Mr.. Peabody 10 a reporter
for The Sunday Times. was the fire
at the National Theater, which oc-
CURED on March s. 1s45, the day after
President Polk was inaugurated. II
makes me laugh 10 hear the fire com
panies today calling for more engines
at fire TO do the pumping. for at that
fire we had 10 get our water from the
old canal, which ran along b Street.
south of the Center Market. We had
two engines here then. the Franklin
and the Union. that could throw an inch
stream Of water two hundred and
twenty feet and when the National
Theater caught we ran the hose clear
down TO the canal and pumped all the
water from there 20 Fourteenth and L
Streets.
1T took sixty men to man one OF
those engines. though. and they used
20 get pretty tired working the hand
pumps There were four pump-handies
on each engine. and when we could get
them. fifteen men used 10 work on each
handle. There was smaller engine
which could be operated by half that
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

the Baker fire When We got 20 the
Capitol We had to work an hour over
it before We got Il thawed Uut We
went to the different houses near there
and got buckets and kettles Of hot wa
ter which we poured into the pumps and
sir vessels. Some of the companies used
whisky TO thaw their engines out.
heard afterward. but I suspect they used
a good deal of K to thaw themselves
out, too. After pouring about a barrel
Il hot water into ours, we got her
working.
All the Companies Turned Out.
Our water we got from a reservoir
on the east front OF the Capitol 1t
stood about where the statue of Wash
ington now is, and was fed from a
spring out where the Howard University
stands. The fire, which must have
been smoldering all night, was out in
about an hour after we got to work
on II. but nearly every book in the
library was lost. All the companies in
town were there-the Vigilant, Union,
Franklin, Perseverance, Northern Lib
erty. and Anacostia-which at that time
made up the Fire Department of the
city. There was a rumor that the Bal
timore companies were coming and
during the fire II was reported that
they were already on the train. but they
never got here. One modern fire en-
CINE could have done the work of our
six companies combined, with its pump
ing power. because in those days, when
men had TO do the pumping by hand,
they naturally got tired in a little while.
and unless there were more to take
their places the work got slower
The "Seven Buildings" Fire.
ITO illustrate what trouble we used 70
have with the water question, when the
Seven Buildings as they We're called.
caught fire, we had TO run the hose from
a plug on Seventeenth Street. between
F and G. Streets. to the scene 90 the fire,
which was on Pennsylvania Avenue. be-
tween Twenty-first and TwentE second
Streets. The suction engine of the
Union Company did all the pumping.
The fire was put out before the build
ings went down. Again. in the winter
Of 1857. fire broke out one night In
row OF frame houses On I Street, be-
tween Fourteenth and Fifteenth, near
where the Normandie Hotel now is. 1t
got under way so quickly that the whole
city was illuminated before the alarm
was rung. I was with the Columbia
Company then, on Capitol Han, when we
The Washington times., 1903-12-06
4 Body of Noted Experts IN
the Production of Church
MnSic-1eror Ranges or
Melville HenSey and the
Deep BasSo Numbers or
Charles F. Goodchad-- Yes
per Service Changed From
Gegorian Giant to Fig
ured 5NnSic.

appreciation OF their efforts and the
fruits these efforts have borne.
History of the Choir.
Many prominent musicians have taken
part in the choir work of ST. Patrick's
in past years, famous singers, not only
Of Washington. but from other cities in
this country and abroad. having sung at
the Tenth Street church. Concerted ef-
fort in choir work at st. Patrick's dates
back about thirty-ive years. when Miss
Margaret Murray. a well-known singer
and music teacher Of Washington. took
charge. Miss Murray was the possessor
OF a beautiful soprano voice. with which
she led the choir for many years. In
addition to her services as choir leader.
Miss Murray worked hard on the other
members. kept them together. and real
ly gave a start TO regular choir work at
ST Patrick's.
Later or, during the regime Of Father
Walter with Miss Lula Boone as or
ganist. there We're Miss Anna Barry,
soprano: Miss Addie Randall. who az
terward became contralto soloist- in the
Metropolitan Opera company; Mr.. Chase.
first bass m the old Washington Choral
Society; Magnus KOechling, who pos
sessed a magnificent baritone voice;
Miss Golden. a very young girl who was
a protege of Father Walter and who was
educated at Mount St. Mary's at En-
mittsburg, the pOssessOr Of a remarkable
soprano voice; and DR.. Thomas Healey,
tenor who gave his services TO the
church on special occasions
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

number Well the National burned for
a couple Of hours or more before We
got the fire under control The first
company 10 reach the scene was the
Franklin. and they placed their engine
20 the west Of the theater. in front Of
the office Of the old Globe the Dem
ocratic administration paper Blair and
Rives were the proprietors and Rives
was prominent and active member Of
the Franklin company. OF course they
wanted to look out for his building and
they did IT, The IRE ran down TO Thir-
teenth Street and took in two or three
houses on Thirteenth. 1t did not 90
west because the Franklins saw to It
that that side was well protected.
Slow Starting in the Old Days.
"In comparing the facilities for fight
Ing fire in those days with those Of the
present day, II must be remembered
that il took a long time TO get started
then. Some one had 70 cry 'Firer and
then go turn in the alarm. The mem
bers Of the companies had TO quit work
and get TO the engine mouse. Whoever
got there first would drag the engine
out and get IT started. and those who
were late would Join in as the engine
went If we got half a mile away from
the daytime we were doing remarkably
well. At night il was worse, because
everybody had to be walked up. Now a
fire engine IS usually a mile from the
engine house within five minutes after
the tap Of the alarm bell in the day
time, and of course they make better
time at night because the streets arc
clear
1.-THE second time the National caught
fire. d,.ring the volunteer days, was in
February. 1851. That was in the day
time too, bat was not as disastrous
as the first fire. A couple OF houses on
+ Street burned. but the fire did not
get down as far as Thirteenth Again
the Franklin company saw to it that
the Globe" was taken care OF.
Mayor Force Furnished Whisky.
Before these fires there were two or
three big fires that 1 used to hear
talked Of "a good deal. On January II.
1895. there was a fire on Tenth Street
near d, just across from where The
Times office now is. Two frame houses,
the property OF a man named Gunigale
and a music teacher named Wagler
caught fire from bad chimney in the
dead of night The alarm was turned,
and all the companies responded. The
wind was blowing gale, and there
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

Interesting Lecture by the Late
Prof. Joseph Henry "A
Band Of Spiritualists Come
Down Upon the Capital.
They Allege Communicat-
ing With Daniel Webster.
Dancing Mistress Blake Re-
tires From the Profession.
WasherwOmeR and Dairy
men Advance Their Prices.
The Washington times., 1903-12-06
nn the Organ Lott at Nstoric Oo ST. partcRs Church
Ranges of Mel
ody Under the Direction of
Choir Director Ganprecht.
4 Band of ChoriSters Led
by Foe of the Best Solo
lists in the City - Clear
Tones of Leaders IN So
prano and Confralto Work.

-HE choir of st. Patrick's Roman
Catholic Church. which is under
Il the direction of Armand Gum
precht, organist. Is rated by the
musical critics of Washington as one of
the best in the city. It is led by Ave
of the best soloists in Washington. and
has an excellent complement Of choral
voices, both male and female. The so
loists are Mrs. Anne Grant Fugitt. So
prano: Misses Mary Grant and Eliza
beth Tyler, contraltos; Melville Hen
sey, tenor, and Charles Goodchild, bass.
Most prominent OF the other members
of the choir. who number. in all. forty
five. are l4rs. Cain. Miss Mum. Mrs.
Keck, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Lynch, Miss VIII
kinson. and Miss Treanor; Messrs. Par
ker. Meade. Strahan, Treanor. Wilson.
Block. and Zappone
A Leader in Soprano Work.
Mrs. Annie Grant Fugitt. the leader
of the St. Patrscks choir, is recognized
as one of the best sopranos in Wash
ington. and has received several offers
from New York managers TO do concert
work. She. with her sister. Miss Mary
Grant, began vocal work with the I'm
maculate Conception choir several years
ago They both received instruction
from Mrs. Clara Baker Smith, present
director OF the Carroll Institute choir.
After q number of years service with
the choir of the Immaculate COncep-
ton. Mrs Fugitt signed a contract for
soprano work with the St Patrick 5
The Washington times., 1903-12-06
Women Used to Work.
Sitting Up With Society.

7 T is no longer considered smart" for
carriage folk who drive TO lean
back in their victorias in the atti-
tude that would suggest they We're en-
joying their drive at ease. The latest
form seems TO make il imperative that
the occupant of an open vehicle. be ii
victoria or hanson. shall lean forward
In an attitude OF expectancy. with one
foot extended. as though the person was
about TO aliEht at the next moment.
for the men lean back as of yore
The Washington times., 1903-12-06
BY JAMES c. HOLLAND.

n 7 ATURALLY the center of inter-
M est in the week of December.
i 1853, corresponding with the pres
ent one vas in the assembling
Of Congress, which on the following
Monday began anew the revolution Of
history's wheel. The first message Of
President Franklin Pierce was sent to
both houses. The House Of Represen-
tauves organized by electing Linn
Boyd, Of Kentucky. Speaker. and then
reelected all the cid officers, beginning
with John W Forney as clerk There
were three important nominations made
by the President. all Of which were
promptly confirmed. These were the
Hon Thomas Seymour. as envoy extra
ordinary and minister pIenipotentiary
10 Russia; Hon. Thomas Y. Mason was
appointed 70 the same Office in France,
and Hon. Robert McLane was made COM
missioner 70 China
Chose the Chair Of John Quincy Adams.
A noticeable event happened in the
House of Representative during the
choosing of seats by members. That
was the selection by Thomas H Benton
Of the chair heretofore occupied by John
Quincy Adams. Benton having been
elected a member OF the lower house af-
ter thirty consecutive years service in
the Senate.
The Supreme Court Of the United
States met on Monday. Chief Justice
Roger B. fancy presiding. Upon the
motion Of Reverdy Johnson, Caleb
Gushing. who had been appointed by the
President TO the Office OF Attorney Cen
eral, was admitted 70 practice at the
bar Of the court.
John = Towers announced 10 the
President that his commission as Sup
erintendent Of Public Printing had eX-
pired by limitation. and A. G. Seaman.
a clerk I'm the Office of the Solicitor Of
the Treasury was appointed his success
sor. Beverly Johnson. at one time
United States consul at Liverpool who
was then publishing an excellent news
paper excellent for those days. wanted
the job. and took no pains 20 conceal his
disappointment He announced his re-
grets IN his paper but az a loyal party
man he bowed TO the decision Of those
iu power
Music by the Marine Band.
sloaday night the streets Of Wash
ington were cnlivened by the strains OF
The Marine Band The compliment OF
serenade WAS paid 10 the President OF
the United States. the several heads OF
departments. the Speaker Of the House.
and other prominent officials. on that
same evening Prof Henry whose mas
sive statue now In It's silent dignity
The Washington times., 1903-12-06


Assembling Of d New Con-
gTesS Constitutes a Leading
EVeRt-ITnpOrtant Appoint
meRts to Diplomatic Mis-
sions-The Old National
Guard PractiCing at Target
FTing-SereRades by the
Marine Band-Soldiers Of
the Mexican War Form an
Or6 RizatiOn. =.
The Washington times., 1903-12-06

choir. which she has been leading for
the past three years.
Rare Powers and BriIliancy.
Mrs Fugitt's voice is one OF unusual
power and briIliance. and possesses a
range and fullness that is little short
of the marvellous. Being an indefatiga-
BILE worker she is exceedingly valuable
in a church choir. where the best SOLO
lists often have to sing numbers that
are out of their range and require unre-
hitting work on the part of the singer.
Since she Joined St. Patrick's, Mrs.
Fugitt has taken lessons from Otto Tor
ney Symonds. and her voice has shown
marked advance and improvement every
year She has had hattering offers 70
go on the stage. but prefers church
work under the present circumstances.