The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-04-09
Communicated

Governor Glenn's reference 10 n
remarkable coincidence of his enter
tainment in the old Dudley mansion
where as the last governor he lodged
in the room occupied seventy-three
years ago by the first governor elect
ed by the people, is interesting.
Although it is true that Daniel
Webster was Governor Dudley's
guest there in 1849 and that the great
was escorted to the resi-
dence by a large number of citizens
on horseback, it is not probable that
Henry Clay lodged there. Mr.. Clay
was entertained at this house, how
ever, while on a visit to Wilmington.
He lodged at the residence Of Mrs.
Joseph Hill, the Adrain and VOllers
building, opposite the Seamen'S home
on Front street, and he spoke from the
balcony Of that house to the citizens
OF the town.
Mr.. Clay came to the town Of Will
nlington in 1916 upon the invitation
Of the ladies who provided his enter
tainment. The chairman was Mrs.
fellow citizen, Captain Avis Walker,
A banquet was given in Mr.. Clay's
honor on the grounds of the Walker
residence which was nearly opposite
the orion house, and he delivered a
notable speech on that occasion. He
then visited Raleigh where he made
the political blunder with reference
to Texas which was regarded as his
coup de grace.
The late Colonel T. C. McIlhenny,
lWho married one of Governor Dud-
-ley's daughters) informed the writer
that during Mr.. Webster's visit to
Governor Dudley he was also a guest
in the house and was profoundly i'm
pressed by the great size of Mr.. Web
ster's head, md by mis- preference
for the governors Madeira wine, which
Ae quaffed deeply at the table and
subsequently repaired to- the cellar
for more, addressing to him the in
"quiEy young man, where does the
governor keep that wine?" On this
visit Mr.. Webster addressed the stu
dents Of the Odd Fellows school, near
the present city hall, Of which Mr..
Lindsay was the principal. His blue
~spike-tail coat and brass buttons, and
enormous head are still remembered
by some of the wilmington boys"
But one greater than Webster in the
hearts of the Cape Fear people,
George Davis, was intimately connect
ed with this historic home as q stu
dent with the governors family, I'M
der the instruction of DR.. M. A. Cur
It's who was then his tutor.
Colonel McIlhenny also recalled a.
scene in the northeast room OF the
occasion Of the marriage of a daugh-
ten or the governor to Lieutenant
Johnston, U. S.. A, accompanied by
his g1oomsmen, Lientenants w. T.
Sherman and Doubleday, who after
wards became conspicuous in the war
between the states az General Will
aIam Tecumseh Sherman and General
Doubleday.
Another remarkable incident with
~eference to this house IS the fact
hat it was the cradle of the Atlantic
past Line railroad. The project OF
Q Wilmington and Raleigh railroad,
Sequently known as the Whining
and Weldon railroad was discuss
by prominent Wilmington men in
!, governors bedroom already re-
r. ed to, and Dudley became the
wi ug spirit of this important en-
pri Sc and it's first president.
fifty lears later this room,
.ang ely enough, became the resi-
nee for years of Mr.. Henry Wal
q W hale his masterful mind was
rking out h greater problem Of
2 splel "o System mo" uHuer MS
ntrol.
It was c 0nc i0'iuehCe ioI years
Cou5no Gibbons, the first Cathol-
49, Of North Carolina.
r NOV h., , interesting to add hat
,o,binr+or was entertained during
G no+ohla visit to Wilmington, at
le hostelry vi MI Dorsey' WHICH
God nnon II Ne site of Springers'
rdwar Store. on Front street, and
,at when he asked in his stately
rand AMI if Ohe wilmington wa
~ was potable !, Dorsey replied,
yonr excellency, [ really don't know
1r I eve drank any OF IT, also
in 1851, the II ALalhs OF the la
,er+ad statesman, John c. Calhoun,
,oro hroueht from t he north by the
1nu;,n+o, and Welt ION railroad and
onveyed to the preseLA CUSTOM mouse
vharf from which they were trans
,or+oa hv fhc Nina" a special
tearer sent fro1n Charleston with