The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-06-06
ABUSE OF SECRET MEETINGS.


Where Confederate Letters Were Left
and F'illtbustering Expeditions
Planned. VS.
With the removal of the name Chesa-
peake House from 22S East, Pratt street,
where it has been familiar sight for
eighty-tWo years, reminder OF inter-
esting historical events will go, and the
spot on which they happened will be
wiped out for the dock improvements.
The sites occupation by a restaurant
known as the Chesapeake House, says
the Baltimore Sun, dates back to 1924,
when it was opened by James Hodges
He had fought when the British tried
to capture Baltimore in 49, and, it is
thought, selected the name of his hos
telry in commemoraton of having as
sisted in driving the British from the
Chesapeake.
At first the house was a three story
and a half brick dwelling, the lower
story being fitted with eating booths,
across the front of which were curtains
to give privacy to the guests. In other
| respects the idea of an old inn was car
ried out in the general Quitting, In
time it was modernized, but some Of
the original features were left.
A new front was placed in the old
building before the great fire, in which
it went down with many valuable rel
les, One in particular for which a
handsome sum of money was several
times offered, was large, old-fash-
toned hall clock, in which secret mes
sages We're deposited, to be, in some
mysterious way, delivered to the Con-
federate president, Jefferson Davis, and
General Robert E. Lee. 1t is related
that many letter to mother sister or
sweet heart from the Maryland Cons
federates in the field found it's way into
a secret recess Of the old clock, from
which it was taken TO the anxious heart
awaiting it. The outgoing" letters
found a hiding place there until some
brave courier gathered them and
crossed the line with his load or mes
sages.
When the coffee fleet loaded cargoes
of flour at the foot of South street tht
Chesapeake House was the rendezvous
of the masters for meals. "A record still
preserved shows that of the great num-
Der, who resorted thither, thrty-five
masters and officers have been lost at
sea since 1850
The fire destroyed the place, with the
many buildings that surrounded 1t. The
Bulack brothers We're quick to erec9 a
one-story building on the site, with the
intention of restoring it to the original
size, but the authorities willed other
wise. But on the one story shack the
name Chesapeake House was painted.
In the quantity furnished parlor on
the second floor of the primitive restau-
rant many of the most successful flli-
clustering expeditions were planned and
| carried out by such men as the late
John D. Hart, Captain Samuel Hughes,
Dynamite Johnny 0Brien and Captain
| Wiborg. The last of the expeditions
| that of the Laurada-was planned in
the upper story of the Chesapeake
| House.
In this same old history making res
| taurant many fruit companies were
| promoted by men who have since be-
come famous in the business. Many of
the companies that sprung into exis-
tence during the past twenty years
1 were first discussed over a pot of ale or
a dinner in this place.
John Allen, known as the lonely
trader to the West Indies, whose trips
to the islands with his small schooner
loaded with what was supposed to be
provisions and dry goods, but under-
:, meath which were flllibusters' articles,
was connected with the Chesapeake
House, being the brother of Mrs. Bu-
| lack. He was never heard of after
leaving port until he tied UP at Rowlys
wharves with his schooner loaded with
| bananas.