Meade County news., 1917-04-26

AND ST CHARLES HOTEL
| building with a dinner costing $4,000.
1t has been q stata and be-
sieged fortress.
But the most noted hotel in the city
is the st. Charles hotel, the third
structure bearing the same name. The
first was begun in 1885. The rotunda
was world-famed. A dome 40 feet in
diameter surmounted the edlfice. The
hotel was the resort of the wealthiest
planters in the South. It's weekly balls
were famous. In 1851 it was de-
stroyed by fire. The second hotel was
erected in 1852 In its parlors Jeffer-
son Davis and number of Southern
leaders met on their way to the
Charleston convention in 1860. In
1862 Mr.. Hildreth refused to give Cen
eral Butler accommodations, resulting
in serious disturbance. General But
Ter finally succeeded in obtaining pos
session and stayed there a few days.
In 1865 the impoverished Confederates
were entertained there free. The bills
contracted amounted to $4,000 and
have never been sent out for collec-
ton. The historic building was de-
stroyed by fire April 2S 1894. From
the ruins, like magic, sprang up the
present hotel.
Plotted Rescue of Napoleon.
The Napoleon house, erected in
1921 by Nicholas Girod, the millionaire
ex-mayor Of New Orleans, was for the
use of Napoleon, whom Girod pro-
posed to rescue from st. Helena. He
was organizing an expedition for the
purpose when the news of the en-
peror's death reached New Orleans.
Dominick You, one of Laf1lte's lieu
tenants, and select crew of Bara-
tarla pirates, were to have effected a
landing on the island at night and
borne the imperial prisoner to the
vessel. There are some indications in
the memoirs written at st. Helena
by Napoleon's attendants that this
plan was known to him.
The first declaration Of independ-
ence in the United States took place
at New Orleans in 176S when Lafren-
iers and a number Of French patriots
arose and sent the Spanish governor
back to Spain. A little later Spain
reconquered the territory. In the cen
ter of the square General Jackson was
crowned the hero of Chalmette by the
Creole girls of Louisiana in 1915. La
fayette was received there in 1925.
The Jackson monument, by Clark
Mills, was set up in 1916 at q cost Of
$4,000, Henry Clay making the dedi-
cation speech. The inscription on the
granite base was cut by General But
ler's orders during the Civil war. 1t
reads: "The Union must and shall be
preserved"
Haunted House and French Market.
Another interesting house is the
Haunted House, located at Royal and
Hospital streets, which was occupied
in 1913 by Nine. Lalaurie, who treated
her slaves with great cruelty, starving
and torturing them to death. Her bar
barous acts being made known to the
public, forced her to fleet to France,
where she subsequently died. Many
slaves were chained in this building
and after her flight human bones were
found in the rooms. 1t Is said that
ghosts of the murdered slaves can be
seen on dark and stormy nights.
To see the French market at its best
one must visit it in the early morning,
Sunday above all others. 1t is the
most remarkable and characteristic
spot In New Orleans. Under its four
blocks of roof every language is spoken.
Gascon butchers, Moors, Italians and
German vegetable women, Chinese
-indus, Jews, Teutons, French and
almost every other nationality gather
here for business.
st. Louis cemetery, No. 1, is the old
est In the city. There numbers of the
most noted citizens of the state and
city are buried, among them Charles
Gayarre, the noted Louisiana histori-
an, and Oscar Dunn, colOred lieutenant
governor under Yarmouth. In the
walls that surround the cemetery are
tombs three tiers high, for the poorer
classes.
Another interesting cemetery is the
Metairle cemetery, organized in 1872.
AT one time it was the race track Of
the Metairie Jockey club, for over 80
years the most noted race track in the
/ IL "a
existence in 1870, when Charles T..
Howard, wealthy citizen, bought it
and turned it into cemetery. In this
plot stands the monument-tomb Of the
Army of Northern Tennessee, sur
mounted by Doyle's famous equestrian
I.A.A... "a A1lo.A .cti.l.no.. IohnrAn,,