Evening star., 1914-08-23


an eminence We're fairly lifted from the
ground anG borne several Yards to the
rear" Although the rain checked the fire,
the wind added materially to the wrecksge.
During the day the British had noticed
the Americans assembling on the Virginia
side of the river and they heard that a
force of 1900 men Was preparing to
make an attack. Afraid to risk another
battle. Gen. Ross ordered retreat. Fires
were rebuilt in the British camp TO lead
the Americans to believe IL was still oc-
cupied, and then, under cover OF the night
twenty -four hours after their arrival
the British stealthily withdrew from the
city. Their mission had been accomplish
ed. Their devastation was at an end.
Cautiously they picked their way In the
darkness, not a man speaking above a
whisper, and by midnight they had reach
ed Badensbure Many Of their dead they
left unburied and their injured to Ameri-
can care. Five days later they re-embark-
ed at Benedict.
In the meantime several British vessels
appeared at Alexandria. For a time II
was feared they would attack Washing
ton. but without any resistance the coun-
ell of Alexandra offered TO capitulate.
and, laden with considerable quantities OF
naval and ordnance stores and merchan-
disc, the vessels sailed back down the
Potomac
At first the news of the capture OF
Washington was hailed with great en-
thusiasm in England. but when the de-
- conduct OF the British ON
GERS and men became known their course
.-..eti ~ many, especially
members Of the house of commons anu
the press. One paper expressed itself In
the following strong language: VIII
ingly would We throw veil OF obliv1on
over our transactions at Washington. The
Cossacks spared Paris. but we spared not
the capital OF America.
As soon as the Americans learned OF
the departure of the British they re-
turned to Washington. The appearance
of the ruins was perfectly terrifying.
said writer at that time. Only the
walls of the White House remained
standing The Capitol was then only
about half its present size the dome was
not built until fifty years later. and only
the rooms Immediately adjoining the ro-
tunda (then the Senate and House cham
bers, and now statuary hall ana the Su
preme Court chamber We're CONSTRUCTED.
These rooms or chambers were connected
nv n wooden bridge, and this bridge and
all the woodwork In the Gapitoi - tne
doors, furniture and decorations - tne
books in the Library OF Congress. then IA
the Capitol building, and many VaiuaoIe
public records throughout the city were
ruthless.y destroyed Damage estimated
at a million dollars had been done, nor
including the public records, which never
could be restored.
Probably it is not generally hno"n
day that a determined effort was mace
al this time to remove the Capitol from
Washington In its issue OF september
the National Intelligencer said:
We have heard some indistinct sugsestons
buzzed abroad OF design 10 endeasor. ~ r. ~ sn.t
ouence of the recent events 10 remove ,he sea-
oI government. temporarily or pernanenu,, alo.s
anlo oGfp
sestion OF a permanent removal Of the seat of
government Besides icing violation of tns
f WOULD r. injustice so Erea, to
the people Of this District. 10 th0Sr wlo hase
enriched the public oers ~f p npsla,p y py@psrty ay
in and about the clty. Congress cannot. dar',
not sanction There IS besides. soneInms ,iaan .,
rhelr M, because they have already SfeatN
suffered by the incmsion Of the enemy: We ~.
boldly and say Il more freely because w
have little personal interest IN proper.. 1eTs,
that such measure as we nass aiisdna sStTt ~ ~
would be :, t!racherous breach OF the tai.u :"
the iiatian pledged ~, solemn Inv enacted M
der :. constitutional provision. ieinnorars y,
uoyal wouia b. scarcely less obJectionAble. !.
w.ifld lr kissing u rod All enemy has wislded; "
yoild he ,leserting the seat of roy.rnmsht ~
tls dicrotiau .f mn enemy. We will only add
ai prcssnr an observation substantially made on
The subject ~ gallant "fic'r VINO has On
latc occasion imnortalized US nsms ana ,o, sa
altcd ri,c American character by his rneAanp!ec
1ntranIdirv and toatchless spirit. 'E'hgt.' SAID
he. desert The Capitol? Let Congress rather
ssr, ,,sn n y Wiii AZ this moment The sentiment is
worthy Of the hero who Uttered H.
Had It hot been for such utterances
as this. the effort might have sue
ceeded.
Congress had adjourned April II.
1914. and did not convene ia special
session until september IL. about three
weeks after the work Of devastation
1t then met il the Union Pacific Ho-
tel. large brick Structar= oa r stree
between eth and 9th streets northwest.
on the site now occupied by the gen.
erai land Office. Debate was at once
begun on the 'advisability of restor-
ing the ruins. At length a committee
was appointed to determine the cost OF
repairing the damage done, and its es-
innate was s460,00O for the public
buildings and some in excess OF $4,000
for the navy yard the actual COST
of course, to this must be added the
cost of repairing the private property.
The work of rebuilding was at once
X
After the close of the special ses-
sion. Congress leased a private build
ing on the corner of LIST and streets
northeast, at the eastern edge of the
Capitol grounds, and met here until
1919. when the Capitol was ready for
occupancy. This second temporary
home of Congress was later known as
the Brick Capitol: within Its walls
James Monroe was inaugurated in 1877;
IN It John {. Calhoun lived and died:
it has been the home of many con-
gressmen and during the civil war IL
vas used as a prison. II is still stand
ng. although considerably altered, and Is
now used for IL board!ng and roomins
house
During the rebuilding of the White
House the President occupied the Oc-
.agon, an imposing private house on
he corner of New York avenue and
18th street, about two blocks from the
State, War and Navy building. The
of this building was COM
virginian, in 1I9S. and 1t was completed
n 1870. 1t was one OF the most beau
iful residences in the country at that
ime and was the winter home of Col.
Tayloe except during the period occu-
,ied by the President With its spacious
'ooms and large Railways. 1t was ad-
adapted for temporary home
IF the chief executive.
\ circular room on the second floor
;erved as the Presidents office. and II
vas here, on a table still in the room.
hat President Madison signed the
of the treaty of Client.
he treaty officially ending the war OF
S12 and beginning what. next year,
will be a century OF unbroken peace be-
ween the English speaking nations OF
he earth. The Octagon. while occu-
lied by the President. was the scene
# many important conferences of state
ocial functions. II is still standing
md is now used for the permanent Of
lcas OF the American Institute Of Ar
hitecta -