The National tribune., 1904-09-29
The did CAPITOL PRISON.


The epprobrious term apri.oner" lost
much Of It's sting during the war Of the
rebellion period when Qualified BY "mili-
tary," or "of war" Sometimes it took
very little to earn the titlS which was worn
by many men and women 81 more or less
notoriety and fame between THE years 1881
and 1865. The sudden acquisition was not
always deserved, perhaps, but, generally
speaking, the man who was arrested on
charge Of enmity to the Union. and the
United States Government, needed to be
stopped very short in his reasonable ca
reer, lest he bring disgrace to himself and
dishonor to the flag that sheltered him. II
such person could not show q remarkably
clean bill of health. he was pretty sure to
ment in a house surrounded by walls so
high that he found it difficult to look over
them, and host SO solicitous that he
never permitted his guests to wander about
unattended.
Washington had but one distinctively
military" prison during the war, though
at various times prisoners of war were con-
fined in other buildings throughout the city
when the regular military prison was full
to overlooking.
The Capitol and White House excepted,
there is not in the District of Columbia, in
all probability, more historic spot than
the Old Capitol Prison. The land upon
which it eventually stood was part of the
farm of Daniel Carroll, and was one of the
old land grants. When the first proprietors
of Washington and the United States made
their deal, this particular parcel of land
became one Of the public reservations. AT
the very first sale Of Washington real es-
tate, the whole square, having been divided
into lots, was sold, the A and LIST street
corner lot being purchased by Lund Wash
George Walker. 1t was transferred from
one party to another until in 1904 it was
purchased by William Tunnecliffe, who
built upon it big three-stOry house which
became famous as the Tunnecliffe Hotel.
1t was then sold to Pontius D. STEELE, a
celebrated boniface, but he could not make
the business of keeping boarders pay, and
it went for debts into the hands of Peter
Miller. The great house lost money for
everybody who touched it. and at last, in
1912, it fell into the hands of the original
owner of the land, Daniel Carroll. 1t con-
tinued to sink money for him, SO he closed
its doors, nailed up it's shutters and left 1t
to embrace decay.
The audacious British saved old Time
the trouble, however, and, after burning
the Capitol with Its wealth Of books and
valuable old papers, they set their torches
to the luckless hotel and burned it to the
ground.
OF course, with the Capitol in ruins,
Congress needed q home. At that time
there was lively competition for the Ma
tional Capital, and delay in housing Con-
gress adequately meant absolute ruin to
the people who had planted their hopes
%ho~
cities were making strenuous bids for it.
There were sectional jeal6usies at that
time, and real estate rows, just as there
are now, but in the fear that Washington
would be robbed Of the one jewel that
made the city Of any worth, the people got
together and organized a stock company
to build house for the Government to
occupy till the Capitol should again be
made habitable. Congress was then meet
ing in the old Blodgett Hotel, on the
northeast corner of 9Th and Il streets. 1t
was used as a general Pest Office aud
Patent Office for a year. or two prior to
the War of 1912, and was the only public
building that escaped the vandalism of the
British. =; -
The joint stock company was comprised
Of Elias b. Caldwell, W.. Emack. Daniel
Its corporation title was the "Capitol
Hotel Company" Daniel Carroll offered
his lots on First and A streets southeast,
to be rated as so much stock. and the offer
was accepted.
The cornerstone of the makeshift Capitol
was laid with much ceremony on the MORN
ing Of July 4, 1915. The ground on which
the building was erected was big. I'M
kept garden on that July morning, and the
bricks Of which it was to be built were
yet in a state Of nature out in the clay
hills of Virginia.. But when Congress met.
December ii, 1915. the big $50, 900 house
was ready for the august body to occupy.
The first days session of the 14th Con-
gress convened in the old Patent Office.
and Henry Clay was elected Speaker Of
the House. The first act after taking the
the letter from Daniel Carroll and the
other members OF the Committee, present.
ing the completed Capitol Building to the
Congress. BY vote Of the two bodies, the
building was accepted for one year, or un-
til the old Capitol could be restored The
rent was not to exceed 81 $50 a year.
The building was barn of thing,
for years after Congress left it. It looked
little, like Faneuir Hall. The Hall of
the <ouse was on the second floor. It
was n by As feet, with gallery, and the
ceilings were 20 feet high. The Senate
occupied the first floor hall, which was 45
by 20, with l5-f00t ceilings The Supreme
Court Of the United States and the Cir
cult Court of the District Of Columbia
also met there. The remainder Of the big
shell was given over to Committee rooms.
The 14th and 18th Congresses met in that
building. On March 4, 1917, President
Monroe was inaugurated from that build
ing, standing on a queer little platform
erected over the front door on the First
street side of the Old Capitol.
Congress left the building in 1870 the
Capitol having been restored, and the huge
hulk became a veritable white elephant on
the hands Of the owner. Tenants moved
in and then moved right out It was said
to be haunted. 1t became absolutely un-
canny. Its great rooms were too big for
comfort, and in Winter an ice palace would
have been tropical garden beside it. For a
few precarious years it tried to become
famous boys school, but In 1886 they gave
it up as hopeless. .~t~@
A French dancing master taught dane
ing and presence" there, but the gloom
Of it was too much for him.
In 1886 it became a fashionable board
ing house. 1t was renOyated and fur
nished in the height of xylesand for few
years was the SWEETEST place of the kind
in the city. Among it's many noted in
mates was John G. Calhnun, who died
there in 1870 Then ifs forfunaa ran dow,,