Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05

erty he could. and the result vas that
the people themselves suffered in but
few instances. One OF the homes
destroyed was that OF Robert Sewell.
then near the northwest corner or Mary
land avenue and Second street north
east. This was done In retaliation for the
killing OF two British soldiers and the
horse on which Gen. Ross was riding
as he entered the city By some per-
| sons concealed in this dwelling.
| The Office Of the National Inteili-
gencer, then the official organ Of the
Uarty in power and Da-.eI CAROLS
hotel: two houses erected by Gen
George Washington on North Capt
to! street between B and c streets
northwestern recent years famiiiarly
known as the Hillman House-were es-
pecially singled out. as it was believed
they contained public records A large
ropeUork was not spared. since nothing
was left which might be Of use IN
making supplies for the Navy. Cen
orally. the enemy vas quite consider
ate in the destruction of private prop
crty.
In addition to setting fire to the Vir-
ginia end Of the Long Bridge, our
troops before abandoning the city. de-
stroyed the Benning and the Pennsyl-
vania Avenue Bridges
ALIc bOLdl NdIuc Va CESt1OS~
ed was then estimated at $1,000 900,
which today. no doubt. would amount
to ten times as much. This, of course
has no reference to the Congressional
Library. for there IS always something
here which cannot be replaced; not 50,
however. with the many public docu-
ments destroyed. which made the actual
loss stupendous.
OF the loss sustained President
Madison later said in his message:
They wantonly destroyed the public
edif1ces, having no relation in their
structure to operation Of war, nor used
at the time for military annoyance.
Some of these edifces we're also costly
monuments Of taste and Of the
arts. and others repositories Of the pub
lie archives, not only precious 70 the
| Nation as the memorials Of its origin
and its early transactions. but inter-
esting to all nations as contributions
! to the general stock Of historical In
struction and political science"
! The only public building TO escape the
torch was the Blodgett Hotel building,
/ on z street, where now stands the Gen.
! eral Land Office Il was then occupied
! by the Post Office Department and the
Patent Once. and upon the earnest plea
OF DR.. Thornton and his explanation
, that the destruction of the patent
/ models would be a world loss. il was
! spared by the invaders.
peculiar coincident in connection
with this the greatest Of all Washing
ton conhagrations. occurred when the
Britlsh we're on their way TO destroy the
powder magazine down near where the
Army War College now stands. When
they arrived there they found the maya
zine empty. the powder having been
taken out the day before and thrown
INTO dry veil. One Of the British SOL
oiers. naturally unaware of this fact.
1 Threw lighted match into the well and
/ most terrific explosion was the result.
Inc omcers present and about 30 men
were killed outright. while some ~
/ others were horribly wounded.
IN April. 1913. a little mere than che
year prior 10 this incident. when
Brig. Gen Pike OF the American Army
! was engaged IN burning Toronto. Can
/ ada. quite similar accident occurred.
/ Except for the bare walls. the Capitol
and the White House were q total loss.
At the latter Mrs, Madison. being ad-
vised by messenger Of the President.
made preparations for q hasty depar.-
ure- She showed much eomposure and
/ gathered together what articles OF yal,;e
sne could conveniently ca-ry along.
These included the original Declaration
OF Independence, later 20 Be saved from
the Patent once fire. and the fuIl-
length portrait Of George WASHINGTON.
which was. after the res,ora.ior 81 rhe
building. returned 70 the White House.
where II may be seen today.
ms portrait waS not. however. as has
50 many times been said. cut cus OF tie
frame BY Dolly. or &C her orders. This
statement was clearly 6ispsoved when q
picture ressorer pointed out tire c-ixiral
TACK holes n the canvas showing that
II had been carefully removed.
When the British arrived AZ the
Wnits House they found hastily ERE
pared meal On the table AWAITING them.
/ news Of the defeat was received ,here
| After they had partaken Of IS much o.
/ the dinner as they desired PREPARATIONS
were rushed for BURNING the building
/ and its contents and in this Gen. RosS
performed part by szlperintsndirS In
/ person the collecting Of the furniture "a
( the oice room 70 give the IRE q Sood
( start.
I. would Dc wrong a, this day to
& ~SSAAA~ N1NAI N&EG SI&2 L%SfN
+, placed II charge o. the Army operating
/ around Washington by President NaSi-
I son. for the deoaeie ~ RlaSsrSoQrx.
Some one had 70 be the goat. ard they
/ selected him. His plans for the battle
! we're well laid. and. had there been 10
interference from the White House. no
6os,os the eastle-if such i may ee
eslle6-wculd have had q different
termination, AZ the hattie o. North
Fo.nt, Baltimore. i month later. Gen.
Wlrcser distinguished himself corc,sss-
" thus demonstrating. as much as ne
could, his competency tc< command q
, troopS
Though the burning Of Washington
AZ the time was q very serious matter
and. indeed. Is S.il Hooked uccn as a
great calamity, yes il Is .sacosS.nss ne
times 20 keep the harsc<.Ss frcrs seeing
the funny side % things One unknown
rces Wrote n charcoal the lines here
With on the &-;ss.s stone then leading
! 10 SlaoenSoorS ard near the Place
where Cosnrso<scre Barney made 10
brave a resistance 10 the enemy. TWO
hands pointed il the Girscssca where
the men Tough, o. fed The lines read;
HER feeshs Ccasse<ssr> Ss~ssy.
Ne acNsy sysS 50 Ss,1satev
ASssHss S-tsssns s>sss ard sasvs<y
F% sSAoeS MAJ ~.
rAs~~ Sssa G~n wan,se- see
- Has Infantry aas Tawa-x
; AA At