The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-06-06

Wine flowed freely last night at
Henderson Castle, the handsome
home of Ex-senator John B. llcndcr-
son, surmounting Sixteenth street and
overlooking the city. The very gut
ter outside the splendid mansion ran
redolent with the choicest jules OF
the grape. There was wine, wine
everywhere, but not drop to drink,
not one goblet of the stuff was used to
slake the thirst of the company, num-
bering more than one hundred persons
who saw the sparkling beverages
gurgling along the pavement into the
open sewer. It was such scene as
would have made Omar Khayyam
weep and many bibulous men cry out
with sorrow.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henderson, who some
time became members of the Indepen-
dent Order of Eechabites, were empty
ing their spacious wine cellar, stock
ed with every drinkable that the pal
ate could wish for. They we're
breaking the bottles and jugs and al
! lowing their contents to run into the
murky waters of the Potomac.
For years Henderson Castle, the
gorgeous brownstone residence Of the
former Senator from Missouri, has
been known as the most hospitable
home in Washington. It had been
the scene Of many receptions and
many beautiful repsste, where gather.
ed the distinguished of political and
social life Of Washington. Always on
these occasions the choicest product
of the vineyard was served, and glass
es clicked merrily as the guests
drank to the health of tho genial
host and his wife.
Mr.. Henderson came to Washing
ton as one Of Missouri's Senators dur
ing the period following the civil war.
He was the last Republican Senator
from that State prior to the election
Of Senator Warren, one Of Missouri's
present Senators. He was wealthy
and after his term Of Office expired
concluded to make his home in Wash
ingtou, and erected one OF the hand
somest residences in the city. Mr..
and Mrs. Henderson have entertained
lavishly.o I.
About three years ego : change
came over them. They became con-
vinoe3 :hat wine is mooker and that
strcag drink is ragingA Both joined
the Independent Order Of Reohabites,
aid an organization known as the
John B. Henderson Tent Was named
afteS the distinguished convert to
temperance. After that the wine Gel.
lar was looked, but the key was not
thrown in the we'll.
- Mr.. Hendersee, kept wondering
what he would do with the elaborate
supply of wines aud liquors which the
cellar contained. His conscience die
tated that ne should ret give it away,
and he scorned to sell it. and yet he
resolved that he could not keep it
Finally the decision was reached that
the costly beverages should be de-
stroyed. Accordingly he Invited more
than q hundred members OF John B.
Henderson Tent and of Onward Tent,
Of which Mrs. Henderson is member,
to come. to Henderson Castle and a..
sist in che destruction Of these costly
drinkables.
.As . prelude Of the work there was
a meeting Of the two tents in the par
lors Of the Henderson home, and a
committee wac appointed to go into
the cellar and bring out every drop Of
the intoxicating beverage and pour it
into the street. Case? after case Of
champagne, bottle after bottle of i'm.
ported nwhiskies, brandiss, cordials,
cocktails, bourbon, sherry: port ola. :
ct, burgnady and liquors ;of all sorts
were brought kforth. Some OF the
demijohns and bottles wers covered
with cobwebs and the dust OF many
years. testifying to the quality Of
their contents, but none Of these were
spared. =. ,H|
a stalwart Rechabite seized the
first bottle and crashed it against q
huge boulder on the spacious lawn.
Its sparkling contents flowed out up.
on the greensward. Another and
another bottle was broken, the de-
stroysrs not taking the trouble to pull
the corks. Soon there was q puddle
Of wine, and as the breaking Of bottles
and Jugs became faster, a tiny stream
Of mixed drinks began to flow into
the street. In alittle while it became
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