Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-04-29
From Washington.
correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.


nent railroad men of the world in one OF
their quin-quennial gatherings. There
will be offered in conjunction with the
formal meetings of the Congress sn ocu
lar demonstration of all that Is wonder
full in American railroad science in the
shape of the American Railway Appli-
ance Exhibition. For this undertaking
the manufacturers of railroad goods have
dubbed together and made small
worlds fair near the Washington monu-
ment. The manufacturers say the ex-
position will represent an outlay OF over
million dollars, while the space
occupied by exhibits will be greater
than that devoted to similar dis
plays at any OF the worlds fairs.
The changes in the United States dip
lomatic service 10 South America an
nounced today have been in contempls'
ton for some time, but action has been
FASTENED by the publication OF the charges
made by Minister Bowen, at Caracas,
against the official integrity of Assistant
Secretary of State LOOMS, during the
time that be was U. s. Minister at the
Venezuelan capital. With promptness
and decision, acting upon the advice of
Secretary Taft, the President directed by
telegraph that orders should be sent to
Minister Bowen to return to Washington
at the earliest moment possible. A
csblegram to that effect was sent this
morning. 1t was signed by Mr.. LOOMS,
who, as acting Secretary of State trans
mitted the orders of the President.
Minister Bowen will be required to make
good his charges against Secretary
LOOMS. If he fails he will be dismissed
from the diplomatic service. AS fore
Swallowed in these dispatches yesterday
Minister w. w. Russell has been select
ed to succeed Minister Bowen at Cara
cas-. Mr.. Russell is from Rockville,
Nd, and while his service in the diplo-
matte corps has been comparatively brief
it has been eminently satisfactory in
every post he has filled. Minister John
Barrett, now stationed at Panama, has
been transferred to Bogota where he will
take up the work begun by Mr.. Russell
of improving the friendly relations with
Colombia. He will be succeeded at
Panama BY Judge Chas. E. Magoon the
newly appointed governor of the Pana-
ma Canal Zone, who will also take over
the diplomatic duties of Minister.
Miss Mathilde Townsend, daughter of
Mrs. Richard Townsend, is i'll with ap
pendictis, and the gossips of the older
society set are again whispering the story
of "the curse" which has long lowered
over the mansion occupied by the Town
send family. Years ago, it seems, the
family who formerly owned the property
became poverty stricken and the ances=
trail home was sold over their heads,
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Townsend bought
it in, for it wa, at Massachusetts and
Florida avenues, one of the most fash
ipnable parts of the town, and made
preparations to erect a magnificent re-
sidence on the site of the century-old
structure occupied by the late tenants.
announcement of the Townsend plans APP
psared in the papers, and just before the
work of wIecking was TO begin, Mrs.
Townsend received call from an old
woman, a member of the family that had
been dispossessed. "Do not dare to de-
stroy our old home" the visitor said. eff
you do, / will lay my curse upon you
and yours" Mrs. Townsend, it is said,
was as impressed with the old woman's
warning that she made a remarkable
change in her building plans. She or
dered the new house built around the old.
Every brick in the walls of the ancient
house remained where it was but not a
vestige of the old home could be seen either
from without or within. Marble walls
surrounded the weather beaten bricks
and the interior of the ancient pile was
torn out to make way for the par
titions and furnishings of what was at
the time the most magnificent home in
the Capital. But "the curse" was not
to be evaded by thus obeying the letter
of the warning and violating its spirit.
In very short time Mr.. Richard Town
send fell from his horse and was killed.
Since his widow and daughter have
lived in constant dread OF sorrows yet to
come. Although the family physician
is now cheering Mr.. Townsend by tell
ing her that Miss Mathilde's case is rot
likely to terminate fatally, the poor wo-
man is said to have declared that she has
abandoned hope. "Where will the
curse strike next?" the gossips are ask
ing.
A FIRE in the Presidents Office build
ing adjoining the White House caused
excitement but no damage this morning.
1t $3.50 o'clock. The trouble started
when attendants built wood FIRE in the
fireplace in the room usually occupied by
Secretary to the President, Loeb, but
now the headquarters OF Assistant Secre-
tsry Barnes. An accumulation of SCOT
blazed up and sent pillar OF flames ten
feet INTO the air. An engine was sum-
moned and steam from the chemical"
Down the chimney put an end to the In
,ident.
Miss Helen Clabaugh, daughter of
Chief Justice Clabaugb, of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia, was
married this afternoon at st. Thomas
Church to Benjamin Boulding LANDER
on, jr., of Schenectady, New York. son
If Rear Admiral Lamberion, u. S. N.
David f. Thompson, now Ambassa-
Tor at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will be
transferred to Mexico, after Mr. Conger,
low on his way home from Pekin, has
eryed there as Ambassador Tor q month