Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-08


to the fort, where Capt. Stockton consented to
fire another shot from the same gun, around
and near which, to observe its effects, many
persons had gathered though by no means SO
many as on similar discharges in the morning,
the ladies who then thronged the deck being
On this fatal occasion almost all between decks
and out CT reach of harm.
1.-THE gun fired. The explosion was fol-
lowed, before the smoke cleared away so as
TO observe its effects, by shrieks of woe which
announced dire calamity. The gun had burst,
at point three or four feet from the breech,
and scattered death and desolation around. Mr..
Upshur, Secretary Of State Mr.. Gilner, SO
recently placed at the head of the Navy; Com
modore Kennon, one of its gallant officers,
Virgil Maxcy, lately returned from diplomatic
residence at The Hague; Mr. Gardiner of New
York formerly member of the Senate of that
State) were among the Slain."
ON March the bodies were brought to this
city and placed in the East Room of the
White House, and funeral services held the
following day all the distinguished dead
except the remains of Mr.. MaXcy, whose body
had been removed from there to the home of
his Scn-in-law, Francis Markoe. jr, clerk in
! the State Department, who resided on the north
side of I street between Twentieth and Twenty
first streets northwest, now the home of the
Arts Club of Washington. and numbered 2o17
street, and thence to the estate of the de-
Aceased at West River, Md, there to be inferred
wishes of the family.
In the religious services conducted over the
other victims the Rev. Mr.. Hawley, the Rev,
DR.. Laurie and the Rev. Mr.. Butler of George
town participated, after which the bodies were
temporarily placed in Congressional Cemetery.
One can never account for the many pecu-
liar things which happen in life, for out of this
most distressing disaster began romance be-
tween President John Tyler-whoSe wife, Lett
tia, died in the White House on September g.
1842-and Miss ,Julia Gardiner dan0hteT of the
deceased State Senator Gardiner, resulting in
their marriage June 20, 1874
Following this in 1885, came the funeral OF
Zachary Taylor, the second Chief Executive of
the United States to die in the Presidents Of
fetal home, after but brief illness, he having
taken i'll on July 4, after attending an indie
! pendence day celebration at the base of the
Washington Monument the corner stone of
which had been laid but two years before
Upon this occasion, it is stated, the weather
was intensely warm, and the President partook
i freely of ice water during the period of the
exercises Feeling quite hungry when he re-
turned to the White House he ate very heartily
of cherries and iced milk and more ice water
AT dinner he did not heed the warning of his
physician, DR.. Witherspoon but again ate free
ly of the cherries with the result that within
about an hour the general was seized with
cramps, which resulted in acute cholera morbus,
which, it is said, from its remittent charac-
ter took the form of typhoid fever from which
he died on July g.
ON July IL his body was placed in the East
Room, from which the funeral departed
for the vault at Congressional Cemetery, after
religious services at the White House were con-
Quoted by Rev. Mr.. PAYNE, an Episcopal clergy
man.
'The catafalque moving bier" an account
tells us, was drawn by eight white horses"
and "'Old Whitney, known to every soldier
who served under the brave old man through
the perilous and glorious Mexican campaigns"
was led in the procession. He is said to have
been "a well made animal of some 1872 hands
in height, in fine condition, and. as it seemed,
with militant air."
President Taylor'S last words breathe thoughts
of real sentiment, beauty and patriotism. He
said: II have always done my duty; 1 am
ready to die; my only regret is for the friends
leave behind me-
Mr.. Gobright, who one of Washington'S
earliest correspondents, relates strange and
unusual event which happened few days be-
fore President Taylor taken ill, and which
shows how little know when our time is
near, or how We are to CO. Mr.. Gobright tells
"A few days before the laying of the corner
stone OF the Monument, young gentleman
from Baltimore brought letter of introduce
ton to me. His business to sell cholera
medicine. 1t thought, by the friend who
furnished him with the letter. that might
perhaps, help him to commend the medicinal
preparation to public favor. AS I had never
been engaged in the physic business, I was
quite ignorant of the means to serve his pur-
pose. None of my friends suffering with
cramps or any other painful internal af1iction.
The medicine was genuine painkiller! For
tunately, had no necessity to try it. He asked
me whether 1t was not good idea to call upon
President Taylor and make him a present of
bottle. I replied that perhaps it was a good
idea. As had not yet become intimately ac-
Quainted with Gen. Taylor, could not present
hi HnHf ARI