Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-28
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes and Incidents sketehed
on the Spot.

/
the Spot.
The strSngest spectacle witnessed at
! the national capital for many moons was
| the outpouring OF fine wines from Kegs and
bottles stored in the cellar of the mansion
OF Ex-senator John b. Henderson on Six
teenth street Heads OF the kegs were
knocked in, every cork pulled and the con-
tents poured into the cutters. There was
wine, wine everywhere, but not a drop
to drink not one goblet of the stun was
used to Stake the thirst OF the company,
numbering more than 100 persons who
saw the sparkling beverages gurgllng
along the pavement into the open sewer.
1t was such scene as would have made
Omar Khayyam weep and any bibulous
man cry out with sorrow
Mr.. and Mrs. Henderson. who some time
ago became members OF the Independent
Order Of Rechabites, were emptying their
spacious wine cellar, stocked with every
drinkable that the palate could wish for.
They were breaking the bottles and the
jugs and allowing their contents to run
into the streets and find their way into the
murIy waters of the Potomac
For years Henderson castle the gor-
geous brownstone residence OF the former
senator from Missouri has been known
as the most hospitable home in Wash
ington. 1t has been the scene OF many
receptions and many bountiful repasts,
where gathered the distinguished OF polti-
cal and social life OF Washington. Al
ways on these occasions the choicest prod
uct Of the vineyard was served. and glasses
cllnlIed merrlly as the guests drank to
the genial host and his wife.
About three years ago a change came
fhaN
wine Is n mocker and that strong drink
is raging. Both joined the Independent
Order of Rechabites, and an organization
known as the John B. Henderson Tent
was named after the distinguished convert
to temperance.
Mr.. Henderson kept wondering what he
would do with the elaborate supply OF
wines and liquors which the cellar con-
tanned His conscience dictated that he
should not give II away, and he scorned
to sell it, and yet he resolved that he
could not keep 1t. Finally the decision was
reached that the costly beverages should
be destroyed. Accordingly, he invited more
than hundred members of John B. Hen
derson Tent and of Onward Tent, of which
Mrs. Henderson Is a member. to come to
Henderson Castle and assist in the destruc-
ton Of these costly drtnkables. ~
Case after case OF champagne, bottle
after bottle of imported WHISTLES. brandles,
cordials, cocktails, bourbon, sherry, port.
claret burgundy and liquors of all sorts
were brought forth A stalwart Rechabite
seized the first bottle and crashed It against
a huge boulder on the spacious lawn It's
sparkling contents flowed out upon the
greensward. Another and another bottle
he fal he
trouble to pull the corks. Soon there was
a puddle of wine, and as the breaking Of
bottles and jugs became faster a tiny
stream of mixed drinks began to flow out
into the street. In a little while it became
almost torrent as II gurgled down the
hill past the mansion and found its way
into a sewer opening.
A memento of the San Francisco horror
was received at the redemption division Of
the Treasury department recently in the
shape OF a steel money box of a safe. The
contents consisted of s96 In paper cur
rency, a number of coins and a gold ring
The box is five inches high, six inches
wide and twelve inches long. II had been
divided into four parts by strips OF red
wood. which burns slowly. II was received
at the treasury In the same condition in
which II had been found, as the owner
made no attempts to open IT, Upon prying
the door open 1t was found that the In
tense heat had charred every portion OF
the redwood, had also charTed the paper
money. Sl25 OF which was wrapped in a
roll. and had diseolored and bent the coins,
which were OF gold. silver. nickel and cop
per An 1s-karat geld ring had turned
dull black.
The eharred money which 10 being re-
ceived from San francisco will be exam
ined and identified by only one employe OF
the bureau Omcials Of the department
state that the money charred in the recent
fire is much easier to identify than that
received after other great CONGREGATIONS
The citizens not only left most Of their