Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-05
WARTIME PRISON
MARKED BY TABLET
Patriotic Addresses Delivered
Yesterday at the Unveil-
ing Exercises.

It's prison, W1tn us wartime memories
William v. Cox. vice chairman Of the
permanent committee on marking points
OF interest in the District of Columbia,
yesterday afternoon delivered an address
teeming with patriotism. Exercises were
held beginning at $50 o'clock incident to
the unveiling Of bronze tablet on the
former prison house
The ancient structure, now converted
into a modern dwellipg. Is at the corner
Of LIST and streets northeast, facing
the Capitol park. 1t stands upon a grassy
terrace and is shaded by great trees. in
striking contrast with its gloom and
despair in the sixties.
The program was opened with an in
vocation by Rev. John Reid Shannon. pas
tor OF the Metropolitan NJ. E. Church.
Mfr. Cox gave history Of the move
ment for marking historic points in the
District and paid high tribute to Will
committee on marking sites: to Henry
b. F. mcfarland. District Commission
er Cuno H. Rudolph. Frederick D.
Owen and other working members OF
the committee. He said it is the hope
Of the committee that the tablets of
bronze will preserve for all time the
memory of persons distinguished in the
upbuilding Of the republic and it's Cap
ital city.
Unveiled by Miss Cox.
The tablet was unveiled by Miss
Hazel Van Zandt Cox, a great-great-
granddaughter Of Gen. James Cox, a
member Of Congress from New Jersey
in 1909, and who lived at Longs Hotel
before 1t became the capitol.
In his address Col. Thomas s Hop
kins. former commander Of the Depart
ment Of the Potomac, G. A. r.. gave q
resume of the history Of the Old Cap
itol prison.
He said the structure was erected prior
to 1900 by George Walker and was used
for hotel purposes by William Tunniclin
and Pontius d. STEELE, and later by Will
After the destruction Of the Capitol
In 1914 by the British soldiers" he said.
Daniel Carroll Of Duddington, Thomas
Law and Rev. DR.. Frederick May Sc
gress. and it was thus occupied from
1915 to 1919. On March 4. 1917, Mr.. Mon
roe was inaugurated on a platform built
over the front door. The courts occupied
It until 1924 For 2 long time thereafter
was patronized mostly by members OF
Congress for the south. John C. Calhoun
lived and died here March 81. 1850.
AT the beginning OF the civil war it
was used as military prison. Capt.
grounds. Belle Hoyd. the noted Con-
federate spy, was confined within its
walls Many noted men were seized and
thrust into 1t by military authority.
Later George T. Brown sergeant-at-arms
Of the Senate bought the property and
converted II into three residences, which
were occupied by Senator Lyman Trum-
bull Of Illinois, Stephen j. Field. Justice
of the Supreme Court OF the United
States. and by Mr.. Brown.
What Walls Have Seen.
IF these old walls. erected more than
century ago, could only speak, what
tales they could tell They saw the birth
of a great city, brought forth in a wilder
ness, and they have seen develop year
by year into maturity and into the city
beautiful.
They saw the walls Of the old Capitol
rise, and in 1914 they saw the relocated
British troops, flushed with their victory
at Bladensburg. march across this plaza.
1t to ashes. They sheltered the Congress
until the new Capitol. built upon the
ashes Of the old, became habitabie. They
have seen every inauguration since Con-
gress first met here, and they saw Mr..
Lincoln stand upon those eastern steps
over there March 4, 1881, and they heard
the mutterings of that awful storm. so
soon to burst. whose thunderbolts carried
death and destruction into every part Of
the north and the south.
They saw him again on Match 4, 1864,
at his second inaugural, when his gentle
soul had been torn by the herrors Of war,
mental anguish under the tremendous
burdens and responsibilities Of his official
position.
And again, in April, 1885, they saw
into the rotunda. while the nation wept
They saw this fair city turned into
a military camp the writ of habeas COR
pus suspended, the enemy laundering at
its very gates. while, at intervals. from
afar could be heard the guns at Bull
Run. Fredericksburg, Antietam and Fort
Stevens.
Joy Turned to Grief.
They saw the National Capital, cele-
brating with unrestrained Joy, ablaze
with Examinations, Intoxicated with vic
tory. changed in a day to a Grape hung
city. Frustrated with grief over the death
Of the great but gentle souf whose name
and fame will never die.
They have seen, thanks be lx.to God
a reunited country; have seen II grow
and take its place among the great ma
lions of the earth, a mighty people
whose God Is the Lord, and whose car
dinal principles are liberty. equality and
justice.
And as these walls have looked down
upon a century pregnant with mighty
events, world wide in their far-reachinx
effects, century that has accomplished
more for the uplifting Of humanity and
the glory Of God than any flve centuries
that have ever preceded IT, it is fitting
and proper that we should on this, the
bath anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration Of Independence. place upon
them an enduring tablet. forever mark