Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-10

ceedings Of the New York Chamber of
Commerce" which once hung on the wall
of the Long Room, is still preserved. 1t
sets out:
New York Chamber of Commerce.
Instituted A T9sa the Fifth
At Fraunce's Tavern.
Whereas mercantile societies have been
found very useful in trading cities for pro-
noting and encouraging commerce, sup
porting industry, adjusting disputes relative
to trade and navigation, and procuring such
laws and regulations as may be found
necessary for the benefit of trade in gen
eral:
For which purpose, and to establish such
a society In the City OF New York, the fol-
lowing persons convened on the first Tues
day in, and being the Fifth day Of April
John Cruger. Themes White,
James Jauncey, Miles Sherbrooke
Elias Desbrosses, Walter Franklin,
Jacob Walton Robert Ross Waddle,
Robert Murray, Acheson Thompson
George Folltt Lawrence Kortright,
William Walton, Thomas Randall
Samuel Verplanck, William McAdam,
Hugh Wallace, Isaac Low,
Theophylact Bache. Anthony Van Dam.
The members present unanimously chose
the following gentlemen their officers for
this year to commences the first Monday
in May next: John Cruger, president; Hugh
Wallace. vice president Elias Desbrosses.
treasurer; Anthony Van Dam, secretary.
At that time the tavern was run by Boil
ton & Siesel, Sam Fraunce having opened
another tavern in what IL now City Hall
park called the Masons Arm.
The most famous incident in connection
with Frances tavern was on December
4. 1888. Ton days before, on November IS,
the redcoats OF King George had tramped
sullenly down broadway to their boats and
sailed away and the exultant continentals
were marching joyousy into the city That
night there was a great function at the
tavern, a dinner given there by Governor
Clinton to the commandcr-in-chief and the
French ambassador Luzerne.
More than a hundred generals, officers
and distinguished civilians sat down at the
tables IN the Long room with Governor
Clinton and his guests of honor. After the
banquet there were thirteen toasts, the
first being THE United States Of America"
the thirt zenith, May This Day BE Lesson
to Princes" In the evening the Queens
Head was brilliantly illuminated. Bonfires
blazed In every corner. and as their con-
tribution TO the general merrymaking Gen
eral Washington and the French ambassa-
dor presided over n display Of fireworks
at Bowling Green.
Ten days later on December g. there was
a quieter. sadder function at the old tavern,
when General Washington babe farewell
TO his comrades II is said that Washing
ton rode on horseback to the tavern. Col
oneI Tallmadge, one Of his favorite aides,
has described what took place:
We had been. assembled but a few mo-
meuts when his eNce'lency entered the
room. His emotion, too strorg 70 be con
cooled. seemed TO be Tcciprocated by every
Office present After partaking q? a slight
ref oGhwent in almrst breathless silence the
general oiled his class Of wine, and turning
10 tn officers said:
with Z heart fun of love and gratitude
| now AXE leave Of you. I most devoutly
wish that your latter days nav be rs
prosperous and happy as your former ones
have he"n glorious ard honorable"
After the officers had taken a glass OF
wine The general rdded: ~ cannot como
10 each ~ you, but shall feel obliged n
each ~ YOU VIII come and take me nv the
hand" General Knox, being nearest TO
him. tur-cd to the contnander-in- chief
WHO survived IN tears was Canable Of
utterRnce, hut FrasDed his hand, when they
tubr1cCd each other in silence. In tho
same ofccuonate manner everv officer
IN TIE room marched m 10 kissed and
scene Of sorrow and weeninF 7 had never
heforr witnessed. and hone I may never
he called upon 70 witness again
The tavern PASSED through many hands
until sixteen years ago. when Clinton
lamp & P-ccht became the landlords
Charles Glintenkamp began 20 unear,h an
OF the historical articles he could find
about the building. Former owners had
not been 50 careful and many articles Of
great value had been destroyed. The new
landlords restored as many Of them as
possible with the result today that
Fraurces tavern Is a historical museum.
In the long existence q Traunce's but
one child has been born there. He bears
the proud name OF George Washington
Glintenkamp. He Is years old.